California Residents-Regional Centers

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	I was hoping to get some feedback from any California residents.  Under the Lanterman Act the Regional Centers are supposed to provide services to people with developmental disabilites such as autism, mental retardation, and epilepsy.  However, our local Regional Center (Centeral Valley Regional Center) does not accept clients with PDD-NOS or Aspergers.  I have heard this not universal with all Regional Centers.  I was just wondering if anyone with PDD-NOS or Aspergers has been taken on by their local Regional Centers.  It has taken us years to get accepted into our Regional Center.  They follow the criteria very closely, until we had a diagnosis of ASD we really did not get anywhere with them.  However, even then we had to have further evaluations and meet criteria for deficits.  This took several formal meetings.Neither of my two kids with PDD-NOS get regional center services.   I know kids who have PDD-NOS that are getting services though.  The regional center will argue the part of Lanterman saying that 5th category must require treatment similar to persons with Mental Retardation.    I have also heard few families are winning fair hearing on the PDD/NOS and Aspergers denials.  It's a hard fight.  I decided to focus my energy on the schools as they have been more helpful. My 12 yr old was given a diagnosis of mild mental redartation, but he was PDD-NOS too....my 5 yr old has ASD so no problem there.... I would suggest getting an IQ test to see if he qualifies that way!!!Thanks for your input.  Unfortunately, our school district is awful and will not provide anything.  I don't have the money for an attorney to force them to do their job.  My daughter's IQ is normal so she will not qualify under mental retardation either.  I can't figure out how to edit my above post, I should have said her IQ is average not normal (that just doesn't sound nice). Thanks again. We had our PDD/NOS son in a regional center for about 2-3 months based on speech delays.  When he turned 3 he was in the school SpEd system for a while (speech delay) and then exited (ASD classification was refused).   His IQ is NT or slightly higher if a test is used that does not depend on language since his pragmatic language is weak.  The regional center has not provided him with services after age 3, but we have not tried since school is where services are needed and ought to be provided.  Also the regional centers pay on a sliding scale, and we don't get enough to make it worth the fight to qualify. You must be in my school district.  I assume that the current budget meltdown will only make life harder.  Incidentally, having a attorney does not force the SD to do anything.  Been there done that, ate some large bills. Dad2Luke&Alan39761.8956018519My son is a regional center cleint and everything is a fight..he is autistic but still we fight. I am a single parent who cannot afford an attorney, but you can get one, and regional center knows this. There are two groups that I know of that will provide an attorney at no charge. I will look up the info for you if you want...Our dev ped gave us a diagnosis of PDD-NOS, but the Regional Center doctor gave us an autism diagnosis and provided services.  We received about 25 hours of ABA per kid per week, and some speech services, for about 15 months.  I am thankful for the support that the Regional Center provided.I live in Ca. and have heard that they don't give services for ppdnos or Aspbergers. I think my sons therapist even said that. Good luck. Maybe you could try Easter seals?Ohio mom of 21 yr old son who has autism.  Does anyone know if CA has wait lists for sheltered workshops?  I've heard they are not allowed to.  Any info would be greatly appreciated!There are 21 regional centers in California and some are more forthcoming with services than others.  However, because of the current budget situation, things are tightening up everywhere and services are being more closely scrutinized, especially for respite and after school care.  Generally, an Asperger's diagnosis will not qualify.  I would ask for an assessment to try and get an ASD diagnosis.  Best of luck to you.I would add that it is your right as a parent to formally appeal any regional center decision.   I live n CA. My son was recently diagnosed finally by the regionalcenter. But durng intake , the worker said that kids with pdd-nos do not qualify, but later as he grows older, I could re-apply to them to see if he may qualify later.   So was she implying that  teenage pdd-nos get worse and need CVRC services>   weird. I dont think they have those anymore . I think the new term is "enclave" which is a group of workers in a an actual work setting under the supervision of a job coach.  they are getting farther and farther away from theat sheltered  workshop model.  My 12 yr old has PDD-NOS and his situation is very intense....I think once puberty begins, things can intensify...he got vey inappropriate with me (touch my privates)...so he is in a long term treatment facility to help him deal with his issues!!!
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