County Supes Commend Developmental Disabilities Center

The Alameda County Board of Supervisors voted today to commend a San Leandro facility for providing essential supportive services to people with developmental disabilities and their families for 40 years. Supervisor Nate Miley said the Regional Center of the East Bay serves 18,500 residents in Alameda and Contra Costa counties and is the fifth largest regional center in the state.

Miley said the state Legislature’s passage of the Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services Act 50 years ago created a system of regional centers that guaranteed that people with developmental disabilities have the right to receive services and support that help them to live more independent and productive lives in their communities.

Miley said the Regional Center of the East Bay serves adults and children with developmental disabilities as well as people who have a high risk of parenting a child with such disabilities. He said the center coordinates many services to meet the needs of people with disabilities, including the provision of adaptive equipment, counseling, early intervention and prevention services, independent and supportive living services, mobility training, parental training, residential services and specialized medical care.

A resolution passed by the Board of Supervisors says regional centers require sufficient funding to carry out their missions as mandated by the state and public investment in the centers is needed to provide adequate provider reimbursement rates, retain quality employees and ensure the ongoing quality of care.

Miley said, “We hope the state raises the rate of reimbursement. It really annoys me that our state doesn’t recognize that.” James Burton, the executive director for the Regional Center of the East Bay, said, “Our 40 years of existence have been wonderful years but also difficult years and hard years.” “Our goal is that every person with a developmental disability has a wonderful life and can take part in the community,” Burton said. “The fight at hand is with the state in providing adequate funding. For years we have been underfunded.”

By Bay City News

Photo courtesy Alameda County