About me… Mom of 2 children (15 and 11 years) Mom of 2 children (15 and 11 years) Service Coordinator at Regional Center Service Coordinator at Regional Center Worked for 8 years, Break for 10 years, Back to work for 6 years now Sunday School Teacher for Preschool to K Sunday School Teacher for Preschool to K for 13 years

REGIONAL CENTERS Regional centers are nonprofit private corporations that contract with the Department of Developmental Services to provide or coordinate services and supports for individuals with developmental disabilities.

LOCATION California has 21 regional centers with more than 40 offices located throughout the state that serve individuals with developmental disabilities and their families. California has 21 regional centers with more than 40 offices located throughout the state that serve individuals with developmental disabilities and their families. Look up Regional Centers by county; and, by ZIP code for LA County Look up Regional Centers by county; and, by ZIP code for LA County

SERVICES OFFERED Regional centers provide diagnosis and assessment of eligibility. There is no charge for the diagnosis and eligibility assessment. Regional centers provide diagnosis and assessment of eligibility. There is no charge for the diagnosis and eligibility assessment. Service Coordinators are assigned to help plan, access, coordinate and monitor the services and supports that are needed because of a developmental disability. Service Coordinators are assigned to help plan, access, coordinate and monitor the services and supports that are needed because of a developmental disability.

Some of the services and supports provided by the regional centers: Information and referral Information and referral Assessment and diagnosis Assessment and diagnosis Counseling Counseling Lifelong individualized planning and service coordination Lifelong individualized planning and service coordination Purchase of necessary services included in the individual program plan Purchase of necessary services included in the individual program plan Resource development Resource development Outreach Outreach Assistance in finding and using community and other resources Assistance in finding and using community and other resources Advocacy for the protection of legal, civil and service rights Advocacy for the protection of legal, civil and service rights Early intervention services for at risk infants and their families Early intervention services for at risk infants and their families Genetic counseling Genetic counseling Family support Family support Planning, placement, and monitoring for 24-hour out-of-home care Planning, placement, and monitoring for 24-hour out-of-home care Training and educational opportunities for individuals and families Training and educational opportunities for individuals and families Community education about developmental disabilities Community education about developmental disabilities

WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR SERVICES? person must have a disability that begins before the person's 18th birthday, be expected to continue indefinitely and present a substantial disability. Eligibility is established through diagnosis and assessment performed by regional centers. person must have a disability that begins before the person's 18th birthday, be expected to continue indefinitely and present a substantial disability. Eligibility is established through diagnosis and assessment performed by regional centers.regional centersregional centers Infants and toddlers (age 0 to 36 months) who are at risk of having developmental disabilities or who have a developmental delay may also qualify for services. Infants and toddlers (age 0 to 36 months) who are at risk of having developmental disabilities or who have a developmental delay may also qualify for services.

ELIGIBILITY after age 3 To be diagnosed with intellectual disability, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, autism or any disabling conditions found to be closely related to intellectual disability or to require treatment similar to that required for individuals with an intellectual disability, but shall not include other handicapping conditions that are solely physical in nature. To be diagnosed with intellectual disability, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, autism or any disabling conditions found to be closely related to intellectual disability or to require treatment similar to that required for individuals with an intellectual disability, but shall not include other handicapping conditions that are solely physical in nature.

ELIGIBILITY before age 3 Infants and toddlers from birth to age 36 months may be eligible for early intervention services through Early Start if they meet one of the criteria listed below: Infants and toddlers from birth to age 36 months may be eligible for early intervention services through Early Start if they meet one of the criteria listed below: have a developmental delay of at least 33% in one or more areas of either cognitive, communication, social or emotional, adaptive, or physical and motor development including vision and hearing; or have a developmental delay of at least 33% in one or more areas of either cognitive, communication, social or emotional, adaptive, or physical and motor development including vision and hearing; or have an established risk condition of known etiology, with a high probability of resulting in delayed development; or have an established risk condition of known etiology, with a high probability of resulting in delayed development; or be considered at high risk of having a substantial developmental disability due to a combination of biomedical risk factors be considered at high risk of having a substantial developmental disability due to a combination of biomedical risk factors

EARLY INTERVENTION SERVICES EARLY INTERVENTION SERVICES assistive technology assistive technology audiology audiology family training, counseling, and home visits family training, counseling, and home visits health services health services medical services for diagnostic/evaluation purposes only medical services for diagnostic/evaluation purposes only nursing services nursing services nutrition services nutrition services occupational therapy occupational therapy physical therapy physical therapy psychological services psychological services service coordination (case management) service coordination (case management) social work services social work services special instruction special instruction speech and language services speech and language services transportation and related costs transportation and related costs vision services vision services

EARLY START SERVICE COORDINATOR Follow up with recommendations given by the multi-interdisciplinary team for eligible consumers Follow up with recommendations given by the multi-interdisciplinary team for eligible consumers Develop an Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP) for consumers and their families Develop an Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP) for consumers and their families Meet with families periodically to discuss progress towards IFSP outcomes Meet with families periodically to discuss progress towards IFSP outcomes Assist families to access specialized services if needed, advocate for families and consumers Assist families to access specialized services if needed, advocate for families and consumers Assist with accessing community resources, and with transition to the school district Assist with accessing community resources, and with transition to the school district

SPECIAL NEEDS AT CHURCH “Jesus placed His hands into the wounds of the hurt, He surrounded Himself with the “unclean”, He loved the “least of these”, He cared for the broken, and He washed the dirty feet of the disciples.” “Jesus placed His hands into the wounds of the hurt, He surrounded Himself with the “unclean”, He loved the “least of these”, He cared for the broken, and He washed the dirty feet of the disciples.” Jesus knew that ministry is messy, special needs ministry is messy like any other ministry in the church (it requires work, time and dedication), but I see it as a blessing that comes from above! Jesus knew that ministry is messy, special needs ministry is messy like any other ministry in the church (it requires work, time and dedication), but I see it as a blessing that comes from above!

Great opportunity to share Jesus with the special needs children and their family Great opportunity to share Jesus with the special needs children and their family God’s Word does not return void (Isaiah 55:11). They are listening!! God’s Word does not return void (Isaiah 55:11). They are listening!! It is not our job to determine who is able to be reached by God’s Holy Word. His Word is for everyone and His love is all encompassing. It is not our job to determine who is able to be reached by God’s Holy Word. His Word is for everyone and His love is all encompassing.

1 Corinthians 12:27 says “Now you are the body of Christ and each one of you is a part of it.” (special needs is part of the Body of Christ) 1 Corinthians 12:27 says “Now you are the body of Christ and each one of you is a part of it.” (special needs is part of the Body of Christ) “those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable” 1 Cor 12:22 “those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable” 1 Cor 12:22 “Go and make disciples of all nations…” (Matt 28:19). As the church, as Christians, it is our mission to share with everyone the unconditional love and grace of Jesus Christ. “Go and make disciples of all nations…” (Matt 28:19). As the church, as Christians, it is our mission to share with everyone the unconditional love and grace of Jesus Christ.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jer 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jer 29:11 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’” Mat 25:40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’” Mat 25:40