We are here to help your special needs child receive Regional Center Eligilibity for Services, as mandated by law. 

We provide representatation where the Regional Center has either denied initial eligibility or has terminated eligiblity. 

As a note, we do not provide representaation in regards to services or anything else that takes place as a result of having been or being an active regional center consumer (for example, the quality or quantity of services).

Eligibility for regional center services is provided under a law known as the Lanterman Act.

In order to qualify for services, an individual must have either cerebral palsy, epilepsy, autism, intellectual disability or a condition that closely resembles intellectual disability (otherwise known as the fifth category).  Our law firm is well experienced representing clients at fair hearings, addressing regional center wrongful denials of eligiblity.  At administrative hearings, we have successfully proven the presence of autism as well as the 5th category.

Additionally, the person seeking eligibility must have significant challenges in three of the seven following areas: communication skills, learning abilities, self care, mobility, self direction, independent living skills and economic self-sufficiency. Please note that most of the regional centers place age limitation exclusions on the categories of independent living and economic self sufficiency, such that 3 out of 5 areas must be of a significant challenge (rather than 3 out of 7). 

Furthermore, the disabiity must have existed prior to the age of 18 and is expected to continue indefinitely.

Please note that the above this is a brief summary of eligibility criteria (not comprehensive), legal counsel may be required as there are nuances to the law. If your child needs regional center eligibility and the regional center denies your son or daughter access to those services, we can help...

We can represent your child at a fair hearing.

If your funds are limited, we can help you prepare for a hearing through "limited representation", thereby, increasing your opportunity for success at a fair hearing.

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Parent Testimonial

"Jeff prevailed at the OAH hearing; the judge ruled in our son's favor; we won. Attorney Jeff Gottlieb helped us get regional center eligibility for our son. We fought the regional center for years. My biggest mistake initially was thinking I could fight the system on my own.  Once Jeff came on board and throughout the process I quickly realized; there is no way I could have successfully done this without his  help.  Now, my son has opportunities & resources he did not have before. I only wish I knew his kind of help existed while my son was still attending school."

         Nancy H. 

[Please note that the case of Nancy H's son was one of the few fair hearing cases involving joint eligbility of autism and "fifth category-mental retardation" wherein the Inland Regional Center lost the case; that is, the child prevailed]

Scope of Representation

We can assist you on a either a fully representative basis (where we attend mediation and if necessary a fair hearing)or we can help on a limited scope basis; where we assist the parent who has limited funds and needs legal support preparing the case; however, the parent attends mediation and the fair hearing.

Why Our Law Firm?

Our practice only involves issues of families and children. Our regional center practice focus is helping parents where the regional center has wrongfully denied eligiblity.

We  know our subject matter. We know how to present your case and advocate on behalf of your family. What differentiates our law firm is our approach of making the client a "partner" in achieving success, through on-going communciation with the client and educating the client about the process and the law.

Additionally, as children are often at the center of our case issues, we often visit the family and the child at the parent's home to discuss the case; this unique involvement personalizes the case for our legal team.

Remember,  our business is families and your child's success is our success.

Our fees are competitive.

Call us for more information.

Offices serving Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego Counties as well as the Inland Empire.

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 Parent Testimonials

"My adopted daughter was denied eligibility by the Regional Center. With Jeff Gottlieb's assistance, we filed for a fair hearing. Based on the quality of the evidence presented by Mr. Gottlieb at mediation, the Regional Center soon afterwards granted eligibility based on autism. A hearing was not necessary. Attorney Gottlieb's intervention made a difference for my daughter.”

 D.W.

"I did not have the money to hire an attorney to represent me at the fair hearing. Attorney Jeff Gottlieb helped me on a limited scope basis (less costly than full representation). I was my son's advocate at the hearing; no attorney. Jeff prepared me for the hearing by developing a case strategy, organizing the evidence, drafting an opening statement, guiding me through the hearing process, informing me how to work with the judge, providing me with questions to ask witnesses and responding to my on-going questions. I saved a lot of money and I won the case. Attorney Gottlieb's legal support and consultations made a difference."

L.C.

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We can provide legal support in regards to disputes involving the following regional centers:

Alta California Regional Center
Central Valley Regional Center
Eastern Los Angeles Regional Center
Far Northern Regional Center
Frank D. Lanterman Regional Center
Golden Gate Regional Center
Harbor Regional Center
Inland Regional Center
Kern Regional Center
North Bay Regional Center
North Los Angeles County Regional Center
Redwood Coast Regional Center
Regional Center of the East Bay
Regional Center of Orange County
San Andreas Regional Center
San Diego Regional Center
San Gabriel/Pomona Regional Center
South Central Los Angeles Regional Center
Tri-Counties Regional Center
Valley Mountain Regional Center
Westside Regional Center