History

Our Core Values

The San Andreas Regional Center is one of 21 Regional Centers for people with developmental disabilities in the State of California. These centers were originally established to assist people with intellectual disabilities and their families in locating and developing services and programs within their communities.

These original centers were established in 1965 under legislation sponsored by Assemblyman Frank Lanterman. The Lanterman Act became effective in 1969 and established the statewide Regional Center network. The Legislation later expanded the populations served to include persons with intellectual disabilities, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, autism, and other disabling conditions similar to intellectual disabilities.

The San Andreas Regional Center serves people living within the geographic boundaries of Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Monterey, and San Benito counties.

Our services are designed to meet the individual needs of all the people we serve according to age, disability, and geographic location. Through service coordination and case management, our staff connects individuals with resources in the community to enhance their lives. The goal of San Andreas Regional Center is to further the ability of people with developmental disabilities to live productive and satisfying lives as valued members of their communities.

The core values of San Andreas focus on inclusion, empowerment, advocacy and individual choice.

  • Inclusion: San Andreas Regional Center strives for active partnerships with our community and the individuals we serve. We are dedicated to providing services and supports that increase people’s ability to take their rightful place as neighbors, co-workers, friends, and community members. These services are sensitive to the cultural and ethnic diversity of the person and the community. San Andreas Regional Center is committed to ensure that individuals, communities and government entities are well informed about issues and services affecting persons with developmental disabilities. Our regional center recognizes that the people we serve have meaningful relationships with friends and coworkers and are seen as valuable, contributing members of their communities.
  • Empowerment: San Andreas Regional Center is committed to providing support, information, and choices to facilitate the empowerment process and to assist the individual’s we serve achieve the greatest self-sufficiency possible. We support and encourage individuals and their families to be the primary decision makers in their lives. We believe that each individual, with the help of our trained staff, has the power to tap into their individual strengths, abilities and knowledge to achieve and lead their self-designed lifestyle. Each person has the right to make decisions that govern their own life and future.
  • Advocacy: San Andreas Regional center is a strong proponent for the rights of the individual. We support the person as their own decision maker, through an often complex system of services and resources.   San Andreas Regional center is dedicated to working with the individual with disabilities, as well as their conservator, guardian and other support system in order to promote their voice to be heard.
  • Individual choice: Individuals have the choice to decide which services and supports work best for them. Through the planning team process, people with disabilities although with family, friends, and support staff can select options that work best for them. The role of San Andreas Regional Center is to respect and support the person we serve and honor their ability to make unique, individual, informed choices in their lives.
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