Clients & families
Apply for Early Start Services for Children 0-3 Years Old
Your request for service starts with a phone call to our office or Exceptional Family Resource Center (EFRC) Support Liaison, who will explain the Early Start Program and gather information about your child’s needs during the call.
A referral is then made for a service provider to contact you for an evaluation if your child has not had one.
A service coordinator will be assigned to coordinate the assessments and plans for your child’s needed support and services. Eligibility is required to be determined within 45 days of the initial request. If your child is found eligible for the program, an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) is developed in collaboration with your family and other participating agencies providing early intervention services.
If your child is not eligible, your family will be referred to other appropriate resources to help address your concerns.
Start your request for your child’s services
Email SDRC’s Early Start Intake Department at
esint@sdrc.org or call 858.496.4318
or
Exceptional Family Resource Center (EFRC) at
efrc@sdsu.edu or call 619.594.7416
Apply for Services for Individuals Age 3 and Older
Services are termed Lanterman Services
Individuals must first qualify through the intake process to receive regional center services. We collect important information about you or your family member, including address, phone number, and email address, and review the applicant’s social, medical, and psychological history to understand your or your family member’s situation.
This process determines whether the applicant meets the eligibility conditions for a developmental or intellectual disability.
Regardless of potential eligibility, we will support and educate you to assist you during this time of need!
Any services or evaluations provided during the intake process are free of charge to you or your family.
Start the Intake Process
Visit our website at www.sdrc.org/apply and complete the online Initial Contact Form based on the applicant’s age. Once you apply (Sign and submit), the application will be routed to an intake coordinator, who will contact you within 15 working days for more information.
OR
Call Intake Services at 858-576-2938 to let us know that you wish to apply for regional center services. An intake coordinator will call you back within 15 working days to explain the intake process and gather information about you or the applicant.
The intake team will review the applicant’s information. If you or your child are deemed appropriate for an assessment, an intake coordinator will be assigned to your case and contact you to schedule an interview.
The intake process can be confusing and overwhelming. To help us help you, be prepared to discuss your concerns, diagnosis, therapies, and services you or your child have received. We recommend you supply school records, psychological evaluations, or pertinent medical records (preferably pre-age-18 records). The Intake Coordinator will address these and explain the eligibility criteria, intake process, and time frames.
During the meeting, the intake coordinator will help determine if SDRC is the right agency to support you or your child. They will provide an overview of our available services, explain the intake process, and determine if a diagnostic evaluation is needed.
An eligibility team will review the applicant’s assessments. Once a decision has been made, the intake coordinator will contact you about your eligibility status and the team’s recommendations.
Your or your child’s eligibility for regional center services will be determined within 120 days of the start of the intake process.
If you or your child is eligible for regional center services, a meeting will be scheduled to formulate an Individual Program Plan (IPP)—an action plan that identifies your goals, services, and the support you need to become more independent and participate in the community.
The plan will be completed within 60 days of the eligibility determination.
Start your request for services (ages 3 and over)
IMPORTANT: Please read the instructions before submitting the form. All forms MUST be completed by the adult applicant or legally appointed conservator.
Submit
Download
Download the Resource List of Services in the San Diego area.
Once your application has been received, the SDRC Intake Services will review the information and contact you.
Once you or your child becomes an SDRC client, we will work as a true partner from the initial diagnosis to ongoing support throughout your or your child’s life.
If you or your child are not eligible for services within the regional center’s definition of a developmental disability, the intake coordinator will refer you to other community resources and close the case. If you or your family disagrees with the decision, you may appeal the decision and will be given information about the process.