We are committed to building strong partnerships with individuals
served and their families. Our goal is to be responsive to each
individual’s unique needs and to clearly communicate options for
the individuals we serve and their families. But despite our best
efforts, there may be a time when the individual we serve or
their family disagrees with the decision we make. If this
happens, individuals or families may ask us to review our
decision to make sure that all information was considered.
We will make every effort to resolve disagreements informally,
through discussion with your Service Coordinator, their Client
Services Manager, or Department Director.
A number of formal processes have been established for responding
to concerns or complaints related to services that are provided
by HRC or our contracted service providers. The Department
of Developmental Services (DDS) contracts with the
Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH) to provide
mediation and hearings for various programs.
Complaints
The Complaint Process is used when an individual/family, or any
representative acting on behalf of someone served by regional
center, believes that any right has been wrongly or unfairly
denied by a regional center or a contracted service
provider. This process is not to be used by
individuals/family to resolve disputes about eligibility, or the
nature, scope, or amount of services.
If a violation of rights is confirmed to have
occurred, the intent of the complaint process is to provide a
meaningful resolution and attempt to prevent similar violations
from occurring again.
For children from birth to 36 months whom are served by the
Regional Center, complaints are submitted to the Department of
Developmental Services (DDS).
For more information for children birth to 36 months who
are served by Regional Centers:
For those who are Three years of age and older served by Regional
Center, complaints are submitted to the Regional Center.
For more information for those who are three years of age
and older served by Regional Center:
Appeals Process
A request for an appeal is a formal request for someone to review
or change a regional center decision – whether the decision is
about eligibility for services or regarding services to be
provided.
For children from birth to 36 months whom are served by the
Regional Center, Due Process Hearing requests are submitted to
the Office of Administrative Hearings.
Click on any of the below for more information for
Regional Center clients from birth to 36 months:
For Regional Center clients from birth to 36 months, Mediation
requests are submitted to the Office of Administrative Hearings
For those who are Three years of age and older served by Regional
Center, requests are submitted directly to the Department of
Developmental Services (DDS) utilizing the DS 1821 Appeal Request
Form
How to appeal:
- You may submit the form electronically at the DDS website:
https://bit.ly/DDSAppealForm
- You may send the Appeals Request Form by email to
AppealRequest@dds.ca.gov
- You may send the Appeals Request Form by mail to 1215 O
Street MS 8-20, Sacramento, CA 95814
- You may send the Appeals Request Form by fax to
916-654-3641
For More Information:
Whistleblower Complaints
Whistleblower Policy | Política de denuncia de irregularidades
You may refer to this policy for concerns related to actions of
the HRC board, officers, directors, employees, contractors, and
service providers which you believe may be improper.
You may also refer to the State of California
Department of Developmental Services (DDS)
webpage for information on how to file a
Whistleblower complaint with DDS.
Advocacy Resources
Disability Rights
California (DRC) is a nonprofit agency. They
are the largest disability rights group in the nation. Federal
law established DRC to protect and advocate for the rights of
people with disabilities.
The Office of Clients Rights Advocacy (OCRA) is part
of Disability Rights California. OCRA provides free legal
information, advice, and representation to regional center
clients. OCRA serves clients of all 21 regional centers
throughout California, and has been serving them since 1999. OCRA
has a Clients’ Rights Advocate (CRA) serving each regional
center. The CRA helps protect regional center clients’
rights.
Harbor Regional Center CRA
Johnanthony Alaimo – CRA
Johnanthony.Alaimo@disabilityrightsca.org
Office of Clients’ Rights Advocacy
17215 Studebaker Road, Suite 195
Cerritos, CA 90703
Phone: (562) 623-9911
Fax: (562) 623-9929
Supervised by Tim Poe