Getting Started
Regional Centers
The regional centers are the first stop for most parents and caretakers looking to get help for their loved ones with autism. They are privately run organizations that manage funds set aside for disability services under California’s Lanterman Act.
Bay Area
Golden Gate Regional Center
Golden Gate Regional Center provides services and supports to individuals with developmental disabilities in Marin, San Francisco and San Mateo counties.
North Bay Regional Center
North Bay Regional Center is one of 21 Regional Centers for persons with developmental disabilities in California. Started as a grass roots movement, Regional Centers were originally established to assist persons with intellectual disabilities — and their families — in identifying and developing services and programs within their communities that help them lead more independent lives.
San Andreas Regional Center
San Andreas Regional Center provides case management and community services for residents of Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, San Benito, and Monterey counties whose intellectual or developmental disabilities cause severe impairments in their daily lives. Regional center services are a voluntary entitlement through the Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services Act, the state of California’s first-of-its-kind civil rights law for such individuals. The Lanterman Act dedicates regional centers to serve individuals with intellectual disability or other similar conditions, autism spectrum disorder, cerebral palsy, and epilepsy who require assistance to remain a part of their community. The regional centers also partner with the counties’ offices of education to administer and provide early intervention services for children before their third birthday who have or are at-risk for developmental delays.
Regional Center of the East Bay
We coordinate lifelong services and supports for individuals with developmental disabilities and their families.
RCEB works in partnership with many individuals and agencies to plan and coordinate services and supports for people with developmental disabilities, family members and community leaders in the Alameda and Contra Costa counties.
Valley Mountain Regional Center—VMRC
Valley Mountain Regional Center serves children and adults with developmental disabilities in San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Amador, Calaveras and Tuolumne counties. Free diagnosis and assessment services are available to any person suspected of having a developmental disability, such as intellectual disability, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, or autism. To qualify for ongoing support and services, a person must be found to have a developmental disability which began before the age of 18 and is a substantial handicap.
Central Valley Regional Center
Central Valley Regional Center’s mission is to help individuals with developmental disabilities, and children at risk, to reach their goals.
We accomplish this by:
Coordinating resources, and collaborating with other agencies to develop the best services for clients and families.
Valuing Diversity.
Respecting individual rights and choices.
Committing to excellence, honesty and cost effectiveness in service delivery.
We respect, support, and cooperate with each other to carry out this mission. CVRC is a private, nonprofit corporation, funded by the State of California to provide services to persons with developmental disabilities
Alta California Regional Center (ACRC)
A private, non-profit corporation working under contract with the State of California, Department of Developmental Services, to provide services to persons, age three and above, with a developmental disability pursuant to the Lanterman Act. ACRC also provides services to infants and toddlers, between birth and 36 months, who have a need for early intervention services and who meet the eligibility criteria for the California Early Start program.
Outside of the Bay Area
There are 21 regional centers in California.
We have listed the seven in or near the Bay Area.
For more regional centers, visit the full list at the DDS website.
Dispute Resolution for Regional Center Clients
Disability Rights California
Provides free legal information, advice and representation to regional center clients.
Navigating the service systems related to autism can be a confusing and overwhelming process. This presentation explains what the main service systems are and how to access them, including: insurance, school districts, and regional centers. Come learn about services in the community as well as what Children’s Health Council and Stanford provide.