Wednesday, December 10, 2025

Commission Will Learn About Regional Center That Serves Over 400,000 Californians With Developmental Disabilities

Jackie Robinson Community Center Photo courtesy City of Pasadena

Pasadena commission to hear about system that transformed care since 1960s

A regional system serving more than 400,000 Californians with developmental disabilities will be the focus of a presentation on Wednesday before the Pasadena Human Services Commission.

The Frank D. Lanterman Regional Center will provide an overview of California’s regional center network at 6 p.m. in the Jackie Robinson Community Center, 1020 North Fair Oaks Avenue.

The presentation comes as the Lanterman Center, one of 21 such facilities statewide, continues serving families across North Los Angeles County. The center covers areas including Pasadena, Glendale, Burbank and parts of central Los Angeles.

California launched two pilot regional centers in 1966. The program expanded three years later with passage of the Lanterman Mental Retardation Services Act.

Before the Lanterman Act, families faced only two options: keep a child with disabilities at home or pursue institutionalization.

The legislation aimed to help individuals with developmental disabilities live more independently. It sought to approximate everyday living patterns available to people of the same age without disabilities.

The 1973 Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services Act broadened eligibility. It added cerebral palsy, epilepsy, autism and other conditions closely related to intellectual disability.

People with developmental disabilities are assigned to one regional center based on their address. They cannot choose which center to work with.

The centers coordinate services across four life stages: early intervention for ages 0-3, early childhood for ages 3-5, school age for 5-16, and ongoing support through the lifespan.

Regional centers function as payers of last resort. Services must be provided through natural or generic options when possible.

If generic services cannot meet needs, the regional center may provide funding.

The Lanterman center maintains resource centers in Los Angeles and Glendale. These offer support groups, training, library access and referral services.

The intake process takes up to 45 days for children under 3 or 120 days for those over 3.