Disability support for adults in Walnut Creek and central Contra Costa.

Where sessions happen in Walnut Creek

Independent Living Services and Tailored Day Services are taught where the skill is used. These are the kinds of places our coaches and participants work in around Walnut Creek.

• Downtown and Broadway Plaza

  Walnut Creek BART, the Walnut Creek Library downtown, Broadway Plaza and the shops along Main Street and Locust Street for budgeting, ordering, and job practice, and Civic Park for a walking routine.

• Heather Farm and Shadelands

  Heather Farm Park and its community center for fitness and recreation routines, the Shadelands business park for work readiness, and the grocery stores and pharmacies along Ygnacio Valley Road.

• Iron Horse Trail and open space

  The Iron Horse Regional Trail for walking and biking routes between Walnut Creek, Pleasant Hill, Alamo, and Danville, plus Mount Diablo State Park and Lime Ridge Open Space for community outings.

• Rossmoor and south Walnut Creek

  Neighborhood errands, appointments along Tice Valley Boulevard, and County Connection stops that connect south Walnut Creek to BART and downtown.

Session locations follow the participant's goals and the plan approved by their regional center or FMS. Places listed here are examples of community settings, not partners or program sites.

Getting around central Contra Costa independently

Transportation training is one of the most requested Independent Living Services goals in this part of the county, because many destinations are spread out and depend on a bus to BART connection.

• BART from Walnut Creek and Pleasant Hill

  Practicing real trips from Walnut Creek station or Pleasant Hill / Contra Costa Centre station to Concord, Lafayette, Orinda, Oakland, or San Francisco, with a coach along for the first rides.

• County Connection buses

  Learning the County Connection routes that link neighborhoods, Diablo Valley College, Heather Farm, and downtown to the BART stations.

• Paratransit and rideshare

  Help applying for and using County Connection LINK paratransit when it fits, and safe habits for rideshare apps, including what to do if a plan changes.

• Walking and biking routes

  Short, repeatable routes on the Iron Horse Trail and neighborhood streets to the library, a grocery store, a park, or a friend's home.

After high school in central Contra Costa

Many families in Walnut Creek, Concord, Lafayette, and Danville contact bttr when a student is leaving the school system. School services end; regional center services continue for eligible adults, and the routines that used to be managed for the student now belong to them.

• Transition age youth

  Students finishing programs at Acalanes, Mt. Diablo, and San Ramon Valley high schools and their district adult transition programs can begin Independent Living Services once their regional center authorizes them.

• Diablo Valley College routines

  For adults taking classes at Diablo Valley College in Pleasant Hill, coaching can cover class schedules, study blocks, the bus to campus, and asking for accommodations through the college's own services.

• Saint Mary's College and other campuses

  For students at Saint Mary's College in Moraga or commuting to other campuses, coaching can cover campus routines, meals, laundry, and a budget away from home.

• Families at home

  Coordinated Family Support helps parents organize providers, benefits, and IPP goals after the school team steps away, with one point of contact at bttr.

bttr is a service provider and does not represent any school or college. School based services are provided by the school district; adult services are authorized by the regional center.

Services available in Walnut Creek

Walnut Creek is in Contra Costa County and is served by Regional Center of the East Bay. Here is what bttr provides and how each service is funded.

• ILS

  Funded by RCEB, or through SDP

  Independent Living Services

  One to one coaching in daily routines, cooking, money, transit, phone and online safety, health routines, and speaking up for yourself, taught at home and around Walnut Creek across six skill tracks: LIFE, MONEY, TECH, HEALTH, EXPRESS, and CONNECT.

  Independent Living Services ›
• CFS

  Funded by RCEB

  Coordinated Family Support

  For adults 18 and older living in the family home. A bttr coordinator helps organize supports, connect to Contra Costa County resources, prepare for IPP meetings, and plan ahead. Works alongside the RCEB Service Coordinator and does not replace that role.

  Coordinated Family Support ›
• SLS

  Funded by RCEB, or through SDP

  Supported Living Services

  Ongoing hands on support for an adult living in their own Walnut Creek apartment or home, not a licensed facility. Routines, health, safety, household, and community life at the intensity the person needs.

  Supported Living Services ›
• SDP

  Through a Self Determination spending plan

  Tailored Day Services, In Home Respite, and more

  Residents in the Self Determination Program can add one to one community based day support, planned respite for family members, adaptive fitness coaching, and housing search support to their plan.

  Tailored Day Services, In Home Respite, and more ›

Funding through RCEB or SDP

• Regional Center of the East Bay

  Walnut Creek residents apply to RCEB, which has an office in Concord. RCEB determines eligibility under the Lanterman Act, writes the need into the Individual Program Plan (IPP), authorizes hours, and pays bttr directly. Ask your Service Coordinator for bttr by name.

• Self Determination Program

  RCEB clients who choose SDP receive an individual budget, build a spending plan with an Independent Facilitator, and a Financial Management Service pays bttr. We help map services to the plan.

• Not yet a regional center client?

  Start with RCEB intake or the DDS eligibility page. A diagnosis on its own does not guarantee eligibility; the regional center decides based on the person's assessment. bttr can help you understand the process.

Nearby cities we serve

The same services, through the same regional center, across central Contra Costa, the Lamorinda area, the San Ramon Valley, and the rest of Contra Costa and Alameda counties.

• Concord, Pleasant Hill, and Martinez

  Central Contra Costa, with BART practice from Concord and Pleasant Hill stations.

• Lafayette, Orinda, and Moraga

  Lamorinda, including students at Saint Mary's College.

• Danville, Alamo, and San Ramon

  The San Ramon Valley, where several of our participants live.

• Clayton and Antioch

  East toward the Delta, through RCEB.

• Fremont, Newark, and the rest of Alameda County

  Our headquarters is in Newark; the same team serves both counties.

Questions Walnut Creek families ask

How to start

1. 1

   Tell us what you want help with

   Email, call, or text. Describe daily life in Walnut Creek and what you would like to change.

2. 2

   We clarify the service and funding path

   A free consultation in English or Spanish. We explain which service fits and whether it runs through RCEB or SDP.

3. 3

   Referral, authorization, then matching

   Your Service Coordinator or Independent Facilitator sends the referral. Once authorized, we match a support professional based on the assessment and schedule together.

Contacting bttr does not guarantee approval or a start date. Authorization comes from Regional Center of the East Bay or your Self Determination plan.