• Where do I get Funding?
• Regional Centers
• School Districts

Where Do I Get Funding?

School districts and regional centers are required by law to provide services for individuals with developmental disabilities, including autism. Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), with a few exceptions, regional centers have the responsibility for providing needed supports and services to qualified children until they are three years old. At that time, the school districts assume primary responsibility for providing educational supports and services for disabled children until they complete their schooling. At that time, regional centers resume primary responsibility.

If your child is under age 3, the Regional Center is responsible for providing services through the “Early Start” program. This program is mandated under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The California legislature has found that early intervention services “represent an investment of resources, in that these services reduce the ultimate costs to our society, by minimizing the need for special education and related services in later school years and by minimizing the likelihood of institutionalization.” The Legislature has recognized that time is of the essence in that "[t]he earlier intervention is started, the greater is the ultimate cost-effectiveness and the higher is the educational attainment and quality of life achieved by children with disabilities." Regional Centers are required to provide services to infants and toddlers with developmental delays in one or more of these five areas: cognitive development; physical and motor development, including vision and hearing; communication development; social or emotional development; or adaptive development. Regional Centers also provide services to children who have conditions that have harmful developmental consequences, or have a high risk of developmental disability. The regional center is required to determine a child’s eligibility for services by conducting an assessment by a multi-disciplinary team of qualified individuals. Services provided through the Early Start program include special instruction, speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, respite and other services, depending on the child’s needs.

If your child is over the age of 3, both the school district and the regional center have a responsibility to provide services. School districts are required to provide a “Free Appropriate Public Education,” also called FAPE, which is required under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). School districts must provide specialized instruction and related services without charge. The services must address all of the child’s special education and related service needs, and must be based on the individual needs of the child and not on the child’s disability. Generally speaking, school districts must provide a “floor of opportunity” in which the child may obtain “meaningful educational benefit.” School districts are not required to provide the best possible educational program. Special education law also requires that a student be educated in the least restrictive environment (LRE) and that removal of a student from the regular education environment occur only when the nature or severity of the student’s disability is such that education in regular education classes cannot be achieved satisfactorily. In 2004, IDEA was amended significantly and passed into law. Many of the provisions in this new IDEA law will become effective on July 1, 2005.

Regional Centers provide services to individuals with developmental disabilities under California’s Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Act. The Lanterman Act requires regional centers to provide developmentally disabled people with those services and supports that will allow them, “regardless of age or degree of disability, and at each stage of life” to integrate “into the mainstream life of the community” and to “approximate the pattern of everyday living available to people without disabilities of the same age.” The Act also states that persons with developmental disabilities have the right to treatment and habilitation services and supports which foster the individual’s developmental potential and are “directed toward the achievement of the most independent, productive and normal lives possible.” The Act contemplates that the regional centers will work with consumers and their families to secure “those services and supports that maximize opportunities and choices for living, working, learning and recreating in the community.” It is possible for a school district to provide a child a FAPE without providing those supports and services required for them to meet the Lanterman standards. In such a case, regional centers are to meet those unmet needs. However, parents must make a good faith effort to obtain those services and supports from their school district before the regional center is required to provide them. Further, regional centers have a responsibility to advocate for services from the school district and any other potential “generic” funding sources.

Regional Centers

Eastern Los Angeles Regional Center
1000 South Fremont
Alhambra, CA 91802-7916
Gloria Wong, Director
(626) 299-4700
Web site: www.elarc.org
Eastern Los Angeles county including the communities of Alhambra and Whittier

Frank D. Lanterman Regional Center
3303 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 700
Los Angeles, CA 90010
Diane Campbell Anand, Director
(213) 383-1300
Web site: www.lanterman.org
Central Los Angeles county including Burbank, Glendale, and Pasadena

Harbor Regional Center
21231 Hawthorne Boulevard
Torrance, CA 90503
Patricia Del Monico, Director
(310) 540-1711
Web site: www.hddf.com
Southern Los Angeles county including Bellflower, Harbor, Long Beach, and Torrance

Inland Regional Center
674 Brier Drive
San Bernardino, CA 92408
Mary Lynn Clark, Director
(909) 890-3000
Web site: www.inlandrc.org
Riverside and San Bernadino counties

North Los Angeles County Regional Center
15400 Sherman Way, Suite 170
Van Nuys, CA 91406-4211
George Stevens, Director
(818) 778-1900
Web site: www.nlacrc.com
Northern Los Angeles county including San Fernando and Antelope Valleys

Regional Center of Orange County
801 Civic Center Drive West, Suite 300
Santa Ana, CA 92701
William J. Bowman, Director
(714) 796-5100
Web site: www.rcocdd.com
Orange county

San Gabriel/Pomona Regional Center
761 Corporate Center Drive
Pomona, CA 91768
R. Keith Penman, Director
(909) 620-7722
Web site: www.sgprc.org
Eastern Los Angeles county including El Monte, Monrovia, Pomona, and Glendora

South Central Los Angeles Regional Center
650 West Adams Boulevard, Suite 200
Los Angeles, CA 90007-2545
Dexter Henderson, Director
(213) 763-7800
Web site: www.sclarc.org
Southern Los Angeles county including the communities of Compton and Gardena

Westside Regional Center
5901 Green Valley Circle, Suite 320
Culver City, CA 90230-6953
Michael Danneker, Director
(310) 258-4000
Website: www.westsiderc.org
Western Los Angeles county including the communities of Culver City, Inglewood, and Santa Monica

return to the top

School Districts

ABC Unified
16700 Norwalk Blvd.
Cerritos, CA 90703-1838
(562) 926-5566
Ron Barnes Ed.D., Superintendent
Sheila Levy-Craven, Director of Special Education

Alhambra Unified
15 W. Alhambra Rd.
Alhambra, CA 91801
(626) 308-2255
www.alhambra.k12.ca.us
Julie R. Hadden Ed.D., Superintendent
Harold Standerfer, Deputy Superintendent in charge of Special Education

Arcadia Unified
234 Campus Dr.
Arcadia, CA 91007-6902
(626) 821-8300
Mimi Hennessy Ed.D., Superintendent
David Munoz, Special Education Coordinator

Azusa Unified
546 S. Citrus Ave.
Azusa, CA 91702-0500
(626) 967-6211
www.azuzausd.k12.ca.us
Rod C. Gaeta Ed.D., Superintendent
Glenna Shoemaker, Special Education

Baldwin Park Unified
3699 N. Holly Ave.
Baldwin Park, CA 91706-5397
(626) 962-3311
www.bpusd.k12.ca.us
Mark M. Skvarna, Superintendent
Carol Lew, Special Education Coordinator

Bassett Unified
904 N. Willow Ave.
La Puente, CA 91746-1615
(626) 931-3000
www.bassett.k12.ca.us
Mr. Robert F. Nero, Superintendent

Bellflower Unified
16703 S. Clark Ave.
Bellflower, CA 90706-5203
(562) 866-9011
Ms. Rebecca J. Turrentine Ed.D., Superintendent

Beverly Hills Unified
255 S. Lasky Dr.
Beverly Hills, CA 90212-3644
(310) 551-5100
Dr. Gwen E. Gross Ed.D., Superintendent

Bonita Unified
115 W. Allen Ave.
San Dimas, CA 91773-1437
(909) 971-8200
Dr. Robert C. Otto, Superintendent

Burbank Unified
1900 W. Olive Ave.
Burbank, CA 91506
(818) 729-4400
www.burbank.k12.ca.us
Dr. Gregory A. Bowman Ed.D., Superintendent

Charter Oak Unified
20240 Cienega Ave.
Covina, CA 91723-0009
(626) 966-8331
Dr. John Roach, Superintendent

Claremont Unified
2080 N. Mountain Ave.
Claremont, CA 91711-2643
(909) 398-0600
Mr. Douglas J. Keeler Ed.D., Superintendent

Covina-Valley Unified
519 E. Badillo St.
Covina, CA 91723-0269
(626) 331-3371
Mr. Michael S. Miller, Superintendent

Culver City Unified
4034 Irving Pl.
Culver City, CA 90232-2810
(310) 842-4220
Laura McGaughey Ed.D., Superintendent

Downey Unified
11627 Brookshire Ave.
Downey, CA 90241-7017
(562) 904-3500
Dr. Edward Sussman Ed.D., Superintendent

Duarte Unified
1620 Huntington Dr.
Duarte, CA 91010-2534
(626) 358-1191
Judith Gutierrez, Superintendent

El Rancho Unified
9333 Loch Lomond Dr.
Pico Rivera, CA 90660-2913
(562) 942-1500
www.erusd.k12.ca.us
Mr. Norbert Genis, Superintendent

El Segundo Unified
641 Sheldon St.
El Segundo, CA 90245-3036
(310) 615-2650
Mr. Bruce Auld, Superintendent

Glendale Unified
223 N. Jackson St.
Glendale, CA 91206-4334
(818) 241-3111
Dr. Michael F. Escalante, Superintendent

Glendora Unified
500 N. Loraine Ave.
Glendora, CA 91741-2964
(626) 963-1611
Dr. George Mannon, Superintendent

Hacienda la Puente Unified
15959 E. Gale Ave.
City Of Industry, CA 91716
(626) 933-1000
www.hlpusd.k12.ca.us
Dr. Edward Lee Vargas, Superintendent

Hermosa Beach City School District
1645 Valley Drive
Hermosa Beach, CA 90245
(310) 937-5877
www.hbcsd.org
Sharon L. McClain, Ed.D., Superintendent

Inglewood Unified
401 S. Inglewood Ave.
Inglewood, CA 90301-2501
(310) 419-2700
www.inglewood.k12.ca.us
Dr. Pamela Short-Powell Ed.D., Superintendent

La Canada Unified
5039 Palm Dr.
La Canada, CA 91011-1518
(818) 952-8300
Dr. Sue Leabo, Superintendent

Las Virgenes Unified
4111 N. Las Virgenes Rd.
Calabasas, CA 91302-1929
(818) 880-4000
Mr. John Fitzpatrick Ed.D., Superintendent

Long Beach Unified
1515 Hughes Way
Long Beach, CA 90810-1839
(562) 997-8000
www.lbusd.k12.ca.us
Chris Steinhauser, Superintendent

Los Angeles Unified
333 S. Beaudry Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90017
(213) 241-1000
www.lausd.k12.ca.us
Mr. Roy Romer, Superintendent

Lynwood Unified
11321 Bullis Rd.
Lynwood, CA 90262-3600
(310) 886-1600
Yvonne Contreras, Interim Superintendent

Manhattan Beach Unified
325 South Peck Ave.
Manhattan Beach, CA 90266-2478
(310) 318-7345
www.manhatten.k12.ca.us
Dr. Gwen Gross, Superintendent

Monrovia Unified
325 E. Huntington Dr.
Monrovia, CA 91016-3585
(626) 471-2000
www.monroviaschools.net
Dr. Louise Taylor, Superintendent

Montebello Unified
123 S. Montebello Blvd.
Montebello, CA 90640-4729
(323) 887-7900
M. Magdalena Carrillo Mejia, Superintendent

Norwalk-La Mirada Unified
12820 Pioneer Blvd.
Norwalk, CA 90650-2894
(562) 868-0431
Ginger Sattuck, Superintendent

Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified
3801 Via la Selva
Palos Verdes Estates, CA 90274-1119
(310) 378-9966
www.pvpusd.k12.ca.us
Dr. Ira Toibin, Superintendent

Paramount Unified
15110 California Ave.
Paramount, CA 90723-4320
(562) 602-6000
Jay Wilbur, Superintendent

Pasadena Unified
351 S. Hudson Ave.
Pasadena, CA 91101-3507
(626) 795-6981
www.pasadenaunifiedshooldistrict.com
Dr. Percy Clark Jr., Superintendent

Pomona Unified
800 S. Garey Ave.
Pomona, CA 91766-3325
(909) 397-4800
www.pomona.k12.ca.us
Patrick D. Leier, Superintendent

Redondo Beach Unified
1401 Inglewood Ave.
Redondo Beach, CA 90278-3912
(310) 379-5449
www.rbusd.org
Dr. Beverly J. Rohrer Ed.D., Interim Superintendent

Rowland Unified
1830 Nogales St.
Rowland Heights, CA 91748
(626) 965-2541
Ronald J. Leon, Superintendent

San Gabriel Unified
408 Junipero Serra Dr.
San Gabriel, CA 91776-4500
(626) 451-5400
www.sgusd.org
Mr. Gary E. Goodson, Superintendent

San Marino Unified
1665 West Dr.
San Marino, CA 91108-2594
(626) 281-3691
Mr. Jack R. Rose, Superintendent

Santa Monica-Malibu Unified
1651 16th St.
Santa Monica, CA 90404-3891
(310) 450-8338
www.smmusd.org
John Deasy, Superintendent

South Pasadena Unified
1020 El Centro St.
South Pasadena, CA 91030-3118
(626) 441-5703
Mike Hendricks, Superintendent

Temple City Unified
9700 Las Tunas Dr.
Temple City, CA 91780
(626) 548-5000
www.templecity.k12.ca.us
Dr. Joan Hillard, Superintendent

Torrance Unified
2335 Plaza del Amo
Torrance, CA 90509
(310) 972-6500
www.tusd.org
Dr. Steven Fish, Superintendent

West Covina Unified
1717 W. Merced Ave.
West Covina, CA 91790-3406
(626) 338-8411
www.wcusd.org
Richard A. Vladovic, Superintendent

return to the top

Disclaimer: Everything contained herein is provided for general informational purposes only and should not be misconstrued as legal, medical, or any other type of professional advice. Nothing contained herein is intended as a substitute for obtaining advice from your own medical and legal professionals. LA FEAT makes no promises, guarantees or implied agreements as to the accuracy or completeness of anything contained or referenced to herein, or how such may affect your family. Please seek out your own professional advice before making any decisions concerning your child.