Who is Eligible
Applying for Services
Harbor Regional Center provides services for infants and toddlers with developmental delays or at risk of developmental disability and individuals with a diagnosed developmental disability. The intake process helps determine your eligibility for services. The individual must reside in Harbor Regional Center’s catchment area.
Early Start (Birth to 36 months)
The Early Start Program provides services and supports for infants and toddlers, birth to 36 months, and their families. The Early Start Program is coordinated in California by regional centers and public school districts. Early Start eligibility criteria is defined by Section 95014 of the California Government Code as at least one of the following:
1. Have a developmental delay of at least 25% in one or more areas of either:
- CognitiveHow a child learns new things and solves problems. It includes how children explore their environment to figure things out – whether by looking at the world around them, putting objects in their mouths, or dropping something to watch it fall. This domain also includes “academic” skills like counting and learning letters and numbers. More
- CommunicationHow children understand what is said to them. How children express their needs and share what they are thinking. Ex. Waves “bye bye.” Points to ask for something or to get help. Names things in a book when you point and ask what is that? More
- Social EmotionalHow children interact with others and show emotion. For example, they calm down when spoken to or picked up. Looks at a few pages in a book with you. Comforts others who are hurt or sad, like hugging a crying friend. More
- AdaptiveHow a child engages in everyday living skills like eating, dressing, caring for self. More
- Physical and motor development including vision and hearingHow a child use their bodies. Ex. Takes a few steps on his own. Catches a large ball most of the time. Eats with a spoon. More
2. Have established risk condition of known etiology , with a high probability of delayed development; or
3. Be considered at risk of having a substantial developmental disability due to a combination of biomedical risk factors
Resources
Reasons for Concern Brochure
Early Start Community Infographic
Provisional (Birth to 4 Years)
The 2021 Developmental Services Budget Trailer Bill amended the Welfare and Institutions (W&I) Code section 4512 to expand eligibility for Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services Act (Lanterman Act) services by allowing a child from birth to four years of age to be provisionally eligible for regional center services under specified conditions.
The child shall be provisionally eligible for regional center services if the child has a disability that is not solely physical in nature and has significant functional limitations in at least two of the following areas of major life activity, as determined by a regional center and as appropriate to the age of the child:
- Self-careHow an individual dresses and feeds themselves. More
- Receptive and expressive languageHow individuals understand what is said to them. How individuals express their needs and share what they are thinking. For example, waves “bye bye,” points to ask for something or to get help. Names things in a book when you point and ask what is that. More
- LearningHow an individual learn new things and solves problems. It includes how individuals explore their environment to figure things out – whether by looking at the world around them, putting objects in their mouths, or dropping something to watch it fall. This domain also includes “academic” skills like counting and learning letters and numbers. More
- MobilityHow an individual use their bodies, such as takes a few steps on his own; catches a large ball most of the time; eats with a spoon. More
- Self-directionThe ability to make your own decisions and organize your own work rather than being told what to do by other people. More
Resources
Lanterman (Ages 3 and Older)
Lanterman Eligibility for individual ages 3 and older. Regional Center eligibility criteria is defined by law, in Section 4512 of the California Welfare and Institutions Code.
Diagnoses that may qualify a person for Regional Center services include the following developmental disabilities:
- AutismAutism is a developmental disability that affects how people communicate and interact with the world. More
- Cerebral PalsyCerebral palsy (CP) is a neurological condition that results from damage to the developing brain leading to issues with muscle movement, balance, and posture. More
- Intellectual DisabilityIntellectual disability refers to neurodevelopmental conditions present prior to the age of 18 that affect functioning in two areas; cognitive functioning, such as learning, problem solving and judgement and adaptive functioning, which are activities of daily life such as communication skills and social participation. More
- EpilepsyEpilepsy is a long-term disease that causes seizures due to abnormal electrical signals in the brain caused by damaged brain cells. More
- Conditions closely related toSome examples are a learning disability, speech delays, Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD), mental health diagnosis, etc.], or that require treatment similar to, that required for an intellectual disability. More or that require treatment similar to, that required for an intellectual disabilityIntellectual disability refers to neurodevelopmental conditions present prior to the age of 18 that affect functioning in two areas; cognitive functioning, such as learning, problem solving and judgement and adaptive functioning, which are activities of daily life such as communication skills and social participation. More
In addition, to qualify for Regional Center services, a person’s developmental disability must:
- originate prior to age 18
- be expected to continue indefinitely
- be a substantial disability, meaning the person experiences significant limitations in three or more of the following areas:
- Self-careHow an individual dresses and feeds themselves. More
- LanguageHow individuals understand what is said to them. How individuals express their needs and share what they are thinking. Ex: Waves bye-bye. Points to ask for something or to get help. Names things in a book when you point and ask what is that. More
- LearningHow an individual learn new things and solves problems. It includes how individuals explore their environment to figure things out – whether by looking at the world around them, putting objects in their mouths, or dropping something to watch it fall. This domain also includes “academic” skills like counting and learning letters and numbers. More
- MobilityHow an individual use their bodies, such as takes a few steps on his own; catches a large ball most of the time; eats with a spoon. More
- Self-directionThe ability to make your own decisions and organize your own work rather than being told what to do by other people. More
- Capacity for independent livingAbility to perform age-appropriate daily living skills without the assistance of another person. More
- Economic self-sufficiencyAbility to participate in vocational training or to obtain and maintain employment without significant support. More
The law states that learningHow an individual learn new things and solves problems. It includes how individuals explore their environment to figure things out – whether by looking at the world around them, putting objects in their mouths, or dropping something to watch it fall. This domain also includes “academic” skills like counting and learning letters and numbers. More disabilities, or disabilities that are solely psychiatric or physical in nature, are not included in the definition of developmental disabilities.
Resources
Making It Happen: A Parent’s Guide
Guide to California’s Regional Center System (English)
Guide to California’s Regional Center System (Khmer)
Guide to California’s Regional Center System (Korean)
Guide to California’s Regional Center System (Spanish)
Guide to California’s Regional Center System (Tagalog)
Guide to California’s Regional Center System (Traditional Chinese)
Guide to California’s Regional Center System (Vietnamese)
DDS Website – Informational Packets