News, Updates, & Events
SDRC'S 4th Annual Resource Fair
Join us at the SDRC Resource Fair for a day of connection, community, and opportunity. Meet local partners, explore valuable resources, and discover the support that helps individuals and families thrive.
5th Annual California Native American Symposium on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
Join us October 29–30, 2026, at Pala Casino Spa and Resort in Pala, CA. This year’s symposium, “Taking Action to Preserve Culture Through Inclusion & Access,” will highlight efforts to improve service access, address issues impacting individuals with disabilities in Indian Country, and showcase partnerships and innovative work across tribal communities.
SDRC's Annual Contract Performance Measures Presentation is Now Available! ​
FY 26-27 Annual Contract's Performance Measures
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View the May 12, 2026, Presentation ​English
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We want to hear from you! Please provide your feedback on our plans to meet the annual contract performance measures in the coming year. Input will be accepted through June 15, 2026. Email your feedback to input@sdrc.org.
The National Core Indicator (NCI) Survey is Closing Soon!
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This year’s NCI-IDD Family Surveys officially launched in December 2025! These important surveys play a vital role in improving services for children and adults receiving support from regional centers. If your family has been selected, you’ll receive a written survey by U.S. mail.
The survey is completely voluntary. Representatives from the State Council on Developmental Disabilities (SCDD) will reach out to SDRC participants who qualify.
We truly value your feedback and look forward to hearing from you!​ Every response helps us build a stronger, more supportive system for our community.​ Thank you for taking part!
Please reach out to your service coordinator if you have questions.
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Flyer: NCI Family Survey Flyer
DDS Website: National Core Indicators : CA Department of Developmental Services
Adult In-Person Survey (IPS) Domain Dashboard : CA Department of Developmental Services
Life Outcomes Improvement System (LOIS)​
LOIS will be a new, online system for case management and financial information. It will be available for everyone to use to manage regional center information and communications about services, schedules, and provider details. LOIS might be able to help you by:
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​• Make it easier to talk with your regional center and the Department
• See your information any time, from anywhere
• Share updates and documents with your service coordinator
• Provide new tools to make choices about your services and supports​
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Learn more by visiting www.dds.ca.gov/LOIS ​
2024-2025 Annual Report is Now Available!
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Dear community partners, friends, and colleagues, we’re pleased to share our Annual Report, which highlights the progress, impact, and milestones achieved over the past year.
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Thank you to everyone who contributed to making this year a success!
Message From the Executive Director for All Californians
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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
News and Information from DDS
Language Access and Cultural Competency (LACC) - DDS Directive
The LACC program is an annual state-led effort that requires regional centers to improve how they serve people who speak different languages and come from different cultures. Funding is provided to help regional centers better meet the language needs of individuals with developmental disabilities and their families.
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The goal of this program is to make it easier for people from diverse communities—whether they speak multiple languages, one language, or come from different cultural backgrounds—to understand and access services.
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San Diego Regional Center plans to use this funding to:
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Help more individuals and families access and use services
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Build stronger partnerships with community organizations
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Make sure people from different languages and cultures can consistently get information and support
For the 2025–2026 fiscal year (July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026), we have been given $1,287,423.00 to carry out this plan.
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For more information, go to DDS Webpage: https://www.dds.ca.gov/rc/disparities/language-access-and-cultural-competency/
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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/85078127314?pwd=6bHDOrU8uOqrjay6f2pNpaDNwQU3b7.1
Meeting ID: 850 7812 7314
Organizer: SDRC's Community Services Department
Registration available for workshops starting in September 2026 and January 2027. Additional details and registration available HERE.
Organizer: Home of Guiding Hands (HGH)
Finding Your North Star: Person-Centered Planning in
Wednesday, September 9, 9:00 – 11:30 am at Sharp Prebys Innovation & Education Center, 8695 Spectrum Center Blvd., San Diego, CA 92123, 4th Floor
Organizer: San Diego Regional Center
Community Connections: BrightLife Kids
Thursday, September 10, 10:00 – 11:00 am via ZOOM
Organizer: San Diego Regional Center
Friday, September 18, 6:00 – 10:00 pm at 1350 8th Street
El Centro, CA 92243
Organizer: San Diego Regional Center
SDRC's 4th Annual Resource Fair - San Diego
Saturday, September 26, 9:00 am - 3:00 pm at the San Diego Convention Center, 111 Harbor Dr. San Diego, CA 92101
Organizer: San Diego Regional Center
Chaldean American Festival
September 27, 3:00 – 9:00 pm at Hillsdale Middle School 1301 Brabham St. El Cajon, CA 92019
Organizer: Campo Kumeyaay Nation
2nd Annual Service Dog Awareness Resource Fair
Thursday, October 1, 9:30 am – 1:30 pm at 1198 N Imperial Ave. El Centro, CA 92243
Organizer: Access to Independence
Thursday, October 1, 4:00 – 6:00 pm at Padilla-Pace Middle School Gymnasium, 715 S Cesar Chavez, El Centro, CA 92243
Organizer: Brawley Elementary School District
Thursday, October 8, 9:00 am – 1:00 pm at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Sports Pavilion, 770 Park Avenue El Centro, CA 92243
Organizer: El Centro Adult Center
Community Connections: SDRC Employment Services
October 14, 5:00 – 6:00 pm via ZOOM
Organizer: San Diego Regional Center
SDRC's 1st Annual Resource Fair - Imperial
Wednesday, October 21, 99:00 am at the Imperial Valley Fair Grounds, 200 E 2nd St, Imperial, CA 92251
Organizer: San Diego Regional Center
Saturday, October 24, 4:00 - 10:00 pm at Tito Huerta Park, 1165 Palm Ave., Heber, CA 92249
Organizer: Herber Public Utility District
Imperial County Health and Benefit Fair
Wednesday, October 28, 9:00 am - 1:00 pm at the Imperial Valley Fair Grounds, 200 East 2nd St, Imperial
Organizer: San Diego Regional Center
5th Annual California Native American Symposium
Thursday and Friday, October 29-30, at Pala Casino Spa and Resort , 11154 CA-76, Pala, CA 92059
Organizer: Acorns to Oak Trees
6th Annual BSF Halloween Spooktacular & Soapbox Race
Saturday, October 31, 8:30 - 11:30 am at Cattle Call Drive, Brawley, CA
Organizer: Best S.T.E.P. Forward
SEPTEMBER
Deaf Awareness Month
September 7: Labor Day
September 10: National Suicide Prevention Day
September 11: National Day of Service and Remembrance
September 11-13: Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year)
September 14: National Grandparents Day
September 13-19: Direct Support Professional Recognition Week
September 15 - October 15: National Hispanic Heritage Month
September 16: National IT Professional's Day
September 21: World Alzheimer’s Day
September 23: International Day of Sign Languages
OCTOBER
Filipino American History Month | National Down Syndrome Awareness Month | World Blindness Awareness Month | ADHD Awareness Month | National Disability Employment Awareness Month | AAC Awareness Month | National Physical Therapy Month | Dyslexia Awareness Month
October 6: World Cerebral Palsy Day
October 8: World Sight Day
October 10: World Inclusion Day
October 10: World Mental Health Day
October 11: National Coming Out Day
October 12: Indigenous People's Day
October 15: White Cane Safety Day
October 16: Boss's Day
October 31: Halloween (Alba Reyna Halloween mention)
NOVEMBER
Native American Heritage Month | National Epilepsy Awareness Month | National Family Caregivers Month | Movember (Men’s Health Awareness Month) | Alzheimer's Disease Awarebess Month
November 1-2: Día de Muertos
November 11: Veteran's Day
November 17: National Entrepreneurs Day
November 19: International Men's Day
November 20: Transgender Day of Remembrance
November 26: Thanksgiving
November 27: Native American Heritage Day
November 28: Small Business Saturday
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.
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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.
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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.
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For more information about Person Centered Thinking, please contact Johanna Stafford.
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.
