California has a unique system for serving residents with developmental disabilities. There are 21 private, non-profit Regional Centers throughout California. The California regional centers provide a variety of short and long-term services to developmentally disabled children and adults. Inland Regional Center serves Riverside and San Bernardino counties. These Regional Centers are contracted by the State Department of Developmental Services (DDS), which administers state law (the Lanterman Act) and regulation (Title 17) that governs the Regional Center system. The Regional Centers.
Regional Centers can provide service coordination, advocacy, information, support and referrals to service providers for children through adulthood. Parents and individuals who are clients may not always agree with the decision or the procedures being followed. You have the right to appeal decisions. Disability Rights California has prepared a toolkit with information for children 0 to 3 years in the Early Intervention Program and for those 3 years and older.
Regional Center Advocacy Resources
Mark Woodsmall, Attorney at Law
Woodsmall Law Group, PC
2076 Lincoln Avenue
(626) 440-0028
www.woodsmalllawgroup.com
Provides experienced, practical, and sophisticated representation in matters related to special needs children’s educational and community access rights. Practices in Special Education, IDEA & Section 504 Claims, Rights Under the Lanterman Act/Regional Center, and Civil Litigation. Offers free 1 hour consultation.
Office of Clients Rights Advocate (OCRA), Inland Regional Center
3602 Inland Empire Blvd., Suite B-100
Ontario, CA 91764
(909) 383-1133
As a client of the Regional Center, the Clients Rights Advocate (CRA) may be able to help answer questions or refer you to another resource in administrative hearings in regards to schools, Social Security, Medi-Cal, neglect, rehabilitation, mental health, discrimination, Regional Centers, In-Home Services, private insurance, guardianship, abuse, daycare, criminal matters, personal autonomy, and conservatorship and Alternatives. The Advocate decides which cases they will represent based on the claim’s merits, the ability to advocate for themselves, the availability of OCRA resources, and other advocacy sources.
James F. Hyuck-Navigating the Regional Center-Public Benefits Advocate
11900 Prospect Hill Dr.
Gold River, CA 95670
(916) 529-5300
jfhuyck@yahoo.com
Autism Society Options Policy
This Resource Guide was developed to provide families and professionals with an opportunity to find resources related to autism in the Inland Empire in one place.
All information provided or published by the Autism Society Inland Empire is for information purposes only. Specific treatment, therapy or services should be provided to an individual only at the direction of the individual’s doctor, caregiver, or other qualified professional. References to any treatment or therapy option, program, service, or treatment provider are not an endorsement by the Autism Society. References of treatments, therapies, programs, services, and/or providers are not intended to be comprehensive statements. You should investigate alternatives that may be more appropriate for a specific individual. The Autism Society assumes no responsibility for the use made of any information published or provided. The Autism Society Inland Empire provides information, but it does not constitute medical or legal information. Referrals provided are suggestions to organizations that might help, but do not constitute a recommendation. The Autism Society Inland Empire cannot be held responsible for consequences that arise from individual dealings with a professional or organization. The inclusion of any organization does not imply endorsement, and omission does not imply disapproval. The Autism Society Inland Empire may add or remove organizations from this list at its discretion.