Children with low-incidence disabilities such as low vision/blindness, CVI, orthopedic impairment, or hearing loss can qualify for public benefits programs in California, but it’s rarely straightforward. Undivided Public Benefits Specialist Concoff Kronbeck says, “It depends on the diagnosis and how significantly the child is impacted.”
Regional Center
Regional Centers in California provide services to individuals with developmental disabilities and delays, so if your child’s only disability is low vision or hearing, they are unlikely to qualify. However, for children with both low-incidence and developmental disabilities, Regional Center can offer a variety of services to supplement what insurance and the school district provide.
Children under age three who have a developmental disability diagnosis or even a suspected developmental delay can apply for services from Regional Center’s early intervention program. Infants and toddlers who are at risk of developmental delay may qualify even if they’re not going to be eligible after age three.
For children over age three, qualifying diagnoses for Regional Center services include autism, epilepsy, cerebral palsy, intellectual disability, and the “fifth category,” which includes conditions that are substantially similar to or requiring the same treatment as intellectual disability and are not solely physical in nature. In addition to a qualifying diagnosis, the child must have substantial functional limitations. You can learn more about eligibility and how to apply in our article about services under the Lanterman Act.
Children with low-incidence disabilities who are already receiving services like therapies and equipment from their SELPA can also receive supplementary Regional Center services. Concoff Kronbeck says, “Between the two agencies, they’re going to assess who is responsible for what service.”
Parents who find that the SELPA’s services are inadequate can request more appropriate services from Regional Center. If the Regional Center issues a denial, saying the service is already being provided by another resource, parents should provide documentation about what the SELPA is providing and demonstrate that it’s insufficient to meet their child’s needs. For example, a center-based early childhood education program with only one other child in attendance likely wouldn’t provide sufficient socialization opportunities.
Medi-Cal
There are two primary ways a child can qualify for Medi-Cal, California’s public insurance program: by having household income under a certain threshold or by applying through a program that waives the income requirement.
The HCBS waiver is how many Regional Center clients gain access to Medi-Cal. Children with low-incidence disabilities who are also developmentally delayed may be eligible, depending on their medical needs, but low-incidence disabilities alone do not qualify for Regional Center services.
If a child is not eligible for Regional Center, the next option to consider would be the HCBA waiver, which is for people who require skilled nursing services at home because of complex medical needs. This waiver is based not on diagnosis but on needs, so children with low-incidence disabilities might qualify if they have significant care needs requiring a home nurse.
For children who already have primary health insurance through their parents, Medi-Cal can be used as secondary health coverage to help with co-pays, deductibles, and services or equipment that private insurance doesn’t cover.
IHSS
If your child qualifies for Medi-Cal, then In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) might provide additional services depending on your child’s specific care needs. IHSS can fund in-home care for children who require more care than a typically developing child of the same age. It’s not based on diagnosis but based on need; to determine whether your child is eligible, an IHSS worker will come to your house to evaluate the care your child requires to live safely at home.
California Children’s Services
California Children’s Services (CCS) might be an avenue of support for children whose disability is only physical and so they don’t qualify for Regional Center. CCS typically works with Medi-Cal to help cover the cost of hospital and clinic services, therapies, and equipment. Eligibility is based on diagnosis, and some of the qualifying conditions include hearing and vision impairments. Children with orthopedic impairment, especially if they have certain musculoskeletal conditions, might be eligible for physical and occupational therapy services under the Medical Therapy Program.
In addition to eligibility for CCS being based on diagnosis, CCS has income-based eligibility requirements — unless a child has full-scope Medi-Cal with no share of cost or they have needs met through the Medical Therapy Program. Household income is also not considered if a child needs diagnostic services to confirm they have a CCS-eligible medical condition. Even with these exceptions, funding for durable medical equipment is typically based on household income.
In California, Special Education Local Plan Areas (SELPAs) are responsible for providing programming for kids ages 0–22 who have disabilities, including orthopedic impairment, vision and hearing impairments, and multiple disabilities. Services that a SELPA could provide to a child with an eligible low-incidence disability include physical, occupational, speech, and behavioral therapy, as well as assistive technology (AT).
The amount of additional funding each SELPA receives is based on the number of students with low-disabilities residing there. Larger school districts might have their own SELPA, while smaller districts combine to form a SELPA.
Anyone can self-refer to their SELPA. If your child is under age three with potential or diagnosed hearing loss, vision loss, or orthopedic impairment, start by contacting your local SELPA and asking for a comprehensive assessment. Find your SELPA by scrolling down to your county on this CDE page. Once you contact your SELPA, a staff member will coordinate the assessment process and work with you to develop a service plan based on your child’s needs.
An infant or toddler with low vision, low hearing, or orthopedic impairment might be eligible for early intervention services under Part C of IDEA. According to SELPA Administrators of California, early intervention services could include “direct instruction, collaboration and support for families, Deaf and hard of hearing services, occupational therapy, orientation and mobility services, speech therapy, transition planning, and visual impairment services.”
A child who also has a developmental disability or delay can receive services from both the SELPA and their local Regional Center.
For school-age children (preschool and up), SELPAs maintain and oversee special education programs and services, and they can also provide adaptive equipment and devices that are outlined in a student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP).
SELPAs coordinate with local education agencies (LEAs). According to the California Department of Education (CDE), LEAs in California are tasked with funding “specialized services such as interpreters, note takers, readers, transcribers, and others who provide specialized services to students with low-incidence disabilities.” By law, these services must be 1) “provided by appropriately credentialed or trained individuals” and 2) written into a student’s IEP in order to be provided.
For families of children who are blind or have low vision, understanding public benefits and services can be challenging at first. However, once you’re familiar with the available resources, the process becomes clearer. While some programs, like Regional Centers, might not apply to low vision alone, many services offer support in healthcare, education, and daily living.
Both SELPAs and Regional Centers provide Early Start services for children 0–3, which can be somewhat confusing. A child who also has a developmental disability or delay can receive services from both the SELPA and their local Regional Center (more on Regional Centers in the public benefits section). But if your child doesn’t qualify for school-based services through SELPA, and has a developmental disability, Regional Center can help.
Regional Center
California’s Regional Centers provide services for individuals with developmental disabilities, both under and over the age of three. If your child doesn’t qualify for early intervention services from the school system, Regional Center does provide early intervention services for children with low vision who also have a developmental disability. While low vision alone typically doesn’t meet eligibility criteria, children who are blind may qualify if they have also been diagnosed with or are at risk for developmental delay. If a child’s vision loss — whether partial or total — significantly affects their daily functioning, families can request an assessment to determine eligibility for services.
It’s worth noting that in some cases Regional Center can also fund DME that isn’t covered by generic resources.
California Children’s Services (CCS)
CCS supports children with complex medical needs, including those who are blind or have low vision. The program may cover low vision evaluations, orientation and mobility training, and assistive devices such as magnifiers or monoculars. Concoff Kronbeck explains that children with full-scope Medi-Cal automatically qualify financially for CCS, even if their family income exceeds the usual income limits. Children must still meet the medical eligibility criteria.
Medi-Cal
Medi-Cal, California’s public health insurance, provides a wide range of services for eligible children who are blind or have low vision. Coverage may include eye exams, glasses, referrals to low vision specialists, and medically necessary adaptive tools like screen readers, tactile markers, or white canes.
In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS)
IHSS helps children who are blind or have low vision by providing assistance with daily activities in the home. Services may include help with mobility and personal care. Children with significant cognitive impairment may also qualify for IHSS protective supervision hours. For children with significant vision loss, IHSS can support greater independence and reduce caregiving demands on families.
Navigating public benefits and services can be especially confusing since CVI is often under diagnosed or misunderstood. While some programs, like Regional Centers, may not cover CVI on its own, many public benefits can still offer essential support for healthcare, education, and daily living — particularly when CVI is part of a broader diagnosis or comes with additional needs. Here’s a list of some available public benefits:
Regional Center
Regional Centers provide services for individuals with developmental disabilities, both under and over the age of three. If your child doesn’t qualify for early intervention services from the school system, Regional Center does provide early intervention services for children with CVI who also have also been diagnosed with or are at risk for developmental delay. If a child’s vision loss — whether partial or total — significantly affects their daily functioning, families can request an assessment to determine eligibility for services.
California Children’s Services (CCS)
CCS supports children with complex medical needs, including those who have vision challenges, and may offer funding and support for children with CVI. Concoff Kronbeck shares that CCS is “a program for children in California who have specific medical diagnoses and may be another avenue of support for kids who don’t qualify for Regional Center because they only have physical health issues. But there are income requirements for children who don't have Medi-Cal.” If your child qualifies, they can receive low vision evaluations, orientation and mobility training, and assistive devices such as magnifiers or monoculars. Concoff Kronbeck explains that children with full-scope Medi-Cal automatically qualify financially for CCS, even if their family income exceeds the usual income limits. Children must still meet the medical eligibility criteria.
Medi-Cal
Medi-Cal, California’s public health insurance, provides a wide range of services for eligible children who are blind or have low vision. Coverage may include eye exams, glasses, referrals to low vision specialists, and medically necessary adaptive tools like screen readers, tactile markers, or white canes.
In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS)
IHSS helps children who are blind or have low vision (including CVI) by providing assistance with daily activities in the home. Services may include help with mobility and, personal care. Children with significant cognitive impairment may also qualify for IHSS protective supervision hours. For children with significant vision loss, IHSS can support greater independence and reduce caregiving demands on families. Concoff Kronbeck shares that the IHSS assessment is not solely about the diagnosis: “Every child is assessed based on their individual needs. The hours will be awarded based on that particular child and not based on their diagnosis.”
Equipment and therapy funding
Funding things like white canes, walkers, or gait trainers depends on where and how the item will be used. For school-based needs, both SELPAs and school districts are responsible for providing services and tools that support access to a free and appropriate public education. This might include items such as screen readers, braille devices, or electronic magnifiers.
For equipment or therapies used at home or in the community, health insurance is typically the first place to turn. Concoff Kronbeck explains, “Health insurance is always going to come first for anything that health insurance covers; regardless of what agency they’re going to, if it’s something that the health insurance is responsible for, the health insurance has to pay first.”
Durable medical equipment (DME) such as white canes might be medically necessary outside of school. While insurance doesn’t cover school-based services, it may fund items that are used both at home and at school. If insurance denies coverage, families can explore alternatives such as CCS, Medi-Cal, or school-based programs — especially if the equipment supports educational access.
If your child has an IEP for orthopedic impairment, the public benefits available to them will depend on their medical diagnosis. Regional Center early intervention services support infants and toddlers at risk for developmental delays in reaching milestones. At age three, these services shift to long-term supports under the Lanterman Act for children with qualifying diagnoses.
Early Intervention (ages 0–3)
Transition to the Lanterman Act (ages 3+)
At age three, eligibility shifts from early intervention to long-term services under the Lanterman Act. To qualify, a child must have a condition such as autism, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, or intellectual disability or a condition classified under the “fifth category.”
This fifth category applies to disabilities that are “substantially similar to or requiring the same treatment as an intellectual disability and are not solely physical in nature,” according to Concoff Kronbeck. It includes conditions that significantly impact a child’s ability to learn and interact with their environment in ways similar to those with intellectual disabilities—even if the disability is not solely physical.
Having a qualifying diagnosis alone does not automatically qualify a child for services. They must also demonstrate significant functional limitations that affect their daily functioning in at least three developmental areas.
Additional supports may include Medi-Cal, In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS), or Home and Community-Based Alternatives (HCBA) waivers for skilled nursing.
CCS Medical Therapy Program (MTP)
The CCS MTP provides medically necessary OT and PT for children and young adults under age 21 with eligible conditions. These include cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, arthrogryposis, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, spina bifida, brachial plexus injury, and traumatic brain injuries.
Services are delivered through MTUs, typically located on public school sites, in partnership with county health departments, DHCS, and LEAs. Children who qualify for MTU services may receive support regardless of family income.
Unfortunately, many private health insurance plans do not cover hearing aids for children, even when medically necessary. In California, a proposed bill requiring health insurers to cover hearing aids and assistive technology for individuals under 21 has been continuously vetoed. If your health insurance doesn’t cover your child’s hearing aids, or if you don’t have insurance at all, there are alternative funding options that may offset these costs.
Medi-Cal
For children with low-incidence disabilities like hearing loss, there’s a helpful Medi-Cal program called Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment (EPSDT). Through EPSDT (offered through Medi-Cal Kids and Teens), services such as hearing aids, audiology testing, and related care may be fully covered. EPSDT isn’t just for children with disabilities — it’s a bundle of services available to all children under age 21 who have full-scope Medi-Cal. Even if your child already has private insurance, Medi-Cal can often be used as secondary coverage to help with co-pays, deductibles, or anything your primary plan doesn’t cover. If your child doesn’t qualify for EPSDT, it’s good to know that Medi-Cal has a cap of $1,510 (as of February 2025) for hearing aid benefit services.
Your child can qualify for Medi-Cal either based on household income or through programs that waive income limits due to medical needs. In California, there are two main waivers that allow children to qualify for Medi-Cal even if their family income is too high: the HCBS-DD waiver for children who are Regional Center clients, and the HCBA waiver for children who require in-home nursing due to complex medical needs. These waivers are based on the level of care a child would require if they were placed in an institution—either a facility for people with developmental disabilities (HCBS-DD) or a skilled nursing facility (HCBA). Many children with complex needs qualify through one of these waivers, especially if they receive Regional Center services or need nursing care at home.
Regional Centers
Regional Centers provide vital early intervention services for children 0-3 diagnosed with, or at risk for, developmental delays or disabilities. They can include everything from speech therapy to audiology services and family training, which are crucial for your child’s early development. For a deeper dive into accessing these services, check out our articleWhat Is Early Intervention? - The 4 Ws of Early Intervention.
It’s important to note that if your child with hearing loss does not have a co-occurring developmental disability, early intervention services are typically provided by your local school district (SELPA) through Early Start, not the Regional Center. Both SELPAs and Regional Centers provide Early Start services for children 0–3, which can be somewhat confusing. A child who also has a developmental disability or delay can receive services from both the SELPA and their local Regional Center. But if your child doesn’t qualify for early star school-based services through SELPA, and has a developmental disability, Regional Center can help.
California Children’s Services (CCS)
If your child has hearing loss, California Children’s Services (CCS) might be able to help with the cost of hearing aids and related services such as testing, fitting, and follow-up care. CCS is a state program that supports children with certain physical disabilities or chronic medical conditions, including hearing loss. CCS eligibility is based on both your child’s diagnosis and your household income. However, if your child qualifies through a Medi-Cal waiver then income eligibility is not an issue.
If you think your child might be eligible, you can talk to your pediatrician or audiologist about getting a referral, or you can contact your local CCS office directly to start the application process. It might take a little paperwork, but the support you receive could go a long way in making sure your child gets what they need. Even if you’re not sure your child meets the requirements, it’s still worth applying. Some families qualify based on medical need alone, especially if the hearing loss significantly affects your child’s day-to-day functioning. And for families already enrolled in Medi-Cal, CCS is often easier to access.
Hearing Aid Coverage Program (HACCP)
If your child is under 21 in California, and needs hearing aids, the Hearing Aid Coverage for Children Program (HACCP) can help cover the costs — including hearing aids, replacements, bone conduction devices, accessories, and hearing aid–related services such as audiology and follow-up care.
To qualify for the program, you’ll need to meet a few basic requirements:
It might sound like a lot, but the goal of this program is to make sure kids who need hearing aids can get them, regardless of insurance or income. If you’re not sure where to start, reach out to your child’s audiologist or ENT, or your local health department — they can help guide you through the process. It’s important to note that you can also apply for this program while applying for CCS.
School districts (in some cases)
It’s very rare for school districts to cover the cost of hearing aids. However, in some cases, if hearing aids or other hearing-related supports are considered essential for your child to access their education and this is clearly written into their Individualized Education Program (IEP), then the school district may be responsible for providing them. Again, it’s very uncommon — especially if the hearing aids are needed both at home and at school. Realistically, you are more likely to get assistive technology written into the IEP than hearing aids. Still, if you believe hearing aids are the key to helping your child make meaningful progress in the classroom, it’s worth advocating for during the IEP process.
Additionally, be sure to ask your district to provide access to an educational audiologist as a related service. This professional can help with classroom accommodations, consult on hearing assistive technology, and fit your child for ear molds — even if the hearing aids themselves aren’t covered. They can be a key member of your child’s support team in making sure classroom access is as smooth and effective as possible.
Department of Rehabilitation
If you have a teen who’s starting to transition into adulthood, the California Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) might be a great resource to explore. DOR can help cover the cost of hearing aids, assistive technology and related services, especially if your child is preparing for college, receiving job training, or entering the workforce.
They also offer support through d/Deaf and hard of hearing counselors, audiology and hearing aid assessments, and assistive listening technology or rehabilitation devices to help your child communicate and thrive in everyday life. Check out our article How the Department of Rehabilitation Can Help with the Transition to Adulthood to learn whether your child qualifies.
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