As we prepare to transition to summer, we have a lot on our minds when it comes to our kiddos’ time off school. How do we plan for a summer filled with fun and growth that allows our kids to have a successful, accessible, social summer? This week, we’re exploring how to get the most out of Regional Center this summer, including more respite hours, 1:1 support for your child at camp, funding for social-recreation services, and more!
- To help you get started and prepared for summer, read our article How to Get the Most Out of Regional Center This Summer with our tips on requesting funding, extra hours, and services from Regional Center.
- Look at your child’s Individualized Program Plan (IPP)! Regional Center will only fund programs that help meet your child’s goals, so if you want to receive extra services over the summer (like respite or child care), make sure to update the IPP goals first.
- Make a list of what Regional Center services and/or supports you need for the summer. Not sure what services you should ask for? Undivided Public Benefits Specialist Lisa Concoff Kronbeck answers the Top 4 Parent Questions about Regional Center Summer Services, including evaluating your child’s needs, your own needs, and your available resources when deciding what to request from Regional Center.
- Regional Center is an essential route for funding social-recreation services, camps, as well as potentially funding 1:1 aide support at camp, for eligible families. Read our tips about camp funding here and check out our guide to 2023 SoCal Summer Camps for Kids of All Abilities to find the right camp for your kiddo! Get the inside scoop on how Regional Center can fund social-recreation services and other non-medical therapies in our article Regional Center’s Social-Recreational Funding Is Back!
- Regional Center’s Self-Determination Program may improve your child’s services and supports, including ones you couldn’t access for a wide variety of reasons or needs that were not covered in their IPP. Find out how in our article Self-Determination 101.
Summer is right around the corner and it could take a while to get approval for the services you’re requesting, so remember to start as soon as possible!
If you’re interested in 1:1 support in this process, reach out to learn more about becoming an Undivided member. Undivided members can access our step-by-step guide to requesting additional services and/or funding from Regional Center for the summer in the Undivided app with links, templates, and easy-to-follow instructions that walk parents through the process with personal help from a Navigator.
Event Recap: The 5 Most Important Things to Remember When Advocating in an IEP
On April 17, we sat down with Undivided Education Advocate Lisa Carey for a Facebook Live event all about being effective, empowered, and prepared during the IEP meeting to better advocate for our kids’ needs. In case you missed it or are ready for another watch, check out the highlights and recording here.
Undivided Office Hours
Our next Office Hours speaker is Undivided Director of Health Plan Advocacy, Leslie Lobel! On Wednesday, May 17 at 12:00 p.m. PST, Leslie will be available to answer all of your questions on in-network and out-of-network specialists, funding therapies and services, Regional Center services, and more. Bi-weekly Office Hours are virtual Q&A sessions with experts that are open to Undivided members only, so if you’d like to attend, sign up here to begin your free Kickstart!
- What if Regional Center denies your child services, or there’s a lack of vendors? Hear from Chris Arroyo, Los Angeles Regional Manager for the State Council on Developmental Disabilities. Watch on YouTube→
- Still looking for the right summer camp? Undivided Lead Researcher Adriana Roze and her team put together an incredible list of accessible camps for our kiddos! Watch the reel on Instagram→
- If you have questions about applying to Regional Center or securing services, our community of experienced parents has a wealth of knowledge! Ask in our private Facebook group for parents→
- Undivided is looking for more part-time Navigators to support our families. We’d love to have you join our team! Learn more on LinkedIn→
- Whether you need guidance requesting Regional Center services or you’re not even sure if your child qualifies, an Undivided Navigator can help. Start here→
This newsletter was originally sent to our subscribers on 5/4/23. Subscribe to our newsletter to get more resources like this in your inbox, or check out our full library of articles, templates, and videos at undivided.io/resources.
