Resources > Resources | Glossary of Terms

ADL (Activities of Daily Living)

Daily tasks that include maintaining personal hygiene, preparing meals, and managing household chores.

Area Boards

Thirteen area boards (in California) that provide advocacy; public information about disabilities; planning new programs; monitoring existing programs; and making sure that people work together in providing services.

Adult Residential Facility (ARF)

Serves adults with developmental or mental disabilities, ages 18-59 years and provides residential services along with varying degrees of supervision.

Autism

Autism is a developmental disorder characterized by impairment in social interaction, delays in both verbal ad nonverbal communication skills, deficits in cognitive skills, and impairment in the ability to engage in make-believe play.

Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy is a condition caused by damage to the brain, usually occurring before, during or shortly following birth. ‘Cerebral’ refers to the brain, and ‘palsy’ to a disorder of movement or posture.

Department of Developmental Services (DDS)

The Department of Developmental Services has responsibility for implementing the Lanterman Act. DDS sets policy, determines rates and oversees contracts with 21 non-profit regional centers which fund community based supports and services. DDS also operates state-owned developmental centers.

Department of Social Services (DSS)

Provides licenses and monitors licensed residential and day service facilities.)

Developmental Disability (DD)

According to the California Welfare and Institutions Code Section 4512, a developmental disability means a disability which originates before an individual attains age 18, continues or can be expected to continue indefinitely, and constitutes a substantial handicap for that individual. Included in this definition are mental retardation, cerebral palsy, epilepsy and autism. Also included are disabling conditions found to be closely related to mental retardation or to require treatment similar to that required for individuals with mental retardation. The Federal definition uses age 22 and looks at a person’s range of abilities instead of diagnostic categories.

Down Syndrome

A condition associated with a chromosome abnormality, usually trisomy (addition of a third chromosome to a pair) of chromosome 21.

Epilepsy

According to the Epilepsy Foundation of America, epilepsy is a physical condition that occurs when there is a sudden, brief change in how the brain works. Epilepsy is therefore sometimes called a seizure disorder.

Functional Skills

Skills that allow an individual to communicate, interact with others and to perform tasks which have meaning at home, in the community or on the job.

Individualized Program Plan (IPP)

A planning document that outlines special services, goals and objectives for a person who needs individualized help because of a developmental disability.

Interdisciplinary Team (IDT)

A group of people (parents, teachers, psychologists, social workers, and others) who assist in the development of the IEP or IPP. Some individuals are mandated to be part of the team, others are by invitation of the consumer.

Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Act of 1976

This California State law provides basic service rights to persons with developmental disabilities. It put in place the Department of Developmental Services, Regional Centers, the State Council on Developmental Disabilities and Area Boards to establish needed services and monitor their delivery.

Mental Retardation

Mental retardation is characterized by less than average intellectual functioning and significant limitations in at least two of the following areas: communication, self-care, home living, social skills, use of community resources, self-direction, academic skills, work, leisure, health and safety.

People First

A self-advocacy and self-help organization of individuals who have developmental disabilities.

Protection and Advocacy, Inc. (PAI)

PAI provides advocacy services for people with developmental disabilities. This service often includes the involvement of the legislature and the courts to ensure basic rights.

Purchase of Service Agreement (POS)

Refers to the payment agreement between the Regional Center and a vendor.

RCFE

Licensing designation: Residential Care for the Elderly.

Regional Centers (RC)

The 21 regional centers are private, non-profit corporations operating under contract with the State of California, through the Department of Developmental Services, and provide people with residential, day, transportation, social, independent living, respite, medical, psychological, preschool and other services.

State Council on Developmental Disabilities

Under the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act (Public Law 95-602) and the Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services Act of 1976, the State Council has a responsibility to plan and coordinate resources to protect the legal, civil and service rights of persons with developmental disabilities. The Council is made up of consumers, parents and state agency administrators.

Title 17

A portion of the California Code of Regulations that contain the Department of Developmental Services’ regulations as well as other regulations.

Title 22

A portion of the California Code of Regulations that contains the state licensing regulations for community care facilities.

Vendor/Provider

A person, program or facility which has been authorized by a Regional Center to provide particular services to regional center clients.

Vendorization

The process used to verify that an applicant meets all of the regulatory requirements and standards, prior to the provision of services to clients.