A Booklet for People Who Use Services From Regional Centers

The Lanterman Act

In California, people with developmental disabilities have the right to services that help them be a part of their communities and the law says people who use Regional Centers have the right to make decisions about the services and supports they need, including but not limited to:

• Where to live
• Who to live with
• Where to work or go to school
• Who to have for friends
• What to do for fun
• What to do in the future
• What services and supports you want and need

Also see the Rights Under the Lanterman Act publication at http://www.disabilityrightsca.org/pubs/PublicationsRULAEnglish.htm

Who Can Receive Services Under the Lanterman Act?

There are three groups of people who can get services under the Lanterman Act:

1. People who meet the Lanterman Act’s definition of developmental disability in the Lanterman Act, including people with a substantial disability because of their cerebral palsy, epilepsy, autism, intellectual disability, and other conditions closely related to intellectual disability or that require similar treatment.
2. People who are at high risk of having a child with a developmental disability.
3. Babies and children under age 3 who are at high risk of becoming developmentally disabled.

What is an Individual Program Plan (IPP)?

An IPP is an action plan that talks about the assistance you need to live the way you want.

An IPP identifies your goals, services, and supports so you can be more independent and participate in the community.

An IPP is a written agreement and contract between you and the Regional Center. It is written in a way you can understand.

Timeline for an IPP

The law says people must have an IPP meeting at least once every 3 years. Some people have an IPP done each year. You can ask for an IPP meeting at any time. Call your Regional Center service coordinator to schedule the IPP meeting.

After you ask for an IPP meeting, it must happen within 30 days.

If a final decision cannot be reached on any issue(s), you can schedule another meeting within 15 days or file an appeal.

If the regional center says “NO” to any new service request, the laws say that you must get a written notice of the denial within 5 days in your preferred language.

If the Regional Center says it wants to change or end a service you are already getting, and you disagree, it must give you a written notice in your preferred language 30 days before the change or cut-off. The notice must include an appeal form that you can fill out if you choose to appeal.

Why Your IPP Meeting is Important

Your IPP meeting is the only time your IPP can be officially talked about and written up. If your Regional Center calls you about changing your services, tell them you want to talk about it at an IPP meeting.

Your Rights at an IPP Meeting

• You have a right to a written IPP that lists your future goals and what services you want and need.
• You have a right to services that are a part of your community - not only in places or groups for people with disabilities.
• You have the right to help put together your IPP.
• You have the right to disagree with any change in services on your IPP, even if a meeting has not been held with you.
• You have the right to an interpreter or a facilitator (a helper) if you need one and the Regional Center has to get one for you.
• You have the right to be at your IPP meeting and tell people what services you need and want.
• You have the right to have your IPP meeting in a place you want that is comfortable for you. The Regional Center cannot change your services or write your IPP without you attending the meeting.
• You have the right to be provided with documents such as IPPs, Assessment Plans, IPP Rights, Appeal Rights, and Notices of Action in your native language.
• You have the right to get services and supports in the least restrictive environment.

The Regional Center and agencies that provide services to you, like group homes or programs, must allow you to make your own decisions.

They must give you important information that you need to make decisions in a way that you can understand.

Who is Part of the IPP Team?

• You are the most important member.
• Parents and Legal Guardians.
• People who know you and care about you.
• Your service coordinator from the Regional Center who can get you the services you want and need.
• A Multidisciplinary Team, when appropriate.
• Anyone else you want there

What to do Before the IPP Meeting

• Think about your goals for the future. Think about what you need to be healthy and safe in the community. Is there something new you would like to do?
• Review your old IPP to see what is working or not working. Ask a friend or family member to help. Is there something you would like to do differently?
• List your concerns and your goals.
• List the services and supports that you think would help you meet your goals.
• Talk to people you trust about what you want to say at your meeting. Then write it down or ask a friend or family member to assist you.
• Record what you want to say with a recorder and bring it to your meeting.
• Practice speaking up. You are your own best advocate about what you want and need.
• It’s a very important meeting. Be prepared. Don’t miss it.

The IPP Meeting Planner at the end of this booklet can help you plan for your meeting.

Also see 16 Tips for Getting Quality Regional Center Services for Yourself or Your Child.

What to Do At Your IPP Meeting

• Talk with your team about what you want and need.
• Share what you wrote (or recorded) about the plans and services you want.
• Be polite and assertive.
• You can ask to have a different service coordinator and you can ask to change the services that you get, if you need to.
• There must be a person at your meeting who can say “Yes” or “No” to what is in your IPP. This can be your service coordinator or other Regional Center staff.
• Ask if there are any new assessments, reports, or observations.
• Ask to talk about your strengths, interests, areas of growth, areas of need, and friendships.
• Ask any other questions you have about your progress or services.
• Share your present and future goals.
• Discuss any specific concerns you have.
• Share any home conditions that may impact your performance or behavior at school or work and any recent documents or medical updates.
• Take notes on recommendations and timelines, such as additional services or assessments.
• Say out loud what you understand about the decisions made, actions to be taken, timelines, and roles and responsibilities of each person at the meeting.
• Give feedback to the people working with you in areas where you noted positive effort, growth, or change.

If the person who can approve services in your IPP is not at your meeting, the Regional Center must set up another IPP meeting within 15 days. The Regional Center staff member who approves services must attend.

Right to Services and Supports in Your IPP

The Lanterman Act says your services and supports should help you be independent, a productive member of your community, and live in places where you are safe and healthy.

Here are some (but not all) of the services and supports the Regional Center can help you find and get.

• Assistance getting into school or a training program.
• Adaptive Equipment: If you need things that can support you to become more independent like wheelchairs or computers that speak.
• See Funding Assistive Technology through the Regional Center at http://www.disabilityrightsca.org//pubs/557901.pdf
• Advocacy Training: If you need to learn more about your rights to speak up for yourself.
• See DDS Consumer Advisory Committee publications at http://www.dds.ca.gov/ConsumerCorner/Publications.cfm
• Transportation services and/or training to learn how to use buses and other transportation on your own.
• Crisis Services: If you need a plan in case you have an emergency.
• Parent Training: If you have children and you need to learn more about taking care of them.
• Sexuality: If you have questions about sex or need help with your relationships.
• Assistance with getting a job, including Supported Employment and putting together a small business.
• Living Services: Assistance with selecting and moving into a home, selecting roommates or housemates, household furnishings, common daily living activities and emergencies, becoming a participating member in community life and managing personal financial affairs, so you can be more independent.
• A facilitator to assist you, if you want to be on a committee or a member of a Board of Directors.
• See booklet about Facilitation from the DDS Consumer Advisory Committee at http://www.dds.ca.gov/ConsumerCorner/docs/FacilitationBooklet.pdf
• Assistance to get involved in fun things happening in your community.
  See Using Your IPP to Plan for Community Activities http://www.disabilityrightsca.org/pubs/506301SuppK.pdf
• Other services you need to live a better life. This can be different for each person.

See a larger list at http://www.disabilityrightsca.org//pubs/506301SuppC.pdf

Remember! It’s OK to ask for things you need that aren’t on this list.

Write the services and supports you need in your IPP with the help of your IPP team.

For more details on how to get services through your IPP, including sample letters and planners, see http://www.disabilityrightsca.org/pubs/506301SuppI.pdf

The Self-Determination Program

Another way to receive services paid for by the Regional Center is the Self-Determination Program. The Self-Determination Program will let you have more control over choosing your services and supports. You will get a specific budget each year to purchase the services and supports that you need to make your plan work better for you. You may choose your services and pick which providers deliver those services. You are responsible for staying within your budget. You do not need to join the Self-Determination Program - it is your choice.

See Self-Determination Program publication at http://www.disabilityrightsca.org/pubs/F07701.pdf

What To Do if No One is Listening to You

You should have a say in the services and support you get. If people don’t listen to you, tell someone. Tell a friend, relative, your service coordinator, your clients’ rights advocate, or someone at your local State Council on Developmental Disabilities (SCDD) Regional Office. For a list of your local SCDD Regional (Area Board) Offices, see http://www.disabilityrightsca.org/pubs/506301SuppAA.pdf

Your IPP is a Contract

The law says the Regional Center must follow certain rules when writing your IPP.

You and the Regional Center must agree and sign the IPP before the services can start or continue.

Your Rights When Signing the IPP

You have the right to review and think about your IPP before signing an agreement.

Your services cannot start until you and the Regional Center agree on what is in your IPP. When you sign your IPP, you are saying that you agree with what is in your IPP.

If you don’t agree with everything that is in your IPP, you don’t have to sign it. BUT, you can agree to part of it. Write down what you agree with and what you don’t agree with.

If you only agree to part of your IPP, ask your service coordinator to write it out, like this:

I agree to these parts of my IPP -

1.  
2.  
3.  

Please start/continue the services that I agree to right away.

I do not agree to these parts of my IPP -

1.  
2.  
3.  

Once you do this, the services that you and the Regional Center agreed on can start.

Your Copy of the IPP

• Make sure you get a copy of your IPP. The Regional Center can send a copy of your IPP to people who came to your meeting if you want them to have a copy.
• Go over your IPP with people who care about you. Make sure it has what you want in it.
• If it’s in your IPP, the Regional Center must get the services or supports for you.

Your Rights if You Disagree with the IPP

If the Regional Center says “NO” to services or supports you want, they must send a letter within 5 days telling you why they said “No,” and how you can appeal.

If you disagree with the Regional Center about services you want or need, you have a right to appeal their decision. If the Regional Center delays or takes too long to make a decision, insist on a decision. You can also treat the delay as denial and file an appeal.

Appealing

Appealing is not easy, but it is your right to challenge the Regional Center’s decision. We will not go into detail about appealing in this guide. To learn about appeals and complaints, see Rights Under the Lanterman Act, chapter 12 at http://www.disabilityrightsca.org/pubs/506301Ch12.pdf

To learn how to do an appeal and hearing, see Regional Center Hearing Packet at http://www.disabilityrightsca.org/pubs/548401.pdf

Remember, It’s Your Life

The Regional Center is there to help you get the life you want. Learn how to speak up for yourself. Join a self-advocacy group or get self-advocacy training.

The law says you have the right to make choices about your life and to get the services and supports you need to be a member of your community. When you don’t agree with a decision that will affect your life, speak up.

Get Help With Your Appeal

Talk to your SCDD Regional (Area Board) Office, family, friends, circle of support, or Self-Advocacy group for support.

Each Regional Center has a Clients’ Rights Advocate. Ask the Regional Center who they are and get their phone number. The Clients’ Rights Advocate can support you.

The Office of Clients’ Rights Advocacy can be reached at this number:

1-800-390-7032 or go to their website: http://www.disabilityrightsca.org/about/OCRA.htm

OR

You can call Disability Rights California: 1-800-776-5746

For more information and publications go to www.disabilityrightsca.org

IPP Meeting Planner

This worksheet can help you plan for your IPP Meeting. Use it to help you think about what you want in the future.

A Place to Live

Where do you want to live?

• Stay where I am
• My parent’s place
• My own place
• With a foster family (Adult Family Home Agency)
• A group home
• Supported living
• Independent Living
• My own place with roommates
• Other place

What services do you need to help you live where you want?

• More training
• Help with managing my money
• An attendant or roommate
• Help finding a place to live
• Someone to give me regular support and help
• Help with shopping, cooking, and/or cleaning
• Being safe
• Other service

A Place to Work or Attend School

Where do you want to work or go to school?

• Stay where I am working now
• In the community
• In a workshop or center

What kind of work or school do you want to do?

• Paid work
• Volunteer work, what interests you?
• Other type of work
• College
• Adult education classes
• Other type of school

What services do you need to help with working or going to school?

• Updating a resume
• Applying for a job
• A job coach or aide at the job
• A tutor or note taker
• Training in a workshop
• Other training
• Access to work place or class (like a ramp)
• Transportation
• Other services or supports

Having Fun

What do you want to do in your free time?

• Visit friends
• Exercise
• Shop
• Go to movies or plays
• Volunteer work
• Play sports
• Listen to music/watch TV
• Hobby
• Dating
• Join a self-advocacy group or People First
• Help advocate for other people
• Other activity 

What services do you need to assist you to do the things you want to do?

• Training
• Attendant
• Facilitator
• Transportation
• Circle of friends
• Other services or supports

Medical and Health

What medical or health services do you need?

• Doctor services
• Counseling
• Dentist services
• Sex education (safe sex, birth control)
• Staying in shape, exercise or diet
• Other health services

What other support do you need to access medical or health services?

• Training
• Attendant
• Someone to ask questions
• An advocate or lawyer
• Facilitator
• Other supports

Other Things

What other things do you want assistance with?

• Cooking
• Transportation
• Shopping
• Cleaning my place
• Meeting more people/making friends or dating
• Learning about sexual relationships and safe sex
• Getting along better with people
• Self-advocacy and knowing my rights
• Problems with Social Security, SSI, or other benefits
• Self-defense
• Being on committees or a Board of Directors
• Other assistance

What other services do you need assistance with?

• Training
• Attendant
• Someone to ask questions
• Help setting up a circle of friends
• An advocate or lawyer
• Mentor
• Facilitator
• Other services