At Valley Mountain Regional Center one of our codes of ethics is teamwork. We are committed to working as a team with our colleagues and community and the cornerstone of teamwork is mutual respect. While our roles are often separate, we will focus on common goals, sharing equally in the benefits and daily challenges of making difficult decisions.
Sometimes despite our best efforts, there may be a time when we just can’t agree with each other. This can happen in any relationship. We don’t take it personal and we hope you don’t either. Luckily the Lanterman Act was prepared for this event as well and has designed an appeal process aimed at protecting the rights of people with disabilities and their families.
If this happens, clients or families may ask us to review our decision, to make sure all information was considered. We will make every effort to resolve disagreements informally, through discussion with your Service Coordinator, or their supervisor. A VMRC Service Coordinator can also provide our clients/families with information on how to contact the Office of Client Rights Advocacy, if there are complaints about how services are provided.
If the matter continues to be unresolved, our Assistant Directors with several years of experience will work with you to try to resolve the dispute in an informal mediation. If we are unable to resolve concerns informally, clients may ask the regional center to review our decision through the appeal process. An appeal is a formal request for someone to change a decision about an individual’s eligibility for services, or about the services he or she receives.
You have the right to appeal our decisions and we will support you in exercising that right. If this issue is still not settled our Compliance Manager may meet with you in a more formal setting which could either include more mediation or state level fair hearing between you and our Compliance Manager with a California Administrative Law Judge who will make a ruling to end the dispute process.
You have the right to appeal our decisions and we will support you in exercising that right. If this issue is still not settled our Compliance Manager may meet with you in a more formal setting which could either include more mediation or state level fair hearing between you and our Compliance Manager with a California Administrative Law Judge who will make a ruling to end the dispute process.
The Department of Developmental Services believes the California developmental services community is best served by the open exchange of information and opinions. DDS is also committed to providing mechanisms for the resolution of problems and complaints when they arise. A number of formal processes have been established for handling appeals and complaints. Click for the DDS Appeals Page
There are different dispute resolution and complaint processes depending on the service or if you are a consumer, family member, or service provider. Below are some helpful links to these processes:
Consumer and Family Complaint
Consumer Denial of Personal Rights
Fair Hearing
Early Start Complaint
Early Start Mediation Conference
Early Start Due Process
Provider Vendorization Appeal
Residential Provider Facility Appeal
Provider Rate Appeal