Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services Act

The law updates the terminology used throughout California’s developmental-services system without changing who qualifies for services or the underlying service requirements. It also removes gendered language and makes related wording conform across early-intervention, regional-center, and developmental-services provisions.

What the law does ​

• Replaces “consumer” throughout the Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services Act with “person eligible for regional center services.”
• Updates related references in laws governing regional centers, individual program plans, early-intervention services, developmental centers, advocacy, oversight, and service providers.
• Uses gender-neutral terminology throughout the affected statutes.

Who it affects ​

• People eligible for regional center services and their families.
• Regional centers, developmental centers, service providers, advocates, and state agencies administering developmental services.

Context ​

The Lanterman Act requires the State Department of Developmental Services to contract with regional centers to provide services and supports to people with developmental disabilities and their families.