After a child's diagnosis, there is one thing almost every family hears: "Contact the regional center."
When I heard that, I searched online, but at first it did not make sense to me. Is it a hospital? A community center? A government office? I remember opening and closing English-language websites over and over.
So in this guide, I want to lay out exactly what a regional center is — and what it is not.
Part 1. Regional Centers Are a California System
The first thing to know is that regional centers are not a nationwide structure. They are a California system.
Behind them is a California law called the Lanterman Act. First passed in 1969, it reflects the idea that people with developmental disabilities should be supported to live in their communities rather than in large institutions.
Today's regional center system grew out of this law, and there are now 21 regional centers in California. A key feature of California's approach is that the right to developmental services is written into state law.
Part 2. What a Regional Center Is: A Nonprofit Under State Contract
In one sentence: a regional center is a community-based nonprofit under contract with the state (DDS) that connects people with developmental disabilities and their families to services and coordinates those services.
- Nonprofit: Regional centers are not government agencies. Each one is an independent nonprofit organization.
- State contract: The California Department of Developmental Services (DDS) contracts with each center, funds it, and oversees it.
- Local: Your center is assigned based on where you live. You can look it up by address on the DDS website.
- Support across the lifespan: Children under 3 are served through Early Start, and from age 3 on through the Lanterman Act system. Once eligible, people can continue receiving service coordination into adulthood.
Part 3. What Regional Centers Do and Don't Do
This is where many families get confused. A regional center does not provide therapy or education directly.
| What they do | What they don't do |
|---|---|
| Assess for developmental disability and determine eligibility | Provide therapy directly (ABA, speech therapy, etc. are provided by outside providers) |
| Develop the IPP together with your family | Replace school (schools are responsible for education and the IEP) |
| Connect and coordinate services (assign a service coordinator) | Provide medical care directly |
| Pay providers for services | Automatically approve every request (there is an approval process) |
| Offer family support, information, and rights information |
This matters because many families expect therapy to start as soon as they contact the regional center. A regional center connects you to services; it does not deliver them itself.
Three Common Misunderstandings
Myth 1. "A regional center is a government agency."
No. It is a nonprofit. It is, however, funded by the state (DDS) and operates under DDS oversight.
Myth 2. "Once we're eligible, services will just start."
After eligibility is determined, you work with a service coordinator to develop an IPP. It is a process that needs your active participation. Waiting alone will not move it forward.
Myth 3. "All regional centers are the same."
The basic structure and the law are the same, but each center has its own way of operating and its own culture. Procedures and experiences can differ from center to center, so it is best to check your own center's guidance first.
Wrap-Up
For families raising a child with a developmental disability in California, the regional center is the most important starting point. In the next guide, we will walk through how to get in the door — from application to eligibility.
Further Reading
- DDS Regional Centers
- Find your regional center: the Regional Center lookup page on the DDS website
Please note
This guide is general information for California families new to developmental disability services. It is not legal or medical advice. Rules and procedures can change, so please confirm current details with DDS and your regional center or your service coordinator (SC).