Starting the Regional Center Process in California: What the First 90 Days Actually Look Like
To start with Regional Center in California, call the Regional Center that serves your county and ask to begin the intake process. That call is step one. What follows is an assessment process that can take up to 120 days — but knowing what to expect makes the process significantly more manageable.
What Regional Center Is
California's 21 Regional Centers are nonprofit organizations under contract with the California Department of Developmental Services. They coordinate services and supports for people with developmental disabilities — including service coordination, respite care, therapy funding, and community supports. Most services are free regardless of income.
Regional Center is not a single program you apply to and receive. It's a gateway. Once eligibility is established, a service coordinator is assigned and an Individual Program Plan (IPP) is developed based on your child's specific needs and goals.
Who May Qualify
To be eligible for Regional Center services under the Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services Act, a person must have a disability that began before age 18, is expected to continue indefinitely, and constitutes a substantial disability. Qualifying conditions include autism, intellectual disability, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, and other conditions closely related to intellectual disability or requiring similar treatment as defined in California Welfare and Institutions Code Section 4512.
A diagnosis alone is not sufficient. The disability must result in substantial functional limitations in at least three areas — communication, learning, self-care, mobility, self-direction, capacity for independent living, or economic self-sufficiency.
Children under age 5 may qualify for provisional eligibility without a full developmental disability diagnosis if they demonstrate significant functional limitations in at least two major life areas.
How to Start
There are 21 Regional Centers in California, each serving a specific geographic area. You must apply to the one covering your county. The Department of Developmental Services maintains a listing of all 21 centers at dds.ca.gov.
Call your Regional Center's intake line and ask to start the intake process. They will ask for your address to confirm you are in their service area, and will walk you through their specific application process. Each Regional Center has its own intake procedures, though the timelines and standards are set by state law.
Bring documentation to support your child's case — medical records, evaluations, school records, and any prior assessments that describe how the condition affects daily functioning. The more specific the documentation, the clearer the picture for the assessment team.
What Happens After You Call
Once you have made initial contact and submitted an application, Regional Center has 15 working days to schedule an intake appointment. From the date of that intake appointment, they have up to 120 calendar days to complete any additional evaluations needed and make an eligibility determination. If a delay would create a risk to your child's health or safety, that window shortens to 60 days.
If your child is found eligible, Regional Center must develop an initial IPP within 60 days of the eligibility determination.
Write down the date of every contact. The timelines above are legal obligations — having a record of when you made first contact and when the intake appointment occurred gives you a basis to follow up if the process stalls.
If Regional Center Denies Eligibility
A denial is not necessarily final. If you disagree with the eligibility determination, you have the right to appeal within 30 days of receiving the written notice. You can also request a grievance if you believe your rights under the Lanterman Act have been violated.
Regional Centers are required to provide translation and interpretation services for families who are not comfortable communicating in English. Request this in advance if you need it.
A Note on Timing
Regional Center timelines and funded services are subject to state budget decisions. The process described here reflects how the system currently operates, but it is worth confirming current timelines and service availability directly with your Regional Center, as these details can change.
Your Next Step
Find the Regional Center that serves your county at dds.ca.gov, call their intake line, and ask to begin the intake process. Write down the date of that call — your 15-day clock for an intake appointment starts there.
Get help preparing for Regional Center intake and build your personal plan