16 Tips for Getting Quality Regional Center Services for Yourself or ...

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Advocacy, Inc. 16 Tips For Getting Quality Regional Center Services for Yourself or Your Child
BEFORE THE MEETING Plan what you will ask for.
Use the IPP Planner in Appendix G to help you figure out what services and
supports you want and need from the regional center. Talk to family, friends, and
advocates to help you fill out the planner or make your own list. Send a letter asking for an IPP meeting within 30 days.
It is important to let the regional center know before the meeting what you will ask
for. That way, the regional center can be ready to decide at the meeting whether it
will give you the services and supports you ask for. Use the sample letter in
Appendix F to help you write your own. Once you ask for a meeting, the regional
center must hold one within 30 days of when it receives your letter.
Request and confirm that a decision maker be there.
The law says that decisions about your services and supports must be made at the
meeting by the planning team. This means that someone from the regional center
who has authority to say yes or no to your requests (a decision maker) must
be at the meeting. A decision maker may not attend unless you ask for it. "Advancing the human and legal rights of people with disabilities."
AT THE MEETING Bring a friend, advocate, or someone who knows you.
You can invite anyone you want to your IPP. It is a good idea to have someone
with you who can help you advocate. You can invite someone from your living
arrangement, your day program, your childs school or any other service provider.
Some people start buddy programs where they each agree to go to the others
IPP meeting for support.
Make sure a decision maker is present. If not, you have a right to reschedule the meeting.
Sometimes, a planning team may only recommend funding for services and
supports, or the regional center may say that the right people are not at the meeting
to make a decision. Or, the regional center may say that its POS committee or
another committee has to approve your request. This is against the law and may
mean that you will not get the services and supports that your team agrees you
should get. As soon as the meeting begins, make sure that one of the people from
the regional center is a decision maker and that you can come to a final decision
about the services and supports you request at the meeting.
Make sure the meeting is person-centered.
Person-centered means that you are an active participant in the meeting and that it
is your choices, preferences and needs which drive the discussion and planning --
not what services happen to be available or are the ones usually provided for
people. There should be a discussion of your likes and dislikes, support needs and
non-negotiable items to be included in the IPP. Everyone should speak in words
that you understand. It is often good to have the notes taken on big pieces of paper
that are put up on the walls so everyone can follow the discussion. The people at
the meeting should work as a team to come up with creative ways of meeting your
goals and dreams. Dont be afraid to ask questions -- no question is too simple.

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Make sure you understand what is being said, even if you dont speak English.
The IPP meeting is about you (or your child). It is very important that you
understand what is being said. If you do not speak English very well, the regional
center must have an interpreter there and should translate important documents for
you.
Take notes to document the agreements (and disagreements). Before the meeting ends, you will want to go over the things you have agreed and
disagreed on. So that you do not forget, you or someone you bring with you should
take notes. At the end of the meeting, you should read the list to the team and make
sure that everyone agrees with what you have written.
Complete the IPP document.
Make sure to write down: (1) what services and supports will be provided (the type
and amount); (2) who is going to provide the services; and (3) when the services
will start. If the services cannot start right away because there are additional steps
needed (for example, there is no available provider) the IPP must state what steps
will be taken, who is responsible to do each step and the timelines for completing
each step and then providing the support required by the IPP. The law says that
these must be included in the IPP.
Sign the IPP (or a list of the agreements reached) at the meeting.
DO NOT SIGN A PAPER THAT JUST INDICATES AGREEMENT WITH A
PROPOSED PLAN. The IPP you sign should list the specific goals and
objectives and the services to be provided. If the regional center will not write the
entire IPP at the meeting, make a handwritten list of the agreements so that
everyone can sign and take a copy home. The regional center can then type up the
document on the form it uses and send it to you. Remember that you can agree to
part of the IPP while still noting that you do not agree with other parts of the IPP
document or with a refusal to put requested services in the IPP.
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If a final decision cannot be reached on any issue(s), you can schedule another meeting within 15 days or file an appeal.
The law says that if the team cannot come to a final agreement at the meeting, you
must schedule another meeting within 15 days. This means that, at the end of the
meeting, the service coordinator cannot say that he or she will go to a committee or
supervisor and let you know the decision. You should be able to speak to the
decision maker face to face at the second meeting. If the answer at the first meeting
is no, then you do not have to go to a second meeting, but you can ask for a
written notice and how to appeal.
Get a written notice of any denial.
If the regional center says no to any new service request, the law says that you
must get a written notice of the denial within 5 days. If the regional center says it
wants to change or end a service you are already getting, it must give you written
notice 30 days in advance of the change or cut-off. You will need to say very
clearly that you disagree with the decision and that you want a written notice. The
notice should also include an appeal form that you can fill out if you choose to
appeal. 4
IF THINGS DONT WORK OUT If there is disagreement, promptly file an appeal if you choose to challenge the denial of services. You must file the appeal within 10 days if you want
current services to be continued during the appeal process. This is called
aid paid pending. If it is a denial of a new service or you do not need aid
paid pending then you have 30 days to appeal. If you do not receive a denial letter, contact the case manager. If you still do not receive it, file an administrative complaint (a 4731 complaint) and a
letter of appeal, if you choose to appeal. If agreed-upon services are not provided, file an administrative complaint. If the regional center delays making a decision, insist on a decision or treat
the delay as a denial and file an appeal. 5

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