Overview

Mission Statement
North Los Angeles County Regional Center provides lifelong partnerships and planning to persons with developmental disabilities by promoting their civil and personal rights, providing comprehensive information, advocating in cooperation with consumers, promoting and providing quality services, and supporting full participation of consumers and families in all aspects of community life.

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History of North Los Angeles County Regional Center

Some of the significant milestones during our more than 30 years of service:

March 1974 NLACRC files articles of incorporation as a nonprofit corporation

April 1974 Dennis Amundson is selected as NLACRC’s first Executive Director

November 1974 Grand opening ceremony and NLACRC building dedication

January 1975 Santa Clarita Valley office opens

April 1975 Pacoima/San Fernando satellite office opens

July 1975 The first NLACRC library is dedicated in memory of Dolores Berkowitz, the first NLACRC Chief Counselor. The board proposes a two-year demonstration project to develop six-bed residential homes. NLACRC participates with six other L.A.County Regional Centers in developing a proposal to establish a comprehensive system of in-home and out-of-home respite care programs.

June 1976 Dr. Thompson Kelly becomes NLACRC Executive Director

July 1977 NLACRC now has five service units. Adult, Children’s and State Hospital placement units in the main offices, Pacoima Satellite office, and the Santa Clarita, Antelope Valley offices.

November 1981 Open House at NLACRC’s new Panorama City main office

November 1985 James L. Shorter becomes Executive Director

Spring 1987 NLACRC and parent group La Nueva Esperanza hold the First Festival Educacional

September 1989 William C. Donovan becomes Executive Director

June 1990 NLACRC implements the Alternative Residential Model

FY 1991-92 NLACRC begins participating in the Community Supported
Living Arrangements Projects

April 1992 NLACRC holds its first Legislative Breakfast

January 1994 Earthquake causes major damage to NLACRC main office,
Program site and homes of NLACRC consumers, families
and staff. Staff work out of mobile structures in parking lot.

May 1996 NLACRC moves its main office to Van Nuys

April 1997 NLACRC/LAUSD sponsor first annual joint School to
Career Fair

February 1998 George Stevens becomes Executive Director

1999 NLACRC celebrates its 25th anniversary

2000 In a time of unprecedented state and federal budget surplus, the regional center system is in crisis. While the late 1990s saw an increase in regional center funding for specified purposes, the cuts imposed on regional centers in the early 1990s were never restored. Regional centers are overwhelmed with unfunded mandates, rising expectations of consumers and their families, and the inability to retain an adequate number of employees.

2001 California again finds itself in financial hard times. The deregulation of utility companies creates an energy crisis requiring the state to spend millions of dollars a day to keep power flowing throughout the state. The dot-com industry fizzles, drastically reducing the state’s tax receipts. Now, California must cut billions of dollars from the budget which is particularly meaningful for regional centers hoping for budget increases.

Assembly member Dion Aroner introduces the most significant piece of legislation relating to the developmental disability service system since the passage of the Lanterman Act. AB 896 unifies the developmental services delivery system and provides a blueprint for future community development and enhancement, ensuring that all persons with developmental disabilities are served for the long term.

2002 In light of the State’s fiscal crisis, regional centers are mandated by the State legislature to reduce their purchase of services (POS) budgets, and develop an expenditure plan to address these reductions.

2003 NLACRC develops an expenditure plan for the fiscal year 2003-2004. Governor Gray Davis is recalled and actor Arnold Schwarzenegger is voted into office. Governor Schwarzenegger and his Department of Finance propose several budget cuts that would seriously impact services and supports for people with developmental disabilities, including suspension of the Lanterman Act. After several large protests and a letter and fax writing campaign, he rescinds this decision.

If you would like to learn about the history of the developmental disabilities services system, please visit the Association of Regional Centers (ARCA) Web site.

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General information
A developmental disability is a condition attributable to Mental Retardation, Cerebral Palsy, Epilepsy, Autism, conditions closely related to mental retardation or conditions that require treatment similar to that required for individuals with mental retardation.

Mental Retardation
Mental retardation is a term used when a person has certain limitations in mental functioning and in skills such as communicating, taking care of him or herself, and social skills. These limitations will cause a child to learn and develop more slowly than a typical child.

Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral Palsy, also referred to as CP, is a condition caused by injury to part of the brain that controls our ability to use our muscles and bodies. Cerebral means having to do with the brain. Palsy means weakness or problems with using the muscles.

Epilepsy
Epilepsy is a physical condition that occurs when there is a sudden, brief change in how the brain works. When brain cells are not working properly, a person’s consciousness, movement or actions may be altered for a short time. These physical changes are called epileptic seizures.

Autism
Usually evident by age three, autism is a neurological disorder that affects a child’s ability to communicate, under-stand language, play, and relate to others.