Key Terms Dictionary

Clover Advocates is continually adding to this Key Terms Dictionary that describes Traditional Regional Center and SDP service terms and acronyms that special needs families and Independent Facilitators will encounter in their journey.

Please email us at info@cloveradvocates.com or join our Facebook group to ask to add or revise any terms / acronyms in this dictionary to improve its accuracy and comprehensiveness!

Use Command + F (Mac) or Ctrl + F (PC) to search by keyword!

AAC – Augmentative and Alternative Communication, communication devices that allow people who are mute with speech delays to communicate, most common are iPads with buttons that say words when the person presses the button the iPad will say that word

ABA – Applied Behavioral Analysis, a type of psychological intervention that applies approaches based on the principles of respondent and operant conditioning to change behavior of social significance

Acupuncture Services (SDP Service Code 357) – Prevent, modify, or alleviate the perception of severe, persistent chronic pain resulting from a generally recognized medical condition

ADLs – Activities of Daily Living, like personal hygiene, dressing, eating, and mobility

ASD – Autism Spectrum Disorder, a spectrum-based neurological and developmental disorder that affects how people communicate, learn, behave, and interact with others. Symptoms usually appear in the first two years of life but can be diagnosed at any age.

AST – Adaptive Skills Training, a service designed to instruct and support individuals with developmental disabilities to be more effective with their daily living skills at home and in the community

Behavioral Intervention Services (SDP Service Code 364) – Programs to improve the participant’s development and behavior tracking and analysis

CCS – California Children Services, a statewide program that treats children with certain physical limitations and chronic health conditions or diseases

Chiropractic Services (SDP Service Code 373) – Service that includes the manual manipulation of the spine to prevent, modify, or alleviate the perception of severe, persistent chronic pain resulting from a generally recognized medical condition

Communication Support (SDP Service Code 360) – Communication aides are necessary to facilitate and assist persons with learning, speech, or vision impairment

Community Integration Support (SDP Service Code 331) – A way to ensure that all people have access to the full spectrum of social, educational, and professional opportunities

Community Living Support (SDP Service Code 320 for individual or agency support and 321 for Residential facility) – A service that helps regional center clients find a place in and navigate the community

Crisis Intervention and Supports (SDP Service Code 363) – Specialized service that provides short-term care and behavior intervention to provide relief and support for the caregiver and protection for the participant or others living with the participant

DDS – Department of Developmental Services, a State agency that provides services and support to individuals with developmental disabilities

Dental Services (SDP Service Code 367) – Professional services performed by dentists including diagnosis and/or treatment for clients 21 or older

DIR Floor Time (SDP Service Code 331) – Developmental, Individual-differences, and Relationship-based model to floortime therapy that provides a functional framework with the understanding that human development, learning, and how each person individually perceives and interacts with the world differently. Usually funded under of 331 Community Integration Supports SDP Service Code.

Duplication of Services – Two services at the same time

Employment Supports (SDP Service Code 335) – An approach to vocational rehabilitation for people with mental disorders that emphasizes helping them obtain competitive work in the community and provides support in the workplace to ensure their success

Environment Accessibility Adaptation (SDP Service Code 356) – Physical adaptations to the participant’s home, required by the individual’s IPP, which are necessary to ensure the health, welfare, and safety of the individual, or which enable the individual to function with greater independence in the home

EPSDT – Early periodic screening diagnosis and treatment

Executive Functioning Coach (SDP Service Code 331) – Coaches who help people develop skills to manage challenges in school and adult life. They work with clients to help identify strengths and weaknesses and create personalized strategies to help improve or better manage their weaknesses.

Family/Consumer Training (SDP Service Code 366) – Services that are provided, as needed, in conjunction with extended state plan services, include support or counseling for the consumer and/or family to ensure a proper understanding of the treatment provided and what supports are needed in the recipient’s home environment to enhance the treatments

Family Support Services (SDP Service Code 378) – Support, resources, or other assistance provided to the family of a child with special health care needs

FMS - Financial Management Service, helps manage the SDP budget and spending plan

Generic Services – Services that a public agency is responsible for providing to the members of the general public and with public money, such as Medi-Cal, SSI and public school district funded services

Global Developmental Delay – When a child takes longer to reach certain development milestones than other kids their age.

Home Health Aide (SDP Service Code 359) – Services under the state plan, that are limited to the amount that is determined medically necessary, provide medical aide to those who are 21 and over.

Homemaker (SDP Service Code 313) – Assists individuals in their homes with daily living, personal care, and home maintenance tasks to ensure that patients can maintain peace of mind and an independent lifestyle.

Housing Access Supports (SDP Service Code 314) – Foundations that help fund and support Regional Center clients with needs like emergency housing

IEP – Individual Education Plan, a plan made for children with learning difficulties that help them in school

IDEA – The Individuals with Disablities Education Act is a law that makes available a free appropriate public education to eligible children with disabilities throughout the nation and ensures special education and related services to those children. (More details here)

IF (SDP Service Code 340) – Independent Facilitator, Person who facilitates the Person-Centered Planning process in collaboration with the person

IFSP – Individualized Family Service Plan, a document that outlines early intervention services that a child (under age 3) will receive when they are eligible for special education services

IHSS – In-Home Supportive Services, a program that is available to support people who have a disability (temporary or permanent) and need assistance to remain safely in their own home

ILS – Integrated Listening Systems program, a type of sound therapy where the person wears headphones and listens to classical music while doing multi-sensory movement exercises

Individual Training & Education (SDP Service Code 334) – Programs, workshops, and conferences that assist the participant in acquiring and building skills related to his or her responsibility as an employer, relationship building, problem-solving, and decision-making

IPP – Individual Program Plan, assists persons (ages 3+) with developmental disabilities and their families to build their capacities and capabilities

Lenses and Frames (SDP Service Code 368) – Service that covers prescription lenses and frames for consumers over 21 as prescribed by a physician and only when the limits of lenses and frames furnished under the approved state plan are exhausted

Live-In Caregiver (SDP Service Code 312) – a caregiver that stays in the home of your loved one for 24 hours a day for about 4-5 days depending on the circumstance

Lanterman Act – In California, people with developmental disabilities have the right to services that help them be part of their communities. Those who use Regional Centers have the right to make decisions about the services and supports they need (see more details here)

Mainstream – The normal path of education for students who are not in an SAI classroom, also referred to as General Education setting

Massage Therapy (SDP Service Code 374) – The scientific manipulation of the soft tissues of the body for the purpose of normalizing those tissues and consists of manual techniques that include applying fixed or movable pressure, holding, and/or causing movement of or to the body.

Natural Support – Family, extended family, friends who provide non-paid care

NOA – Notice of Action

Non-Medical Transportation (SDP Service Code 338) – Transportation that is not used for emergency medical transportation, used for mileage reimbursement for 320 Community Living Support employees funded by SDP

Nutritional Consultation (SDP Service Code 362) – Provision of consultation and assistance in planning to meet the nutritional and dietary needs of the participant

Optometric/Optician Services (SDP Service Code 369) – Services that provide examinations, diagnosis, and treatment to patient’s eyes and fitted eyeglasses, contact lenses, and other vision-correcting devices to participants 21 and over

OT (Service Code 375) – Occupational Therapy, a Branch of therapy that helps people with physical, sensory, or cognitive problems that helps people gain independence in all areas of their lives

PA (SDP Service Code 320) –– Personal Assistant, provides assistance / care services needed to provide an individual with appropriate and direct care or supervision in their preferred home and community settings. This may include assistance with bathing, grooming, dressing, toileting, meal preparation, feeding and supervision, 1:1 supervision/support in-home and community settings for an individual with significant safety, social deficits or behavioral challenges, and assistance with community integration

Participant-Directed Goods and Services (PDS) (SDP Service Code 333)– Letting the consumer or family choose who to hire, schedule, and supervise the work for some types of IPP services

Payers of Last Resort – Regional centers are the payers of last resort if Medicaid funds a program, the public school system, or private insurance the Regional Center will not cover it

PCP – Person Centered Plan, plan that helps people with disabilities or older adults plan their lives and reach their goals, highly recommended for clients transitioning to SDP, to inform services needed to support IPP goals, which ultimately determine their SDP budget

Personal Emergency Response Systems (PERS) (SDP Service Code 358) – 24-hour assistance service that enables the recipient to secure immediate assistance in the event of an emotional, physical, or environmental emergency

Physical Therapy (SDP Service Code 376) – Service that includes evaluation, treatment planning, treatment, instruction, consultative services, and application of topical medications

Play Therapy (SDP Service Code 331) – This type of therapy seeks to balance symbolic play with linguistic expression in a way that is appropriate to the child’s age and beneficial for them

Prevocational Support (SDP Service Code 339) – Individually designed programs by a planning team to assist participants in gaining employment

Psychological Services (SDP Service Code 370) – Therapies that help treat mental health disorders

Regional Center (RC) – Regional centers are regional, independent non-profit organizations that provide diagnosis and help plan, access, coordinate, and monitor the services and supports that are needed because of a developmental disability

Respite Care (SPD Service Code 310 for in-home and 311 for out-of-home) – This allows you to take a break from caring for someone, while the person you care for is looked after by someone else.

SAI – Specialized Academic Instruction, Special education where students are taught specifically by a special education teacher, often not a part of normal mainstream instruction

SC – Service Coordinator, A person at the Regional Center who receives the PCP and helps coordinate services

SDP – Self-Determination Program, Provides individuals and their families with more freedom, control, and responsibility in choosing services and supports to help them meet objectives in their Individual Program Plan

SDP Service Codes – Codes that FMSs use to pay their vendors for a specific kind of service. See this document for the list of services and corresponding codes (for example 310 in-home Respite or 320 Community living)

Skilled Nursing (SDP Service Code 361) – Services listen in a plan of care within the scope of the State’s Nurse Practice Act and are provided by a registered professional nurse or licensed practical or vocational nurse under the supervision of a registered nurse who is licensed to practice in the state

SLS – Supported Living Services, assists adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities to establish and maintain a safe, stable, and independent life in homes they own or rent

SLP – Speech-Language Pathologist, experts in communication who help individuals of all ages with disorders in communication and swallowing

Special Education – Instruction to meet the needs of students with a disability, usually a learning disability

Specialized Medical Equipment and Supplies (SDP Service Code 365) – Supplies and equipment needed to address a medical disorder

Speech, Hearing, and Language Services (SDP Service Code 372) – Speech pathology services, such as the identification, measurement, and correction or modification of speech, voice, or language disorders and conditions and counseling related to such disorders and conditions, and hearing aids. Also known as SLP or Speech Therapy, a type of therapy that improves your ability to talk and use other language skills such as expressing your thoughts, understanding what other people are saying to you, and improving your memory and problem-solving ability

Technology Supports (SDP Service Code 336) – Item, piece of equipment, or product system, whether acquired commercially, modified, or customized, that is used to promote community integration, and independence, and increase, maintain, or improve functional capabilities of participants

Training and Counseling Services for Unpaid Caregivers (SDP Service Code 371) – Services for individuals that provide unpaid support, training, companionship, or supervision to participants, used for educational courses, professional organization membership, and conferences for training related to providing specific care-related to their dependents' disability

Transition/Set Up Expenses (SDP Service Code 337) – One-time non-recurring set-up expenses to assist individuals who are transitioning from an institution to their own home in the community

Vehicle Modifications and Adaptations (SDP Service Code 377) – Devices, controls, or services that enable participants to increase their independence, enable them to integrate fully into the community, and ensure their health and safety.

Vendor – Service providers that are contracted with the Regional Center

WPCS – Waiver Personal Care Service, a program in California that is designed to assist the waiver participant with gaining independence with the activities of daily living and preventing social isolation. It assists them with maintaining independence in their home and the community.