Know your rights. Understand your benefits. Find the support your family needs.
Clear information for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and the families who support them. Explore Regional Center rights, public benefits, and trusted community resources across the Bay Area.
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Your rights should be understandable.
Adults receiving Regional Center services have rights related to choice, dignity, communication, services, community participation, and decisions affecting their lives. Families should know where to find accurate information and where to request independent advocacy.
Regional Center rights
The Lanterman Act is the California law that gives people with developmental disabilities the right to services and supports that help them live as independently as possible in the community. It covers choice, participation in planning, and the right to be treated with dignity and respect.
Why it matters. When families know what the law says, meetings feel less confusing and expectations are clearer for everyone, including the adult whose life the plan is about.
How CFS may help
CFS may help a family identify which parts of the law relate to the adult's current situation, write down questions for the Service Coordinator, and keep a simple record of what was discussed and agreed.
Person centered planning
Person centered planning means the adult's own preferences, strengths, culture, communication style, and goals lead the plan, rather than a list of available programs. Family members support the process while the adult's voice stays at the center.
Why it matters. Services work better and last longer when they reflect what the person actually wants for their life.
How CFS may help
CFS may help the household prepare ahead of a planning conversation by capturing what the adult has said they want, which supports feel helpful, and what has changed since the last plan.
IPP meetings
The Individual Program Plan, or IPP, is the written plan created with the adult, the family, and the Regional Center. It records goals, the services that support those goals, and who is responsible for what. It is reviewed on a regular schedule and can be revisited whenever needs change.
Why it matters. The IPP is where services are discussed and authorized, so preparation before the meeting shapes what happens after it.
How CFS may help
CFS may help organize records, prepare questions and requested services in the adult's own words, and follow up on action items after the meeting so nothing is lost between visits.
Notices of Action
When a Regional Center proposes to deny, reduce, end, or change a service, it must send a written Notice of Action. The notice explains the reason for the decision and the deadlines for responding.
Why it matters. Response windows are short, and a missed date can limit the options a family has.
How CFS may help
CFS may help the family read the notice together, mark the dates, organize the documents needed to respond, and reach the Office of Clients' Rights Advocacy when independent advocacy is needed.
Appeals
Families have the right to appeal a Regional Center decision through the state fair hearing process, which may include an informal meeting, mediation, and a hearing. Filing quickly matters because timing can affect whether current services continue while the appeal is decided.
Why it matters. An appeal is a formal process with steps and deadlines. Knowing the sequence in advance reduces stress.
How CFS may help
CFS may help track deadlines, assemble the record of services and communication, and coordinate with independent advocacy. bttr does not represent families at hearings or give legal advice.
Language access
Adults and families have the right to receive information and participate in planning in the language they understand best, including American Sign Language. Regional Centers arrange interpretation and translated documents on request.
Why it matters. A plan only works when everyone at the table understands it and can speak to it.
How CFS may help
CFS may help a family request interpretation or translated documents ahead of meetings, confirm the request was recorded, and keep translated copies together with the rest of the adult's records.
Privacy and service records
Adults and their authorized representatives can request copies of Regional Center records, including assessments, IPPs, and correspondence. Information is confidential and is shared only with consent or as the law allows.
Why it matters. Records are how families check what was authorized, what was said, and what still needs follow up.
How CFS may help
With the adult's consent, CFS may help request and organize records so documents are ready before planning meetings, benefit appointments, or appeals.
Independent advocacy
The Office of Clients' Rights Advocacy, or OCRA, is part of Disability Rights California. A Clients' Rights Advocate is assigned to every Regional Center and provides free advocacy and legal information to people receiving Regional Center services.
Why it matters. Some questions call for an independent advocate who can give legal guidance and stand with the adult in a dispute.
How CFS may help
CFS may help the family recognize when OCRA is the right contact, gather the documents an advocate will ask for, and keep communication organized. CFS does not replace OCRA.
Complaints and grievances
Each Regional Center has a process for complaints about how a person's rights were handled, and the Department of Developmental Services also accepts complaints. This process is separate from an appeal about a specific service decision.
Why it matters. Choosing the process that fits the situation saves time and leads to a clearer answer.
How CFS may help
CFS may help clarify which path fits the concern, document what happened and when, and track responses until the matter is resolved.
Safety and abuse reporting
Adults with developmental disabilities have the right to be safe from abuse, neglect, and exploitation. Concerns can be reported to the county Adult Protective Services program, to law enforcement in an emergency, and to the Regional Center.
Why it matters. Families should know who to call before a situation becomes urgent, and adults should know their own reporting options.
How CFS may help
CFS may help the household write down emergency contacts and reporting numbers, build a simple safety plan with the adult, and coordinate follow up with providers after an incident.
Knowing your rights is different from organizing what happens next.
Reading about rights is one thing. Turning them into a prepared meeting, a documented request, or a timely response is another. bttr Coordinated Family Support may help families prepare questions, organize records, track communication with the Regional Center and providers, prepare for planning meetings, and connect with independent advocacy resources when a concern needs more than coordination.
bttr does not provide legal representation or replace a Clients’ Rights Advocate. CFS helps families organize information, communication, and follow through.
Public benefits can support a more stable life.
Benefits can come from different federal, state, and county agencies. Each program has its own eligibility rules, forms, appointments, notices, and renewal requirements.
IHSS
In Home Supportive Services
What it is
A Medi Cal funded program that pays for help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, meal preparation, and household tasks so an eligible adult can live safely at home. The county manages applications, assessments, eligibility, and authorized hours. In many situations, a family member can be hired as the adult's paid support professional.
Where to start
Contact the IHSS office in the county where the adult lives.
What families may need to prepare
- Active Medi Cal, or a Medi Cal application in progress
- A health care certification form completed by a licensed provider
- Notes on the adult's daily support needs, in the adult's own words where possible
- Identification and Social Security number
- Availability for the county social worker's in home assessment
How CFS may help
CFS may help a family organize application information, prepare for appointments, understand correspondence, track reassessment dates, and coordinate IHSS with the adult’s other services. bttr does not determine eligibility or authorized hours.
SSI
Supplemental Security Income
What it is
A federal program run by the Social Security Administration that provides monthly payments to adults with a qualifying disability who have limited income and resources. SSI is based on financial need, not on work history. In California, SSI is closely connected to Medi Cal.
Where to start
What families may need to prepare
- Medical records and a list of doctors, clinics, and therapies
- Identification, birth certificate, and Social Security number
- Information about income, bank accounts, and other resources
- Details about the adult's living arrangement and who pays for what
- The adult's participation and consent, or an authorized representative
How CFS may help
CFS may help organize documents, prepare for interviews, understand letters and requests for information, track deadlines, and keep SSI information consistent with the adult's other benefits. bttr does not determine eligibility or payment amounts.
SSDI and Disabled Adult Child benefits
Social Security Disability Insurance and DAC benefits
What it is
These are different from SSI. SSDI is based on the adult's own work history and Social Security contributions. Disabled Adult Child benefits are paid on a parent's Social Security record when the adult's disability began before age 22 and a parent is retired, receiving disability benefits, or has died. Some adults receive one of these along with SSI.
Where to start
What families may need to prepare
- Records showing the disability began before age 22, for DAC
- The parent's Social Security information, for DAC
- The adult's work history, for SSDI
- Current medical records and provider contacts
How CFS may help
CFS may help a family sort out which program may apply, gather records, keep track of notices, and coordinate timing with SSI and Medi Cal. bttr does not determine eligibility.
Medi Cal
California's Medicaid health coverage
What it is
Free or low cost health coverage for eligible Californians. Many adults with developmental disabilities qualify through SSI or through disability and income based pathways. Medi Cal is also the foundation for IHSS and for many Regional Center funded supports, so keeping it active matters.
Where to start
What families may need to prepare
- Identification and proof of California residency
- Income information for the adult
- Any current health insurance details
- Renewal packets and notices, which arrive on a set schedule
How CFS may help
CFS may help a family track renewal dates, understand notices, keep provider and plan information current, and make sure a change in one benefit does not create a gap in coverage.
CalFresh
Monthly food benefits
What it is
Monthly benefits on an EBT card for buying groceries. In California, adults who receive SSI may also be eligible for CalFresh. Household size and shared meals affect how an application is reviewed.
Where to start
What families may need to prepare
- Who in the home buys and prepares food together
- Income and benefit information
- Housing costs and out of pocket medical expenses
- Availability for a phone interview
How CFS may help
CFS may help organize application information, prepare for the interview, and track reporting and renewal requirements. bttr does not determine eligibility.
CalABLE
Tax advantaged savings for disability related expenses
What it is
A California savings and investment account for eligible people with disabilities. Money in a CalABLE account can be used for qualified disability expenses such as housing, transportation, education, and health, and savings within program limits generally do not count against the SSI resource limit.
Where to start
What families may need to prepare
- Proof of eligibility, such as SSI or SSDI, or a disability certification
- Identification and Social Security number
- A plan for how the account will be funded and used
How CFS may help
CFS may help a family understand how CalABLE fits alongside SSI and Medi Cal, organize enrollment information, and keep records of qualified expenses. bttr does not provide financial or investment advice.
Housing assistance
Rental assistance and subsidized housing
What it is
Housing vouchers, subsidized apartments, and rental assistance are managed by local housing authorities and state programs, and waitlists are often long. Regional Centers may also fund some housing related supports through the IPP when they connect to the adult's goals.
Where to start
What families may need to prepare
- Income and benefit documentation for the adult
- Identification and current housing information
- A picture of where the adult would like to live in the future
How CFS may help
CFS may help track waitlists and application status, organize paperwork, and connect housing goals with IPP planning and future planning conversations.
Transportation benefits
Discount fares and ADA paratransit
What it is
Bay Area transit agencies offer discount fare cards for riders with disabilities and ADA paratransit service for people who cannot use fixed route buses and trains for some or all trips. Regional Centers may also fund transportation to authorized services.
Where to start
What families may need to prepare
- Disability documentation for the discount card application
- A paratransit eligibility application and, in some cases, an interview
- A list of regular trips: programs, work, appointments, and community activities
How CFS may help
CFS may help complete applications with the adult, coordinate rides with appointments and programs, and revisit transportation when schedules or services change.
Utility assistance
Discounts and support with energy bills
What it is
California utilities offer discount rate programs for lower income households and a Medical Baseline allowance for homes that rely on medical equipment. Separate energy assistance programs help with bills and weatherization. Each is applied for through the utility or a local agency.
Where to start
What families may need to prepare
- Household income information
- A recent utility bill and account number
- A medical certification, for Medical Baseline
How CFS may help
CFS may help gather documents, note renewal dates, and keep utility programs aligned with the household's other benefit records.
Employment benefits support
Working while receiving benefits
What it is
Many adults with developmental disabilities can work and keep important benefits. Social Security work incentives and Medi Cal rules allow earnings within limits, and reporting wages on time protects coverage. Benefits planning before a job starts helps families understand what changes and what does not.
Where to start
What families may need to prepare
- Job details, expected hours, and pay
- A routine for saving pay stubs and reporting wages
- Current SSI, SSDI, and Medi Cal information
How CFS may help
CFS may help track wage reporting, coordinate Department of Rehabilitation and Regional Center employment services, and connect the family with benefits planning resources before decisions are made.
Applications are only the beginning.
Most benefits continue only when renewals, reports, and reassessments happen on time, and each agency sends its own letters on its own schedule. bttr Coordinated Family Support may help a household keep track of what each program asks for, when it is due, and how a change in one benefit affects another, so the adult's coverage and income stay stable.
bttr does not determine eligibility, approve benefits, or set authorized hours or payment amounts. Those decisions belong to the agency that runs each program.
Support should connect beyond one program.
Filter by county and category, or search by name or topic. Every listing links to the organization's official website so families can confirm current details directly.
County
Category
Resources work better when someone connects them.
A transit card, a job program, a housing waitlist, and a Regional Center service each live with a different organization. bttr Coordinated Family Support may help a family decide which resources fit the adult's goals, make first contact, keep the details in one place, and follow up so a good referral does not stall.
bttr is not affiliated with the organizations listed here and does not guarantee availability of any service.
Information is useful. Coordination makes it actionable.
bttr Coordinated Family Support helps adults with developmental disabilities who live with family, along with the households supporting them. CFS can organize services, benefits, appointments, providers, communication, emergency planning, and future support around one clearer family plan.
CFS may help coordinate
- Regional Center services and IPP goals
- IHSS, SSI, Medi Cal, CalFresh, and CalABLE information
- Medical appointments and health related follow through
- Transportation and community access
- Provider communication and scheduling
- Emergency and future planning
- Forms, records, notices, and deadlines
- Family roles and communication
- Employment, education, and community resources
- Language and cultural access needs
CFS may be appropriate when
- The adult is 18 or older.
- The adult receives Regional Center services.
- The adult lives with at least 1 family member.
- The household needs assistance coordinating services, benefits, providers, or planning.
- CFS is assessed, approved, and authorized through the person’s Regional Center plan.
bttr provides Coordinated Family Support through Regional Center of the East Bay and Golden Gate Regional Center across Alameda, Contra Costa, San Francisco, San Mateo, and Marin counties. Eligible families generally do not pay bttr directly when CFS is authorized. Eligibility, authorization, availability, and service scope vary.
Learn more about the statewide service from the California Department of Developmental Services CFS page.
Families may also ask their Regional Center Service Coordinator about Coordinated Family Support and request bttr as the provider.
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