Did you know that Regional Center can provide support all year long — and be a great resource to supplement IEP services? It’s true! This week we’re breaking down how to get the most out of Regional Center to meet your kiddo’s needs (including the lesser known services you may not know about).
While every RC does things a bit differently, here are some services you can talk to your service coordinator about:
- Funding gaps in educational services — such as therapies, tutoring, and educational therapy — provided by your child’s school. For instance, if your child’s evaluation indicates that they need two hours of speech therapy per week but their IEP only offers 30 minutes and you can’t get more speech therapy from insurance either, you can present this documentation to the Regional Center for potential funding.
- Social-recreation hasn’t been back for long — are you exploring all it can offer? Regional Centers can help fund social-recreation activities and programs, which can support a child’s goals to make friends, be more independent, or just move their bodies, such as art classes, sports activities, music therapy, dance lessons, and even horse therapy.
- 1:1 inclusion aide to help facilitate socialization and full participation in after school activities, programs, child care, social-rec, and even upcoming winter camps! (Psst — watch out for our November 14th newsletter featuring our annual roundup of disability-friendly winter camps in California — plus tips to talk to RC about covering any of your child’s winter camps!)
Regional Center has a lot to offer our kiddos, whether they’re two years old, or teenagers in high school. But where do you start?
Let’s play Choose Your Own Adventure: Regional Center Edition!
If you need an overview of Regional Center: learn all about eligibility, services, the intake and assessment process, and how to get started. → Go to Regional Center 101.
Bonus: did you know Regional Center may be able to fund an Undivided membership as part of your child’s IPP? → Go to How to Request Regional Center Funding for an Undivided Membership.
If your child is under age three: Regional Center provides early intervention services to children with a diagnosed developmental disability and to children who are at risk of developmental delay. → Go to How to Qualify for Early Intervention – Regional Center Services under age 3.
Bonus: add this goal to your Undivided account for the step-by-step guide to apply to Regional Center Early Start.
If your child is over the age of three: eligibility for Regional Center services requires a diagnosed developmental disability that constitutes a substantial disability for that child. → Go to Eligibility Under the Lanterman Act: Regional Center Services After Age 3.
If you need help with Individualized Program Plan (IPP) or Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) goals: IPPs and IFSPs are documents that describe your child’s needs, goals, and objectives as well as the RC services and supports they’ll need to achieve them. IFSP goals, for example, focus on an outcome you’d like to see, such as “initiating and sustaining play with peers in a center-based program” or “comfortably joining family for a meal at the table.” → Go to What Is an Individualized Family Service Plan? and How to Create IPP/IFSP Goals.
If the traditional Regional Center supports that your child has been receiving aren’t enough: The Self-Determination Program may improve your child’s services and supports. And there are many approved services, including behavioral interventions and recreational activities! → Go to Self-Determination 101.
Bonus: add this goal to your Undivided account for the step-by-step process of how to enroll in the Self-Determination Program.
As one parent told Undivided, “My daughter has been in the [Self-Determination Program] for seven months, and I have seen a significant difference in her life. She is happy because she works with people who make her feel good; with Self-Determination, she has the right to choose who she wants to work with. She can also choose services that interest her, such as swimming, dancing, and going out into the community with someone the family trusts. I have seen significant improvements in all areas of my daughter’s life but especially in her speech, which I did not see for years in the traditional system.”
If your child loves horses: try horse therapy! Regional Center’s social-recreational funding includes camping and associated travel, educational services for those ages 3 to 17, and non-medical therapies, such as horse therapy! Horse therapy involves a child working with a certified therapist, experienced horse handlers, and a suitable horse. → Go to Horse Therapy 101 and Regional Center’s Social-Recreational Funding Is Back!
RSVP now → How Public and Private Health Plans Work Together
One of the top questions we get from parents of kids with disabilities: “How do I pay for it all??” Between therapies, medical supplies, equipment, and other care, families like ours have more expenses to worry about. Here to give us the lowdown on how to cover those expenses with Medi-Cal, private insurance, and additional public benefits are Lisa Concoff Kronbeck and Leslie Lobel, Undivided’s specialists in public benefits and health plans. Join us on Thursday, November 14 at 1:00 p.m. PT for their expert tips and a live Q&A! Register for the FREE event here→
There are a variety of programs in California that can help fund your child’s care, but it can be overwhelming to figure out which avenues are best for your family. We’ve created the ultimate information packet for you, jam-packed with printable templates, checklists, and all sorts of handy resources to help you explore all the options available, who’s eligible, and what services are offered. Download your public benefits PDF here!
Office Hours with Navigator Gabriela Gangitano
Have you been wondering about transitioning your child to homeschool, or you’ve already started looking into your options? Join us for Office Hours on Wednesday, October 16 at 12:00 p.m. PT for a special homeschool-focused Office Hours! Our resident homeschooling expert, Navigator Gabriela Gangitano, will be available to answer questions about charters, PSAs, curriculum, and more. Office Hours are open to Undivided members only, so if you’d like to attend, sign up here to begin your free Kickstart!
Undivided Conversations: Regional Center Services
Navigating Regional Center services can be tricky — but it doesn’t have to be! Join us on Friday, October 11 at 12:00 p.m. PT in conversation with experts Chris Arroyo and Christine Tolbert as they break down the process and share practical tips on how to maximize these services for your child with a disability. Watch the stream on our Facebook page!
- Are you brand-new to Regional Center? Our explainer video covers the most important things you need to know in just 90 seconds! Check it out on YouTube→
- Need tips for structuring your child’s IPP to support services from Regional Center? Hear from SCDD Manager Chris Arroyo on Instagram→
- Parents in our private Facebook group have recently shared upcoming local events, book recommendations, and neurodiversity-affirming providers. We’re so grateful for our supportive community! Join the discussion on Facebook→
- Did you celebrate International Sign Language Day? Check out these resources and learn how to sign “Happy International Day of Sign Languages” on our LinkedIn post→
- Need help applying to Regional Center or making sure your child is receiving all the services they qualify for? Use the Undivided platform for step-by-step guides, a digital binder, 1:1 support, and more! Get started→
