EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE
Where We’ve Been and Where We’re Going

In January 1966 the regional center system opened the first two pilot centers -- The Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles served Los Angeles County and the San Francisco Aid for Retarded Children served parts of Northern California. By June 1968 the centers provided services to 770 consumers (persons with developmental disabilities) and their families.

Forty years later, 21 regional centers now serve over 215,000 consumers. North Los Angeles County Regional Center (NLACRC) alone assists more than 14,000 individuals (as of Dec. 2006).

Throughout the regional center’s rich history, great strides have been made to help ensure that consumers have increasing options available to help them so that they may live their lives as independently as possible.

The map on the report cover is a metaphor for the many roads that a consumer might navigate throughout his or her lifetime. This report presents you with a glimpse into the lives of three NLACRC consumers, each of whom are traveling on different paths, yet striving for similar goals. NLACRC looks forward to discovering many new roads with the hopes that consumers will have a wide array of options available to them for many years to come.

George Stevens                                                                       
NLACRC Executive Director