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Lanterman Regional Center Launches Network of Care Web Site Featuring Integrated Community Resources

June 11, 2007
Viewpoint - Lanterman Regional Center Newsletter

Los Angeles – Each of us has a responsibility to help children and adults with developmental disabilities become fully-included and accepted members of our communities. One of the things we can do is to seek out generic community resources to include people with developmental disabilities and start changing people’s perceptions and facilitating inclusion and acceptance at a grassroots level.

“Over the years, we have implemented many strategies to help adults with developmentaldisabilities and families with children with special needs increase their knowledge about generic community resources that offer fully-integrated programs, and we are pleased to launch our newest tool – Lanterman Regional Center’s Network of Care,” shares Diane Anand, executive director.

On Lanterman’s Network of Care site you will find a listing of community-based resources for children and adults that are close to where you live. The resources on the site are searchable by several criteria, including by category of the resource, and location/area. The initial groups of resources we are making available primarily focus on social/recreational, preschool and day care options. As the site continuesto grow we will be adding additional resources in other categories, such as medical, dental and transportation. This site is designed to only include resources thatintegrate children and adults with developmental disabilities into regular programming and activities with their non-disabled peers. Specialized programs serving only people with developmental disabilities are not listed. The Center’s objective is to maximize the information about community resources used by the general public so that our clients and familiescan make informed choices. At the same time, we encourage you to discuss your needs and thepotential resources with your service coordinator. He or she can help you evaluate whether these resources will help you meet the goals and objectives written in your person-centered plan.

In addition to helping users find the right resource at the right time, the Network of Care site also features:

• A library that contains more than 30,000 articles, fact sheets and reports produced by leading experts and organizations in the fields of aging and disability.

• A searchable assistive devices database that lists more than 21,000 currently available products from more than 3,000 companies that is updated every three months, and offers information on non-commercial prototypes, customized and one-of-a-kind products, and do-ityourselfdesigns.

• Lists of local, state and national Web sites that make it easy for you to find online informationabout government programs and nonprofit organizations that specialize in developmental disabilities, as well as lists of organizations that provide assistance, support, information and advocacy.