The Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Act

In 1969 Assemblyman Frank D. Lanterman introduced landmark legislation, Assembly Bill (AB)225, which thereafter was known and cited as "Lanterman Mental Retardation Services Act." This act set forth legislative intent to extend the regional center network of services through the State of California.

In 1973 Assemblyman Lanterman authored AB 846 which extended the regional center mandate to include other developmental disabilities. In addition to persons with mental retardation, the Centers are now mandated to serve persons with cerebral palsy, epilepsy, autism and other conditions similar to mental retardation. In 1976 the Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services Act was amended to establish the right to treatment and habilitation services for person with developmental disabilities.

Section 4501 of the Lanterman Act states: "The State of California accepts a responsibility for persons with developmental disabilities and an obligation to them which it must discharge. Affecting hundreds of thousands of children and adults directly, and having an important impact on the lives of their families, neighbors and whole communities, developmental disabilities present social, medical, economic and legal problems of extreme importance."

Section 4620 states "In order for the state to carry out many of its responsibilities as established in this division, the state shall contract with appropriate agencies to provide fixed points of contact in the community for persons with developmental disabilities and their families, to the end that such persons may have access to the facilities and services best suited to them throughout their lifetime. It is the intent of this division that the network of regional centers for persons with developmental disabilities and their families be accessible to every family in need of regional center services.

The Legislature finds that the services provided to individuals and their families by regional centers is of such a special and unique nature that is cannot be satisfactorily provided by state agencies. Therefore, private nonprofit community agencies shall be utilized by the state for the purpose of operating regional centers."

The Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services Act declares that persons with developmental disabilities have the same legal rights and responsibilities guaranteed all other persons by federal and state constitutions and laws, and charges the regional center with advocacy for, and protection of, these rights.

The legislation lists specific rights guaranteed to persons with developmental disabilities including but not limited to:

the right to treatment and habilitation services that meet individual developmental needs, such services to be provided in the least restrictive setting;

the right to live as normal, productive and independent a life as possible;

the right to be provided a full measure of dignity, privacy and humane care; and

the right to participate in an appropriate, publicly-supported educational program.

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copyright ARCA 2000