Services

Any person regardless of age, cultural background, or income, believed to have a developmental disability is encouraged to apply for services. Individuals identified as ineligible are referred to appropriate agencies within the community.

After the Regional Center has determined that a developmental disability may be present, an initial interview is scheduled. The interview is scheduled for as soon as the eligibility team can be assembled (preferably within 15 working days of the decision to assess). Information from that interview is complied into a report. The San Andreas eligibility determination team will gather additional information from school records, physicians, psychologists, and other professionals to assist in determining whether the applicant is developmentally disabled. San Andreas has up to 120 days from the date of the initial meeting to complete the eligibility determination.

To be considered eligible, a disability must have originated before the age of eighteen, be likely to continue indefinitely, and constitute a substantial handicap. The eligible conditions are the following:

Learn more here:  DDS Eligibility Page 

Intellectual Disability: A disorder characterized by significant deficits in both mental abilities and everyday adaptive functioning.

Cerebral Palsy: A neurological condition occurring from birth or early infancy resulting in an inability to voluntarily control muscular activity, and resulting in significant deficits in motor adaptive functioning and/or cognitive abilities.

Epilepsy: A disorder of the central nervous system in which the major symptoms are seizures. Eligibility is based on a seizure disorder that is uncontrolled or poorly controlled , despite medical compliance and medical intervention.

Autism: A syndrome characterized by impairments in social interaction (withdrawal, failure to engage in interaction with peers or adults), nonverbal communication skills, and ability to develop and maintain relationships. Individuals may engage in repetitive activities or a limited repertoire of activities.

Fifth Condition: This category includes disabling conditions found to be closely related to intellectual disability or requiring treatment similar to that required for individuals with intellectual disability.

Regulations specifically exclude handicapping conditions which are solely psychiatric disorders, solely learning disabilities, or solely physical in nature. 

Learn more here:  DDS Eligibility Page 

A child who is three or four years of age may qualify for provisional eligibility for regional center services, without needing a diagnosis of developmental disability as specified in W&I Code section 4512(a)(1). Provisional eligibility for regional center services is for a child who demonstrates significant functional limitations in at least two major life activities outlined in W&I Code section 4512(a)(2). A disability solely physical in nature does not meet the eligibility criteria. It is not a requirement of provisional eligibility for a three or four-year-old child to have been served in Early Start. Similar to individuals who are eligible pursuant to W&I Code section 4512(a)(1), a child who is determined to be provisionally eligible will have an Individual Program Plan. For information about eligibility criteria, see Lanterman Act Provisional Eligibility.

At the end of the assessment process, an eligibility determination meeting is scheduled to share information and determine eligibility or ineligibility.

Once eligibility is established, San Andreas staff, working together with the consumer, his or her family, and other involved persons, holds a planning team meeting to identify goals, needs and services. By law this meeting must be held within 60 days of eligibility determination.

Whenever possible, San Andreas combines the eligibility determination and the planning team meetings.

The result of the planning team meeting is a written Individual Program Plan (IPP). This plan is based upon the consumer’s current level of functioning and includes service recommendations for immediate and long-term planning. The IPP is revised annually to ensure that the consumer’s needs are being met.

There is no cost for most services. However, a share of cost is established when the regional center is providing residential service for minors. This cost is based on a sliding scale and determined by the Department of Developmental Services. All records are kept confidential.

A child from birth to 36 months may be considered at risk for a developmental disability and referred to the Early Start Program.  As of January 1, 2015,  The State of California has modified the eligibility criteria for eligibility,  resorting to 2008 criteria of one  33% delay regardless of the child’s age and  we are now allowed to serve children with 2 or more high risk criteria.

For further information regarding referral >>>Click here<<<.

Persons with developmental disabilities are entitled to the same rights and protections as any other person under the laws of California and the Constitution of the United States. San Andreas is committed to ensuring and protecting those civil, legal and service rights to which our consumers and applicants for services are entitled.

Services are determined by the planning team based on need and other factors, including other available programs.

Learn more about common services here:  Regional Center Services