Transparency Notification of Appeals Procedure
The Lanterman Act (Welfare and Institutions Code – WIC) section 4704.6 states,
“Each regional center and each vendor that contracts with a regional center to provide services to consumers shall conspicuously post on its internet website, if any, a link to the department’s internet website page that provides a description of the appeals procedure set forth in this chapter and a department telephone number available for answering consumer and applicant appeals procedure questions.”
Contact the Department of Developmental Services via their website or phone at (916) 654-1690.
What is The Appeals Process?
It is a process to resolve disagreements between the regional center or state developmental center and recipients of or applicants for service who are 3 years or older (Welfare and Institutions Code 4705 Section (a)(1). The disagreements may be about eligibility, new service requests, changes/termination to existing services, or any decision proposed by the regional center or state developmental center that you disagree with.
For a better understanding of this process, please refer to the following: https://www.dds.ca.gov/general/appeals-complaints-comments/fair-hearings-complaint-process/
Lanterman Act Eligibility & Service Appeals Information Packet and Forms:
- Lanterman Act Eligibility & Service Appeals Information Packet: The Information Packet explains the appeals process under the Lanterman Act.
- DS1820/Notice of Action (NOA): A NOA is sent to you upon request when you do not agree with a regional center’s decision about services or eligibility. https://www.dds.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/DS1820-Notice-of-Action-NOA.pdf
- DS1821/Appeal Request: An Appeal Request is completed by the applicant for/recipient of regional center services, or authorized representative when they would like to appeal regional center’s decision. https://www.dds.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/DS1821-Appeal-Request-Form.pdf
- DS1822/Notification of Resolution (NOR): form is completed when the issue/s identified are resolved and the appeal process is no longer necessary. It is also used to withdraw the appeal request. https://www.dds.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/DS1822-NOR.pdf
- Information Packet and Forms regarding the Appeals Process (Formerly Fair Hearings) are provided in 18 languages on the DDS website. To access other languages, click here