California Regional Center System marks 60 years of service

The Association of Regional Centers is marking the 60th anniversary of California’s first pilot regional centers, a milestone that highlights how the state’s disability services network grew from two sites serving 559 people into a system that now supports nearly 500,000 Californians. The anniversary comes with events, a Senate resolution, and new attention on the Lanterman Act’s role in community-based support.

Why it matters: - California’s regional center system is the main gateway to services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, coordinating support for nearly 500,000 Californians. - The 60th anniversary spotlights the scale of a system that grew from two pilot centers into 21 regional centers statewide. - The milestone underscores the continuing impact of the Lanterman Act on community-based disability services in California.

What happened: - The Association of Regional Centers is celebrating the 60th anniversary of California’s first pilot regional centers, the Frank D. Lanterman Regional Center and the Golden Gate Regional Center. - The two centers launched in 1966, with FDLRC originally based at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and GGRC at The Arc San Francisco. - ARCA backed Senate Concurrent Resolution 174 to recognize the anniversary. - FDLRC unveiled a 60th anniversary booklet titled “Renewing the Commitment… Embracing the Future: A Community for All.” - FDLRC held a celebration on Oct. 20 that included representatives from ARCA, the Department of Developmental Services and Lanterman families. - The Oct. 20 event also marked the grand re-opening of Lanterman’s second physical office location in Glendale. - FDLRC honored three leaders with Lifetime Achievement Awards. - GGRC held its celebration on Oct. 23 under the theme “From Pilot to Promise: Honoring the Past, Strengthening the Present, Shaping the Future.” - GGRC’s event drew 150 community members and featured remarks from families, people served by GGRC and local and statewide leaders.

The details: - The pilot regional centers began with a budget of $966,386 and served 559 people. - Those early programs helped pave the way for the 1969 Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services Act. - California’s regional center system now includes 21 community-based nonprofit centers funded with state and federal dollars. - The system serves nearly 500,000 Californians with developmental disabilities, or about 1% of the state’s population. - Regional centers serve as the official point of entry for services and coordinate support for eligible individuals and families. - The Lanterman Act established rights for people with developmental disabilities and created a statewide service system for eligible individuals and families. - In California, access begins after eligibility is established based on a qualifying diagnosis that significantly affects the person. - ARCA Executive Director Amy Westling said the anniversary reflects the success and value of the Lanterman Act and the effectiveness of the system in helping people live fulfilling lives in their communities. - Westling said the network remains committed to more than half a million people who rely on services through California’s regional centers.

Between the lines: - The anniversary messaging is as much about policy as celebration, reinforcing the value of a model built around local coordination rather than institutional care. - The events also show how the regional center system uses anniversaries to connect families, self-advocates and government partners around continued service expansion. - The contrast with other states that have waitlists highlights California’s eligibility-based model as a point of distinction.

What's next: - ARCA and regional centers are positioning the anniversary year as a launch point for continued growth and service improvement. - California’s regional center network will keep focusing on individually responsive services designed to help people lead fully integrated lives in their communities. - The anniversary celebrations and resolution support ongoing advocacy for the system’s role in California’s disability-services landscape.