As we mark the 40th anniversary of one of the most consequential court decisions impacting people with developmental disabilities in the state, we also celebrate The Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services Act which the decision protected. This year through Assembly Concurrent Resolution (ACR) 55, it’s important to remember how far we have come and the vital milestones that have sustained commitment to Californians with developmental disabilities.
As the only developmental disabilities entitlement in the country, the Lanterman Act is a California law that was established in 1967 to ensure that Californians with developmental disabilities and their families have access to services and supports needed that are guaranteed by the law.
While the 1967 law was a groundbreaking commitment to this community it was challenged in 1982 after its first decade of existence. The state stripped away needed services during a budget crisis leaving people with developmental disabilities and their families with a bare minimum of support that didn’t take into account their individual needs. This action would have destroyed the person-centered system, but for the California Supreme Court decision in 1985 asserting people were indeed entitled to the services they needed as identified in their individualized plans.
The Lanterman Act has provided decades of critical continuation of giving California responsibility and obligation to its residents who have developmental disabilities; this remains a key pillar to providing for the 450,000 Californians who have developmental disabilities. This is achieved through California’s developmental services system and once a person is determined to be eligible for regional center services, they are in the system right away and they are entitled to be supported for the rest of their lives through one of California’s 21 regional centers.
As the author of ACR 55, Assemblymember Jeff Gonzalez, is a parent of a child who is in the regional center system, the entitlement provided through California state law. Considering in all other states a person with a developmental disability and their family would have to wait, in many cases, well over a decade, to receive the support and services they need to live an integrated full life in their community, this remains a remarkable milestone for this community. The continued commitment by the state and all stakeholders and families across California to better the lives of these individuals keeps the progress moving in the right direction towards continued improvement.
We must also recognize that California has come leaps and bounds since the establishment of the Lanterman Act in 1967, including the formation of the Master Plan for Developmental Services which was developed to lay a foundation for the future of services across systems for those served by regional centers and their families. It is not just about how the Department of Developmental Services (DDS) can better serve people with developmental disabilities, but rather how the state of California can better serve them. A committee of stakeholders worked to develop the Master Plans, focusing on key areas, including:
- Person-centered planning and services
- Coordination between regional centers and other services
- Strengthening the regional center and service provider workforces
- Increasing consistency
- Defining outcomes and collecting/reporting data
- Funding
As the Master Plan’s priorities have continued to evolve, the remaining constant is the statewide regional center system’s commitment to serving nearly half a million Californians with developmental disabilities and ensuring the implementation of the Plan is effective for those they serve and their families.
Since 2019, the number of Californians served by the developmental services system has expanded by 31% and continues to grow. The Plan, which was finalized in March, makes recommendations for the system for tomorrow and beyond. We look forward to seeing in real time how it will progress towards improving the lives of Californians with developmental disabilities.
As we recognize the 40th anniversary of this important entitlement and we forge our path ahead to provide for this critical population as it continues to grow rapidly, it remains vital that policymakers remain engaged through collaboration and partnership with the community, the advocates, and all the stakeholders who remain committed to continued improvement in how our state supports the services that are provided to ensure individuals can live their healthiest, happiest lives in their community.
Jeff Gonzalez represents the 36th California Assembly district, including the counties of Imperial, Riverside, and San Bernardino. Amy Westling is executive director of the Association of Regional Center Agencies, representing California’s network of 21 community-based, nonprofit regional centers.
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