Does my child need a Regional Center referral to the DOR?
Published: Jun. 16, 2026Updated: Jun. 16, 2026
Some Undivided families have been told that their child needs to be a Regional Client in order to get help from the California Department of Rehabilitation (DOR). This is not true; the DOR can help any individual with a disability with or without being a Regional Center client.
However, given the DOR's budget and resource constraints, those in the Regional Center are a priority for services while others may be put on a waitlist. If your child's school already has a relationship with DOR, you should be able to coordinate services. If not, consider applying directly for DOR at the same time as requesting that your school work with the DOR for transition services.
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