If you are a Regional Center of the East Bay (RCEB) family, you might have heard a Case Manager say: “We are referring you to [Provider X].”
It often sounds like an assignment. It sounds like you don’t have a choice.
But under the California Lanterman Act, you do.
The law that established the Regional Center system was built on the principle of consumer and family choice. You are not just a recipient of services; you are the driver of your child’s support team.
The Magic Words: “Consumer Choice”
If you have found a provider that aligns with your family’s values—for example, a play-based, neurodiversity-affirming clinic like Yoli—you have the right to request them specifically.
Here is how to advocate for that choice during your Individual Program Plan (IPP) meeting:
Step 1: Do Your Research First
Before your meeting, contact the provider you want. Ask them:
- “Are you vendorized with RCEB?” (Yoli is)
- “Do you have current availability or a waitlist?”
- “Can you give me a fierce advocacy letter or intake summary?”
Step 2: Focus on “Fit”, Not Just Availability
RCEB often prioritizes the first available slot. You need to explain why that specific provider is the necessary fit for your child. Regional Centers are legally required to choose the “least costly provider of comparable service”. Your job is to prove that the two providers are NOT comparable. You must explain why your child’s specific medical and emotional needs require Yoli’s exact model.
- Wrong way: “We heard Yoli is nice.”
- Right way: “My child has a high need for naturalistic, play-based instruction. We require a provider that specializes in child-led therapy to prevent the emotional dysregulation we’ve seen with table-top ABA. Yoli’s clinical model fits this medical need; the other provider’s DTT model does not.”
Step 3: Use the “IPP Amendment” Strategy
If you are already with a provider that isn’t working, you don’t have to wait a year. You can call an IPP meeting at any time to request a change, and by law, the Regional Center must hold the meeting within 30 days of your request.
- What to say: “The current vendor’s approach is causing distress and is not the ’least restrictive environment’ for my child. We have identified a vendor (Yoli) whose methodology is better suited to his sensory profile. We would like to switch authorizations effective immediately.”
Step 4: Be the squeaky wheel (politely)
Case managers are overworked. If they say “I’ll check”, follow up weekly.
- What to ask: “Checking in on the authorization for Yoli. We have spoken to them and they are ready to schedule the assessment as soon as they receive the POS (Purchase of Service).”
If the Case Manager flat-out denies your provider request, tell them: “I understand. Please send me a written Notice of Action (NOA) for this denial”. Often, simply asking for the NOA will cause a supervisor to review and approve the request to avoid an appeal process.
Remember: The Regional Center pays for the service, but you are the expert on your child.
🟢 We're Currently Accepting New Families for both Assessment, Therapy and In-Person Social Skills Groups.