
News, Updates, & Events
California’s Lanterman Act was developed with two primary goals in mind for individuals with developmental disabilities and their families. First, there was an interest in keeping families together and meeting the needs of the family unit related to the individual’s disability. Second, a long-standing focus has been supporting people with disabilities to actively participate as active members of their communities. Recent events have left some people worried about how they can stay together with their families and continue accessing their communities.
Regional centers remain committed to supporting ALL Californians who are eligible for their services. Protecting individual privacy is a central promise regional centers have made and kept to those they serve. Only the information needed to meet people’s person-centered needs is collected.
As the recent community message from the Department of Developmental Services explained, if you or your family member have changing service needs, please reach out to your service coordinator. They can help you meet your urgent needs and explore ways many of your services should change, including being provided remotely if that is your preference.
Regional center staff have the honor of walking along people they serve in good times and bad. Do not hesitate to reach out to them. They are there to support you during this uncertain time.
Mark Klaus
Executive Director
La Ley Lanterman de California se desarrolló con dos objetivos principales para las personas con discapacidades del desarrollo y sus familias. En primer lugar, se buscaba mantener unidas a las familias y satisfacer las necesidades de la unidad familiar relacionadas con la discapacidad de la persona. En segundo lugar, un enfoque tradicional ha sido apoyar a las personas con discapacidad para que participen activamente como miembros activos de sus comunidades. Eventos recientes han generado preocupación en algunas personas sobre cómo mantenerse unidas con sus familias y seguir accediendo a sus comunidades.
Los centros regionales mantienen su compromiso de apoyar a TODOS los californianos que califican para sus servicios. Proteger la privacidad individual es una promesa fundamental que los centros regionales han hecho y cumplido con quienes atienden. Solo se recopila la información necesaria centrada en la persona para satisfacer las necesidades individuales.
Como se explicó en el reciente mensaje comunitario del Departamento de Servicios del Desarrollo, si usted o un miembro de su familia tienen necesidades de servicio cambiantes, comuníquese con su coordinador de servicios. Ellos pueden ayudarle a satisfacer sus necesidades urgentes y explorar maneras en que muchos de sus servicios deberían cambiar, incluyendo la prestación remota si así lo prefiere.
El personal de los centros regionales tiene el honor de acompañar a las personas a las que sirve en los buenos y en los malos momentos. No dude en ponerse en contacto con ellos. Están ahí para apoyarle en estos momentos de incertidumbre.
Mark Klaus
Director Ejecutivo
We Need Your Input!
Join us for a collaborative conversation about SDRC’s Fiscal Year 2025–2026 Performance Contract! We'll be reviewing our public policy performance measures, goals, and the activities we're planning to achieve them.
This is a wonderful opportunity for you—our valued community—to share your thoughts, ask questions, and provide feedback. Your input helps guide and shape the important work we do around our Public Policy Performance Measures.
🗣️ Let your voice be heard—your perspective matters!
We look forward to seeing you there!
2023/2024 Annual Report is Now Available!
Dear Community Partners, Friends, and Colleagues, looking back at this remarkable year, we are grateful for what we’ve accomplished together. Our heartfelt thanks go to our Board members, service providers, community partners, and the SDRC team for their dedication and collaboration. Your unwavering commitment has been essential in helping us empower individuals with developmental disabilities, highlighting their strengths and enriching lives throughout our community.
The National Core Indicator (NCI) Survey is currently underway!
This year’s survey is the Adult In-Person Survey. This survey is conducted face-to-face with individuals 18 years and older who receive at least one funded service from San Diego Regional Center (SDRC). The responses are collected by the Department of Developmental Services (DDS) and shared with the State Council on Developmental Disabilities (SCDD). It will be used to help regional centers and DDS understand how services and supports impact participants and their families, and areas of improvement.
The survey takes place November 2024 through June 2025. This is voluntary and representatives from SCDD will make contact with SDRC participants who meet survey criteria. We need a minimum of 400 participants. Your feedback is important.
Reach out to your service coordinator if you have questions
DDS Website: National Core Indicators : CA Department of Developmental Services
Adult In-Person Survey: In-Person Survey (IPS) Domain Dashboard : CA Department of Developmental Services
News from DDS
Announcing the Early Childhood & Transition Resource Lookup
DDS is excited to share a valuable new tool that enhances access to early childhood and transition resources for families. The Early Childhood & Transition Resource Lookup is a user-friendly and interactive map that centralizes information for families navigating early childhood services in their communities.
KEY FEATURES:
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Comprehensive Resource Listings: Includes regional centers, Family Resource Centers, childcare providers, schools, Head Start programs, and Family Empowerment Centers
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Customizable Search Options: Families can locate resources in their own communities by zip code, address, or city
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Time-Saving Consolidation: Provides addresses, phone numbers, emails, and websites for resources in one quick and accessible location
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Up-to-Date Data: Maintained with collaboration from state departments and community partners for accuracy and reliability
Explore the Early Childhood & Transition Resource Look-Up dds.ca.gov/childhood.
New DDS Provider Directory Launched on October 29, 2024!
On October 29, 2024, DDS's Provider Directory launched. Its full capabilities will be released in phases. In the first phase, service providers and designated regional center representatives will be invited to create an account and collaborate to ensure accurate provider information is in the system. DDS will offer incentive payments to service providers through the Quality Incentive Program (QIP).
Support, including on-demand training, is available now at www.dds.ca.gov/initiatives/provider-directory/.
Questions? Email providerdirectory@dds.ca.gov.
DDS Directive, dated July 2, 2025, outlining changes to the hold harmless policy related to the ongoing rate reform for service providers. It revises the end date of the hold harmless provision—previously set for June 30, 2026—to February 28, 2026. Starting March 1, 2026, provider rates will adjust to align with the fully funded rate models, based on quality incentive eligibility.
SDRC & Community Events
Virtual Coffee with Community Services
Last Monday of every month from 8:30 – 9:30 am
Join Zoom Meeting: https://sdrc-org.zoom.us/j/84004343896
Meeting ID: 840 0434 3896
Organizer: SDRC's Community Services Department
All Inclusive Day of Play & Resource Fair
Friday, July 11, 11:00 am - 2:00 pm at Miramar Hourglass Recreation Center, 10440 Black Mountain Rd San Diego,
CA 92126
Organizer: Special Needs Resource Foundation of San Diego
Sunday, July 12, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm at Pala Rey Youth Camp, 10779 Pala Road Pala, CA, 92059
Organizer: Indian Council, Inc.
Saturday, July 19-20, 9:00 am - 3:00 pm at Hillcrest to San Diego Pride Festival site at Balboa Park, 3909 Centre St, San Diego, CA 92103
Organizer: San Diego PRIDE
3rd Annual Family & Vendor Resource Fair
Saturday, October 4, 9:00 am - 3:00 pm at San Diego Convention Center Hall F
Organizer: San Diego Regional Center
July
Disability Pride month
July 4: Independence Day - SDRC Closed in observance of Independence Day
July 15: Developmental Disability Professionals Day
July 26: Americans with Disabilities Act Awareness Day
July 30: International Friendship Day
August
National Wellness Month
August 3: International Assistance Dog Week
August 7: National Purple Heart Day
August 17: National Nonprofit Day
September
Deaf Awareness Month | National Hispanic Heritage Month
September 1: Labor Day
September 7: National Grandparent's Day
September 7-13: Direct Support Professional Recognition Week
September 10: National Suicide Prevention Day
September 11: National Day of Service & Remembrance
September 16: National IT Professional's Day
September 21: World Alzheimer’s Day
September 23: International Day of Sign Languages
September 22-24: Rosh Hashanah
LEARN ABOUT REGIONAL CENTERS
Enjoy this short video packed with humor and information about the complex but critically important Regional Center system for Californians with intellectual or developmental disabilities, their families, service providers, and staff of thousands of vendors across the state.
This video comes from the creators of the HCBS Final Rule series initiated by the Tri-County Regional Center to share with families and individuals receiving regional center services. See the collection.
The San Diego Regional Center is dedicated to promoting the use of person-centered practices with individuals accessing SDRC services. This Person-Centered Thinking Training was developed by The Learning Community for Person-Centered Practices (www.tlcpcp.com) and teaches the principles behind person-centered thinking and provides attendees with a variety of tools and techniques to implement person-centered thinking practices. Information in the training is relevant to all aspects of service coordination and provision and is consistent with HCBS Final Settings Rule, Self-Determination, and Employment First. All SDRC trainers are certified by The Learning Community.
For more information about Person Centered Thinking, please contact Johanna Stafford.
THE SDRC REPORT - an internal newsletter
In this issue:
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Employee Spotlights
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Mission Moments
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Administrative Professionals' Day
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DDPN Forum
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And more!
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Pedestrian Safety
The Department of Developmental Services (DDS) is pleased to share the latest Wellness and Safety Bulletin posted in the DDS Wellness Toolkit. Wellness and Safety bulletins provide relevant health and wellness information as part of DDS’ ongoing effort to improve our collective management of risks to the health and safety of the individuals that we serve. This bulletin addresses pedestrian safety. Since the start of 2023, four individuals served by regional centers were killed while navigating sidewalks and roads as a pedestrian. Know and share precautions with the individuals you serve to protect their health and safety when using sidewalks or crossing roads.
![shutterstock_2178503805 [Converted].png](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/8a8ffe_84304bb27f2947efb0273c5bf25dc5ef~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_274,h_209,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/8a8ffe_84304bb27f2947efb0273c5bf25dc5ef~mv2.png)