Clients & families

Social Recreation, Non-medical Therapies, and Camp

At the San Diego Regional Center, we recognize that all persons, regardless of their disability, need appropriate social and recreational opportunities during their lifetime.

Social recreation, non-medical therapies, and camp services are created to help improve social interaction opportunities and skills. These services allow clients to participate in both group and individual activities at home and in the community. These services encourage clients to start conversations with others, learn proper social skills, build friendships, and strengthen natural support systems.

Important to know

Services are temporary and include regular check-ins to see how things are going. They are designed to help clients build the social and behavioral skills outlined in their Individual Program Plan (IPP) or Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP). The goal is to help clients participate in more social and recreational activities in the community.

Who is eligible? ALL Status 2 clients, regardless of age or living arrangement!

Social Recreation

Social and recreational opportunities include time with family, friends, schools, residential settings, day services, independent living and supported living programs, municipal parks and recreational programs, and other generic community activities and services. Among the many opportunities are martial arts classes, swimming lessons, theater classes, soccer teams, baseball leagues, music lessons, and much more.

Providers DO NOT have to be vendored, but they must be willing to accept payment through an FMS.

Criteria

  • The client has no similar socialization or recreation resources available to them.
  • The need for service is directed toward alleviating the client’s developmental disability or maintaining an independent and productive life.
  • The client’s IPP identifies the need for the service, and a specific outcome has been developed to address that need.
  • The identified service meets appropriate Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) regulations.
  • The provider must be vendored through SDRC’s Community Services Department or be willing to receive payment through an FMS (Community Interface Services).
  • Transportation is not funded to/from social rec activities.

Non-Medical Therapies

Non-medical therapies like art, music, dance, equine therapy, animal-assisted therapy, and some adaptive programs are available. Most of these services need approval and must be vendored with the SDRC Community Services Department for the current fiscal year. The department reviews requests to decide if a provider needs to be vendored.

Criteria

  • SDRC funding will only be provided in exceptional circumstances when it has been demonstrated that the service is directed toward alleviating the client’s developmental disability.
  • The planning team recommends the activity.
  • All other potential sources of funding have been exhausted.
  • The service is vendored through SDRC’s Community Services Department.
  • Transportation is not funded to/from non-medical therapeutic services.

Camp

Day camps, school break camps, and overnight camps offer fun outdoor experiences for a limited time. Families and individuals can use these camps as a break for respite, daycare, day programs, or social and recreational activities. Community Services will review new camps to determine if they must be vendored.

Criteria

  • The planning team has determined that the camp is appropriate.
  • The client’s ability to participate does not compromise their health and safety.
  • Most camp services must be vendored through our Community Services Department for the current fiscal year.
  • The consideration of the family’s responsibility for providing similar services and support for a child without disabilities has been exhausted
  • Other funding sources have been exhausted, including camperships (scholarships), grants, and volunteers to provide inclusion support.
  • Funding for transportation to/from the camp may be offered if needed and would be done through a TSR.

PROCESS FOR REQUESTING SERVICES

IDENTIFY a social recreation organization agency/provider for the social recreation activity they are requesting.

ASK the provider if they are willing to become vendored with SDRC or accept payment through SDRC’s Financial Management Service (FMS).

PROVIDE the bill payment procedure to the provider if the provider is willing to work with FMS.

GATHER information to provide to your service coordinator.

SHARE with Your Service Coordinator:

1. Name of social recreation agency/provider
2. Confirmation they are willing to accept payment through FMS
3. Type of activity (for example, swimming, gymnastics, dance)
4. Activity setting (individual lessons or group lessons)
5. How often your child will be attending the lesson/class
6. Cost of the lesson/class
7. How the activity will benefit yourself/your child
8. Date the activity will begin (in general, at least one month’s notice is needed)