It is your right to appeal a regional center decision that denies your child a service they need. If the regional center disagrees that your child needs a service, it does not mean they are trying to hurt your child. If you appeal, it does not mean you are asking for more than your child needs. It just means you do not agree with the regional center on what your child needs.

In an appeal, each side gives information to an administrative law judge about what they believe the child needs to meet the goals of the IPP. The judge makes the final decision. If you go through an appeal, just tell the truth when you present your child’s case. The judge will look at the facts, testimony, and documents and use the law (mostly the Lanterman Act) to decide the case. Even if your child loses the appeal, the regional center cannot retaliate, punish your child, or take away your child’s services because you appealed.

For more about appeals, see Chapter 10.