Self-Advocacy Resources

Self-Advocacy Resources
Materials and publications in this section help you understand your rights so you can advocate for yourself or another person. If you have any questions or need more help, contact Disability Rights California at
1-800-776-5746, or TTY at:1-800-719-5798: available M-F, 9:00am - 4:00pm.
Rights Under the Lanterman Act (RULA)
This manual explains your rights as a person with developmental disabilities in California and focuses on your rights with the regional centers and service providers under the Lanterman Act.Special Education Rights and Responsibilities (SERR)
This manual explains how to become eligible for special education, how to request and advocate for special education services, and what to do if you disagree with school districts.




New Rules for IHSS: Elimination of Proration of Protective Supervision Services
This publication explains elimination of the proration of In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) protective supervision services as a result of Disability Rights California’s advocacy.
In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) Disagreements, Complaints and Requesting a New IHSS Social Worker
The purpose of an assessment and reassessment is to determine what services you need and how much time you need to receive IHSS services in order for you to remain safe at home.
Regional Center Respite Hearing Packet
Respite gives family members a break from caring for you and gives them time to do other things. The regional center pays for it. Sometimes the regional center may refuse to give you, stop or cutback respite. You can appeal this decision. This pub is a step-by-step guide to help you prepare for a regional center respite fair hearing.
Disability Discrimination Fact Sheet: Business and Other “Public Accommodations”
Disability Discrimination Fact Sheet: Employment
Federal and state law require employers to accommodate your disability. This publication gives you a sample letter to ask for an accommodation. It has a sample letter for your doctor. It tells you what to do if your employer will not give you an accommodation for your disability so you can do your job.
Fact Sheet: Disability-Based Housing Discrimination
This fact sheet discusses the rights of people with disabilities to be free from disability-based discrimination in housing under federal and California law.
Fact Sheet: Rights to Assistance Animals in Housing
This tells you about your right to have an assistance animal when your housing does not allow pets. Assistance animal means an animal you need lives in your home. It can be a service animal or an emotional support animal. This pub tells you what to do if your landlord will not let you keep your assistance animal and tells you where to get help.
Fact Sheet: Service Animals in Business and Public Spaces
You cannot bring emotional support animals into businesses or public places. You can bring service animals to those places. This pub tells you how to know if your animal is a service animal. If a business does not let you have your service animal, this pub tells you what you can do to keep your animal with you.
In-Home Supportive Services Protective Supervision
Protective supervision is an IHSS service for people who, due to a mental impairment or mental illness, need to be observed 24 hours per day to protect them from injuries, hazards, or accidents. An IHSS provider may be paid to observe and monitor a disabled child or adult when the person can remain safely at home if 24-hour supervision is provided.
Medi-Cal Managed Care: An Independent Medical Review (IMR) Can Change a Plan’s No to Yes
Most Californians who get Medi-Cal are in managed care through a Medi-Cal health plan. Health plans are also called managed care organizations or health maintenance organizations.