Guide to California’s Lanterman Act
Standardized Information Packet
Welfare and Institutions Code (WIC) Section 4642(a)(4) requires the Department of Developmental Services (DDS) to create, with stakeholder input, standardized information packets.
Applying for Services and Intake Process
Early Start - Persons 3 and Under
Intake Process
The intake process for infants and toddlers birth to age 36 months begins by creating an online account at Sign in · My Alta. You can access instructions for creating an account here.
Applying for Services and Intake Process
Persons 3 and Over
Intake Process
To apply for Alta California Regional Center services and/or to
make referrals for persons over three years of age who are
suspected of having a developmental
disability, please create an online account
at Sign
in · My Alta.
You can access instructions for creating an account here.
What is a Developmental Disability?
Intellectual Disability, Cerebral Palsy, Epilepsy, and Autism
A developmental disability is defined in state and federal law as intellectual disability, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, and autism. Other substantially disabling conditions closely related to intellectual disability or which require treatment similar to the treatment required by persons with intellectual disability may be eligible for services.
Provisional Eligibility
If a child who is three or four years of age is not otherwise eligible for regional center services pursuant to the definition of Developmental Disability, the child shall be provisionally eligible for regional center services if the child has a disability that is not solely physical in nature and has significant functional limitations in at least two of the following areas of major life activity, as determined by a regional center and as appropriate to the age of the child: Self-care, Receptive and Expressive language, Learning, Mobility, Self-direction.