A Caregiver’s Guide to California Regional Centers
Helping children, teens, and adults with developmental needs access lifelong support
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What Are Regional Centers?
California has 21 Regional Centers — nonprofit agencies funded by the state — that provide services funded by the state to people with certain developmental disabilities and their families. They’re here to make sure individuals can get the support they need to learn, grow, and participate fully in their communities.
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Each Regional Center covers a specific part of California, and once you’re connected, they can be a partner for life . Services adapt as your child grows — from early childhood through adult transition and independent living supports.
Who They Serve
Regional Centers serve people who have (or are strongly suspected of having):
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Autism
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Intellectual Disability
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Cerebral Palsy
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Epilepsy
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Other conditions closely related to intellectual disability, such as certain genetic syndromes (decided on a case-by-case basis)
They also support infants and toddlers under age 3 who have significant developmental delays or specific medical conditions — even if there’s no formal diagnosis yet.
Ages and Programs
Birth to 3 Years — Early Start
This is California’s early intervention program for babies and toddlers.
If your child is eligible, services might include:
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Speech therapy
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Occupational therapy
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Physical therapy
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Visits from an infant development specialist
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Caregiver coaching and home programs
Services are usually provided at home or in the community.
Age 3 and Older
At age 3, eligibility changes. Your child must have a lifelong developmental disability that fits Regional Center criteria (availability varies by region). If eligible, services might include:
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Respite care (giving caregivers a break)
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Social skills programs
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Behavior support
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Recreational and community inclusion programs
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Adaptive skills training (daily living skills)
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Support for transitions to adulthood, employment, or housing
In San Mateo, Berkeley, and San Ramon, Regional Centers may even fund programs like Spirited Play Labs — a play-based, social learning environment for children.
Why Caregivers Seek Regional Center Services
Regional Centers can help when you:
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Need support for daily living skills, community participation, or social connections
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Are looking for programs that focus on your child’s life outside of school
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Want to plan for your child’s future as they get older — including adulthood and independent living supports
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Need coordination of multiple services in one place
Example:
A 10-year-old with autism might get social skills group funding from the Regional Center, speech therapy from school, and private occupational therapy through insurance. Think of Regional Center as one piece of the puzzle — alongside school, medical care, and private therapies.
How Regional Centers and Schools Work Together (and Differ)
School services focus on what’s needed for your child to succeed in education (speech therapy, occupational therapy for fine motor, specialized instruction).
Regional Center services focus on life skills, home, and community participation — regardless of whether your child’s challenges affect academics.
Many children qualify for both, and the services can complement each other.
Institutional Deeming — A Key Benefit for Families
One of the most important but least understood benefits of Regional Center eligibility is something called Institutional Deeming. This doesn’t mean your child will ever be placed in an institution. It’s simply the legal term California uses to describe this level of support.
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In most situations, a child’s eligibility for Medi-Cal (California’s version of Medicaid) is based on family income. This means that if a caregiver’s income is over a certain level, the child normally wouldn’t qualify.
Institutional Deeming changes that.
If your child is eligible for Regional Center services after age 3 under the Lanterman Act, they may also qualify for Medi-Cal without counting family income at all. You don’t have to give up private insurance. Medi-Cal through Institutional Deeming usually acts as a secondary coverage. The Regional Center acts as a pathway, saying:
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“If your child would need this level of support in an institution, we will provide it at home — and we will make sure the funding follows them.”
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Why it matters:
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Medi-Cal can become secondary insurance to your private plan, covering co-pays, deductibles, and certain therapies or medical equipment your insurance might not.
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It can open access to specialized providers or programs that only take Medi-Cal.
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It provides long-term stability — Medi-Cal through Institutional Deeming is not affected by changes in caregiver income.
Requesting a Regional Center Evaluation
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Find your local center using the interactive map.
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Call the intake department and say you’d like to request an eligibility evaluation for your child.
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Share any reports you already have (medical, school, private evaluations).
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The Regional Center will schedule their own evaluation to decide if your child qualifies.
How This Differs From NDC’s Evaluations
At The Neurodevelopmental Collective (NDC), we provide comprehensive neuropsychological evaluations that:
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Look at all areas of development — thinking skills, learning, attention, language, memory, emotional functioning, and more
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Identify both strengths and challenges
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Include recommendations for home, school, and the community
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Screen for sensory, fine motor, and daily living skills — and suggest referrals if needed
Regional Center evaluations answer yes/no about eligibility. NDC evaluations explain the whole story of how your child learns, thinks, and grows.
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Many families choose to do both:
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Regional Center evaluation to open doors to funded services (and potentially Institutional Deeming)
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NDC evaluation to understand their child’s unique learning and development in detail
Important Terms to Know
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Lanterman Act – The California law that guarantees certain services for people with qualifying developmental disabilities.
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Institutional Deeming – Allows children who qualify for Regional Center services after age 3 to get Medi-Cal without considering caregiver income.
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Early Start – The state’s early intervention program for children under 3.
Final Tips for Caregivers
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Keep copies of all reports and correspondence — Regional Centers sometimes request the same documents later.
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Services vary by center and by funding availability — always ask what’s currently offered.
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You can request a re-evaluation if your child is not found eligible and you believe they should be.
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If your child is already in Early Start, start the transition to school or other services conversation before their 3rd birthday.
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Each Regional Center has a Client Rights Advocate who can help if you run into challenges.
California Regional Centers – Contact Information
Find Regional Center Listings and an interactive map at the CA Department of Developmental Services website at:
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