Our vision statement: Disability Rights California will change the system so it values diversity, culture and each individual

Links to other services

Services for people with developmental disabilities, Lanterman Act, regional center, early start, fair hearings

Current federally approved Section 1915(c) Medi-Cal Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Waiver for regional center clients who would qualify for ICF/DD services, October 2006 through September 2011, 228 pages, English, State of California, Department of Health Care Services. This waiver is administered by the Department of Developmental Services and regional centers. The waiver does two important things: (1) Enable children to qualify for Medi-Cal by not counting prental income and/or resources ("institutional deeming") and (2) Fund through Medi-Cal many of the services that support children and adults in their homes and communities.

Updated amendments to the above waiver:
Summary of Amendment Request for the HCBS DD Waiver dated 6/15/2009 (pdf)

9/23/09 Ltr. from DHCS to CMS, requesting amendment, ; 12/11/09 CMS ltr. to DHCS approving amendment; 9/10/09 Summary of Amendments to HCBS DDS Waiver (pdf)

5/1/06 Summary of Amendments to HCBS DDS Waiver (pdf)

9/15/09 CMS ltr. to DHCS approving amendment (pdf)

For additional information see Chapter 13 in "Rights Under the Lanterman Act" (htm) or (pdf)

Early Start Specialized Therapeutic Services Code - Program Advisory CFSB 01-0 (htm) (October 2001, 7 pages) Ken Freedlander, Chief, Early Start Local Support Section, Department of Developmental Services (DDS)

General Information and Materials on Supported Living Services (partial materials), (htm) or (pdf) (October 2002, 48 pages, English, #5257.01) Complete materials available from the Department of Developmental Services, Adult & Supported Living Services Section, 1600 Ninth Street, Sacramento, CA 95814; (916) 654-1956; FAX (916) 654-3641

Kids Data - Data for all counties, cities and school districts in California. Wide range of topics measuring the health and welfare of children - Child Safety, Demographics, Diesabilities, Special Health Care Needs, Education & Child Care, Emotional & Behavioral Health, Family Economics, Physical Health and Public Opinion.

Sprout - a private, non-profit organization dedicated to helping individuals with developmental disabilities and mental retardation grow through challenging and safe travel experiences. Sprout programs are available to people with MR/DD and the agencies that serve them throughout the United States.

Ability First - programs and services for children and adults with disabilities to help people realize their full potential.

A Consumer's Guide to the Lanterman Act (pdf) (July 2001, 52 pages) also available in Spanish Una Guía para el Consumidor del Acta Lanterman (pdf)

CIRCL - Connections for Information and Resources on Community Living Resources: Information Briefs, The Toolbox, Bill & Dave's Corner, and General Information  (English, 2001) 4171 Starkes Grade Road, Placerville CA 95667-9204, 530-644-6653

Adoption Assistance Program - California Children and Family Services - Adoption.

Adoption Assistance in California - questions and answers about adoption assistance in California.

Autism Awareness Centre Inc. - information on autism spectrum disorders; more than 300 books and items to support and enhance Autism Spectrum Disorder programs and therapies.

"Autism Today" - e-mail delivery of news, resources for autism, autism-related issues. 

Building the Legacy: A Training Cirriculum on IDEA 2004 - 19 modules, materials for each module include: a PowerPoint presentation for use in training, detailed background text and explanation for trainers, handouts for participants, and supplemental resources for trainers.

California Department of Developmental Services - the agency through which the State of California provides services and supports to individuals with developmental disabilities.

California State Council on Developmental Disabilities - established by state and federal law as an independent state agency to ensure that people with developmental disabilities and their families receive the services and supports they need.

EFA - Epilepsy Foundation of America – information about epilepsy, research, advocacy, newsroom and more.

Families for Early Autism Treatment (FEAT) - a nonprofit parent organization serving families with autistic family members. Advocates for early intervention. Offers an on-line newsletter, usually twice a day.

Fiesta Educativa - dedicated to empowering Latino families of persons with special needs through education, training, referral and information. Fiesta Educativa is committed to the philosophy that persons with disabilities are entitled to the benefits of full integration into their community.

Foster Parent Community - working to bring foster care providers together, bring public awareness to foster care issues, and help at-risk children by supporting foster care providers - has chat rooms, articles, e-mail, foster parent associations, directory, other resources.

Frank Lanterman Regional Center - trainings, workshops, conferences for parents and professionals; IEPs, early intervention and other aspects of childhood disability and youth

Friends of Children with Special Needs (FCSN) - helps developmentally disabled individuals and their families with support, education, advocacy training, and recreation. FCSN's Web site offers information, links, and online newsletters.

Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Promising Practices - A collection of 85 reports focusing on services for people with disabilities that will allow them to live in the most integrated community setting appropriate to their support requirements and preferences, exercise meaningful choices, and obtain quality services.

How to Be Culturally Responsive (pdf) (August 1996, 9 pages, English)

The HCBS Waiver Primer and Policy Manual - The Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Waiver Primer and Policy Manual provides information on California's Waiver for individuals with a developmental disability, and how they can receive care in their homes and communities instead of in institutions.

Los Angeles Department of Children and Family Services - offers information on safety, permanency, adoptions, community, parenting, health, education and more.

OCRA - Office of Clients Rights Advocacy - Regional center advocacy for people with developmental disabilities.

Olmstead Advisory Committee Handouts - Olmstead Advisory Handouts from Olmstead Advisory Committee meetings.

Our-Kids - Devoted to raising special kids with special needs. Our-Kids provides support and information for parents and caregivers of children with disabilities; support through its e-mail group of parents; and other information.

NICHCY - National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities - IDEA information, disability information, parent guides, student guides, transition guides, and more.

NCLD - National Center for Learning Disabilities, Inc. - information and resources on learning disabilities - facts, behavioral warning signs, legal rights, evaluations, publications.

Regional Centers - lists regional center web pages as they come on line.

Regional Center Service Providers - vendors and service providers that contract with the Department of Developmental services.

Regulations.gov - Assisted Living Settings/ Facilities and the ADA News Bulletin can be found on this site

Special Needs Alliance - independent attorneys who specialize in disability and public benefits.

Supported Life Institute (SLI) - offers educational and training opportunities to assist individuals and organizations in the work of improving the quality of life for people with disabilities.

Suzie's Cerebral Palsy Homepage - "The Only True Disability is People's Attitudes!" says Suzie's Cerebral Palsy Homepage. The site features CP Resources, Email Exchange, CP Meeting Place, Life Lessons, Funhouse, Family & Friends, Missing & Exploited Persons Page, and a Question & Answer Page.

WarmLine Family Resource Center - resources and support to families of children with special needs in Sacramento, El Dorado, Yolo, Placer, Nevada and Alpine counties.

Web access - Applying the ADA to the Internet: A Web Accessibility Standard - Unless a web site is designed in an accessible format, significant populations will be locked out as the World Wide Web rapidly advances from a text-based communication format to a graphical format embracing audio and video clip tools.

Westside Center for Independent Living - empowers people with disabilities to reach their independent living goals.

Whispers of Hope - personal page by a woman with cerebral palsy features e-mail exchange, forum, message board, suggested reading, links, resources.