Who is eligible for Lanterman Act services?
The Lanterman Act promises to
support people with developmental
disabilities.
What is the Lanterman Act?
The developmental disability must have
happened before age 18, and has to affect at
least three “major life areas” (like self-care,
learning, or mobility).
Developmental disabilities are:
1) Intellectual Disability;
2) Autism;
3) Cerebral Palsy;
4) Epilepsy; or,
5) A condition similar to Intellectual
Disability or that requires similar services
3- and 4-year-olds with challenges in two life
areas but without a diagnosed
developmental disability may qualify for
services under Provisional Eligibility until
they turn 5.
What is intake?
Intake is the way regional centers
determine who is eligible to receive
regional center services.
What Should I Expect?
A child must have at
least one of the following
If found eligible, the service coordinator helps develop a
plan called the “Individual Family Service Plan” (IFSP) to
identify services needed.
Referral Evaluation IPP
Appointment
A doctor, teacher,
parent, someone
else concerned
about a person, or
the person
themself makes a
referral to the
regional center.
An intake
appointment is
scheduled with the
family to talk about
the concerns.
The regional center
reviews records,
asks the person and
people who know
them questions, and
performs
assessments. A
decision regarding
eligibility is made
within 120 days of
the initial
appointment.
If found eligible, the
service coordinator
helps develop a
plan called the
“Individual Program
Plan” (IPP) to
identify services
needed.
If not found eligible,
the individual
and/or family
receives
information about
how to appeal the
decision and other
places that may be
able to help the
person.
The person may
reapply for services
if there is new
information that the
person had a
developmental
disability before the
age of 18.
