Acronyms, Abbreviations and Helpful Terms
Area Boards
The ABs, part of the State Council on Developmental Disabilities, advocate for people with developmental disabilities in their area and have a supervisory role over RCs.
AB 5: Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo counties
1515 Clay Street, Suite 300, Oakland, CA 94612
Phone: (510) 286-0439, Email:ab5@scdd.ca.gov
AB 7: Monterey, San Benito, Santa Cruz, Santa Clara counties
2580 North First Street, Suite 240, San Jose, CA 95131
Phone: (408) 324-2106, Email:ab7@scdd.ca.gov
ARCA (Association of Regional Center Agencies)
ARCA is an association of the 21 regional centers. ARCA negotiates contracts with DDS and takes policy and legislative positions on behalf of the regional centers.
Case Manager or Service Coordinator
An service coordinator (also called case manager) helps plan and get needed services. But if the RC approves, a parent or conservator can be a service coordinator instead.
CCF (Community Care Facility)
CCFs can be residential (group home) or non-residential (day program). The Community Care Division of the Department of Social Services licenses CCFs.
Consumer
This is the word that the Lanterman Act uses for people who have developmental disabilities and receive regional center services.
CPP (Community Placement Plan)
The CPP provides for community-based housing and services for those moving out of a Developmental Center. The CPP is approved by DDS and is part of the annual budget.
CRA (Clients’ Rights Advocate)
A CRA makes sure rights are protected if you get services from a regional center. CRAs work for PAI’s Office of Clients Rights Advocacy (OCRA).
Crisis Intervention Services
Services include mental health and behavior modification, short-term residential services, or extra staff when there’s a problem with the living situation.
DDS (Department of Developmental Services)
DDS is responsible for implementing services under the Lanterman Act. DDS contracts with the regional centers to coordinate services and supports.
DOR (Department of Rehabilitation)
DOR is responsible for vocational rehabilitation services, which includes short-term supported work services and other supports.
Group Home
A group home is commonly used to refer to any small group living facility for people of any age with DD. Legally, a “group home” is a community care licensed home with up to 6 adults. Other small group living arrangements have other legal names.
HCBS (Home and Community Based Services) Waiver
The HCBS waiver is federal Medicaid funding to help states pay for community- based services, such as supported living and supported employment. California has a specific waiver for people with developmental disabilities (the HCBS DD Waiver) and some other waivers that people with DD may be eligible for. Some RC consumers are on the waiver and some are not.
IHSS (In Home Supportive Services)
County IHSS programs provide hourly payment for caregivers to help people with disabilities.
ILS (Independent Living Services)
ILS training helps teach independent skills such as cooking, cleaning, grooming, and money management. ILS provides regular support to DD adults with some independent living skills.
IPP (Individual Program Plan)
An IPP is a plan developed by the planning team at an IPP meeting that reflects the agreed-upon goals and objectives and identifies needed services and supports.
Lanterman Act (Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services Act)
This California law gives people with developmental disabilities the right to get necessary services and supports in the least restrictive, most integrated setting. This law established the regional center system and the area boards. The Lanterman Act is found at Welfare and Institutions (W&I) Code sections 4500 and following.
LIHTC (Low Income Housing Tax Credits)
The LIHTC Program is an indirect Federal subsidy used to finance the development of affordable rental housing for low-income people. The program provides the private market with an incentive to invest in affordable rental housing. Federal housing tax credits are awarded to developers who then sell these credits to investors to raisemoney for their projects, which reduces the debt that the developer would otherwise have to borrow. Because the debt is lower, a tax credit property can in turn offer lower, more affordable rents. Tax credits are subtracted directly from the investor’s tax liability. Credits reduce tax liability dollar-for-dollar.
Medicare
Medicare is a health insurance program for people who qualify for social security disability payments and their dependents.
MOH
In SF, the Mayor’s Office of Housing, which manages public housing.
POS (Purchase of Services) Funds
POS funds are used to purchase services for consumers from vendors. Each regional center has a contract with DDS that includes POS funds.
POS (Purchase of Services) Policies
POS policies are created by regional centers regarding the kinds and amounts of services in an IPP. POS policies often set eligibility requirements and amounts for certain supports and services. POS policies with firm limits that violate your legal right to services are illegal. You have a right to services that are planned to meet your needs. All POS policies must have an exception clause so that your services can be decided at your IPP meeting to fit your needs.
RCs (Regional Centers)
RCs are private nonprofit community agencies that provide evaluations, coordinate services, and purchase services for you and your family. A California law, called the Lanterman Act, required that regional centers be set up across the state. Regional centers are under contract with DDS.
GGRC Golden Gate Regional Center
RCEB Regional Center of the East Bay
SARC San Andreas Regional Center
SCDD (State Council on Developmental Disabilities)
Under state law, SCDD must study how people with developmental disabilities get their services. If there are gaps in service, SCDD will make recommendations to DDS about how to get the needed services. The Council also uses its federal resources to make grants for the development of new services.
Section 8 Portable Housing Vouchers
People with low income may qualify for the local Housing Authority’s Section 8 Housing Vouchers, which can help cover monthly rent, sometimes to a large extent. However, most Section 8 waitlists are long or entirely closed and only rarely is preference given to people with developmental disabilities. Another problem is the unwillingness of many landlords to accept Section 8 vouchers, which can involve a number of hassles. With a voucher, however, a renter who makes only $800/mo in SSI will pay only one-third that income as rent, with the rest of the (almost market rate) monthly rent covered by the Housing Authority and paid directly to the landlord. This can make community housing very affordable to those with little to no income.
Section 8 (Project-Based)
An owner of a multifamily property can enter into a contract with a Housing Authority to provide a certain number of units as low-income housing, including for people with developmental disabilities, in exchange for receiving Section 8 subsidies toward rent from those units. Each Housing Authority has different policies about approving new project-based units.
SLS (Supported Living Services)
For DD adults in a house or apartment, SLS can offer services and supports to help you live in that home, including daily living support, assistance in finding, modifying and maintaining a home, paid neighbors and paid roommates.
SSI (Supplemental Security Income)
SSI is for low-income people who have disabilities or are over 65. SSI provides cash ($721 a month plus state supplement) for basic food, clothing and shelter.
Vendor
A vendor is a person or agency approved and paid by a regional center to provide services.
(This page was adapted in part from Disability Rights California: Rights Under the Lanterman Act.)
Revised February 4, 2014
The ABs, part of the State Council on Developmental Disabilities, advocate for people with developmental disabilities in their area and have a supervisory role over RCs.
AB 5: Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo counties
1515 Clay Street, Suite 300, Oakland, CA 94612
Phone: (510) 286-0439, Email:ab5@scdd.ca.gov
AB 7: Monterey, San Benito, Santa Cruz, Santa Clara counties
2580 North First Street, Suite 240, San Jose, CA 95131
Phone: (408) 324-2106, Email:ab7@scdd.ca.gov
ARCA (Association of Regional Center Agencies)
ARCA is an association of the 21 regional centers. ARCA negotiates contracts with DDS and takes policy and legislative positions on behalf of the regional centers.
Case Manager or Service Coordinator
An service coordinator (also called case manager) helps plan and get needed services. But if the RC approves, a parent or conservator can be a service coordinator instead.
CCF (Community Care Facility)
CCFs can be residential (group home) or non-residential (day program). The Community Care Division of the Department of Social Services licenses CCFs.
Consumer
This is the word that the Lanterman Act uses for people who have developmental disabilities and receive regional center services.
CPP (Community Placement Plan)
The CPP provides for community-based housing and services for those moving out of a Developmental Center. The CPP is approved by DDS and is part of the annual budget.
CRA (Clients’ Rights Advocate)
A CRA makes sure rights are protected if you get services from a regional center. CRAs work for PAI’s Office of Clients Rights Advocacy (OCRA).
Crisis Intervention Services
Services include mental health and behavior modification, short-term residential services, or extra staff when there’s a problem with the living situation.
DDS (Department of Developmental Services)
DDS is responsible for implementing services under the Lanterman Act. DDS contracts with the regional centers to coordinate services and supports.
DOR (Department of Rehabilitation)
DOR is responsible for vocational rehabilitation services, which includes short-term supported work services and other supports.
Group Home
A group home is commonly used to refer to any small group living facility for people of any age with DD. Legally, a “group home” is a community care licensed home with up to 6 adults. Other small group living arrangements have other legal names.
HCBS (Home and Community Based Services) Waiver
The HCBS waiver is federal Medicaid funding to help states pay for community- based services, such as supported living and supported employment. California has a specific waiver for people with developmental disabilities (the HCBS DD Waiver) and some other waivers that people with DD may be eligible for. Some RC consumers are on the waiver and some are not.
IHSS (In Home Supportive Services)
County IHSS programs provide hourly payment for caregivers to help people with disabilities.
ILS (Independent Living Services)
ILS training helps teach independent skills such as cooking, cleaning, grooming, and money management. ILS provides regular support to DD adults with some independent living skills.
IPP (Individual Program Plan)
An IPP is a plan developed by the planning team at an IPP meeting that reflects the agreed-upon goals and objectives and identifies needed services and supports.
Lanterman Act (Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services Act)
This California law gives people with developmental disabilities the right to get necessary services and supports in the least restrictive, most integrated setting. This law established the regional center system and the area boards. The Lanterman Act is found at Welfare and Institutions (W&I) Code sections 4500 and following.
LIHTC (Low Income Housing Tax Credits)
The LIHTC Program is an indirect Federal subsidy used to finance the development of affordable rental housing for low-income people. The program provides the private market with an incentive to invest in affordable rental housing. Federal housing tax credits are awarded to developers who then sell these credits to investors to raisemoney for their projects, which reduces the debt that the developer would otherwise have to borrow. Because the debt is lower, a tax credit property can in turn offer lower, more affordable rents. Tax credits are subtracted directly from the investor’s tax liability. Credits reduce tax liability dollar-for-dollar.
Medicare
Medicare is a health insurance program for people who qualify for social security disability payments and their dependents.
MOH
In SF, the Mayor’s Office of Housing, which manages public housing.
POS (Purchase of Services) Funds
POS funds are used to purchase services for consumers from vendors. Each regional center has a contract with DDS that includes POS funds.
POS (Purchase of Services) Policies
POS policies are created by regional centers regarding the kinds and amounts of services in an IPP. POS policies often set eligibility requirements and amounts for certain supports and services. POS policies with firm limits that violate your legal right to services are illegal. You have a right to services that are planned to meet your needs. All POS policies must have an exception clause so that your services can be decided at your IPP meeting to fit your needs.
RCs (Regional Centers)
RCs are private nonprofit community agencies that provide evaluations, coordinate services, and purchase services for you and your family. A California law, called the Lanterman Act, required that regional centers be set up across the state. Regional centers are under contract with DDS.
GGRC Golden Gate Regional Center
RCEB Regional Center of the East Bay
SARC San Andreas Regional Center
SCDD (State Council on Developmental Disabilities)
Under state law, SCDD must study how people with developmental disabilities get their services. If there are gaps in service, SCDD will make recommendations to DDS about how to get the needed services. The Council also uses its federal resources to make grants for the development of new services.
Section 8 Portable Housing Vouchers
People with low income may qualify for the local Housing Authority’s Section 8 Housing Vouchers, which can help cover monthly rent, sometimes to a large extent. However, most Section 8 waitlists are long or entirely closed and only rarely is preference given to people with developmental disabilities. Another problem is the unwillingness of many landlords to accept Section 8 vouchers, which can involve a number of hassles. With a voucher, however, a renter who makes only $800/mo in SSI will pay only one-third that income as rent, with the rest of the (almost market rate) monthly rent covered by the Housing Authority and paid directly to the landlord. This can make community housing very affordable to those with little to no income.
Section 8 (Project-Based)
An owner of a multifamily property can enter into a contract with a Housing Authority to provide a certain number of units as low-income housing, including for people with developmental disabilities, in exchange for receiving Section 8 subsidies toward rent from those units. Each Housing Authority has different policies about approving new project-based units.
SLS (Supported Living Services)
For DD adults in a house or apartment, SLS can offer services and supports to help you live in that home, including daily living support, assistance in finding, modifying and maintaining a home, paid neighbors and paid roommates.
SSI (Supplemental Security Income)
SSI is for low-income people who have disabilities or are over 65. SSI provides cash ($721 a month plus state supplement) for basic food, clothing and shelter.
Vendor
A vendor is a person or agency approved and paid by a regional center to provide services.
(This page was adapted in part from Disability Rights California: Rights Under the Lanterman Act.)
Revised February 4, 2014
