Should I include my child's IEP when applying for Regional Center services?

The Regional Center intake process includes reviewing a variety of documentation about your child to establish that they have a qualifying diagnosis and that their disability is substantial. (See this article for more information about qualifying for Regional Center services after age 3.)

While the Regional Center may conduct their own assessments to determine your child's eligibility, you can also submit documents that support your child's need for supportive services, such as an IEP if your child has one. Assessments conducted by your child's school can show that your child needs support in the areas of learning, mobility, receptive and expressive speech, self-care, and/or self-direction.

If your child is currently being assessed for their first IEP, Regional Center might want to wait to see the assessment results before issuing their eligibility decision. Note that if the school assessments come back and you don’t agree with them, you can request an Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE) from the school district.