Intake Process and Eligibility: Overview

If you have a developmental concern about your child or a family member, the Intake Department will be your first contact at Westside Regional Center. Our goal is to make this experience positive for you and your family.

People reach out to us for many reasons. The individual may be referred by the school, medical staff, a friend or be self-referred. Intakes may occur at any age, though the developmental issue must have started prior to the age of 18. The intake process is a FREE service, which is provided to all regardless of citizenship status. The first step is to contact Westside Regional Center to request an application. We will ask you a few questions to make sure that the type of assessments you are requesting is what we provide. Once you complete the application and include any helpful records, submit them to Westside Regional Center via email, mail, or in person. You will be notified if more information is needed or contacted to schedule an intake meeting.

Try to submit as many documents as you can to help us better understand the developmental needs of the individual applying for services. These documents may include the Individualized Education Plan (IEP) from schools, medical documents and other records. Collecting of these records can be an ongoing process during the intake. We also know that for young children this may be the first assessment and you may not have any prior records. And that’s fine.

Our Early Start Program, for children birth to 3 years old, will require a series of home visits to help assess your child. Your story is important to us, as you know your child best. Your observations are part of the assessment process. Several professionals will be visiting your home to gain more information and perform assessments on your child to better understand their needs.

For individuals over the age of 3, we will make an appointment for you to visit our office in Culver City. We will ask you to complete the intake interview and a psychological assessment.

The intake process is a team effort and all participants, including the family members, are encouraged to respond to phone calls and emails in a timely manner. The regional centers must complete the intake process within 45 days for infants and toddlers under 3. For individuals over the age of 3, within 120 days. Once the assessment is completed all the information will be reviewed by an eligibility team. If you or your family member is found eligible, you will be notified by the intake team and assigned a service coordinator.

If someone is not found eligible, we will refer you to other resources. You also have the right to disagree and appeal the decision made by us. You can find more information about this process by reading the intake brochures above or by clicking here to apply: Birth to 3 Years of Age or 3 Years of Age and Older.

Understanding the Diagnosis:

A Guide for Families

Developmental disabilities are a group of conditions due to an impairment in physical, learning, language, or behavior areas. These conditions begin during the developmental period, may impact day-to-day functioning, and usually last throughout a person’s lifetime.

Receiving a diagnosis of a developmental disability comes with a lot of information, paperwork, appointments, changes, and feelings. You may have many questions regarding developmental disabilities. As you look for answers, you will encounter information about the various conditions, their causes, and possible treatments. All of this information may make it challenging to organize options and begin to choose a treatment plan that best fits your family.

It is natural to want to identify the single root cause of the diagnosis. Many families may battle with feelings of guilt and/or shame. Please understand that these diagnoses are complex and there may not be a single factor that has been identified as the cause. Know that families and caregivers can be strong advocates and have high expectations of a person/family member with the disability.

Westside Regional Center anticipates supporting you and your family as you proceed from the initial diagnosis to ongoing support services. You are not alone in this process. For additional information about diagnosis, you may contact your service coordinator, WRC’s Staff Psychologist, Kaely Shilakes, Psy.D at 310-258-4157, or click on the following documents below: