DAN — Disability Access Navigator

Questions people ask
before they try DAN

Preguntas que hacen las familias
antes de usar DAN

Honest answers about what DAN is, how it works, and who it's for.

What DAN is

DAN — the Disability Access Navigator — is a free navigation program built specifically for California's Regional Center system under the Lanterman Act. It helps self-advocates, families, and circles of support understand their rights and figure out their next step.

Every session ends with something you can act on: a draft email to your service coordinator, talking points for an IPP meeting, or a script for a difficult phone call.

DAN is available 24/7, free, and requires no account or login to use.

DAN is a navigation and information tool. It does not provide legal, medical, or financial advice. The information presented reflects California's Regional Center system and Lanterman Act as of the current pilot period and may not reflect recent policy changes. Always consult your Regional Center Service Coordinator or a qualified professional for decisions specific to your situation.

DAN is for anyone navigating California's Regional Center system — self-advocates, family members, and circles of support at any age and any Regional Center.

It's especially useful in the moments when you need help and no one is available: late at night before an IPP meeting, after a denial letter arrives, or when you're trying to figure out what question to even ask.

No. The interface is a simple text conversation — if you can send a text message, you can use DAN. There's no login, no account to create, and no app to download. You open a link and start talking.

DAN has had over 540 sessions with no marketing — just word of mouth and a few presentations. Families of all tech comfort levels have found it and used it. And if something's confusing, you can just say so — DAN will adjust.

DAN does not collect names, case numbers, or any identifying information. You don't need to create an account or log in. Conversations are not stored or shared with anyone — including Regional Centers.

The only data we aggregate is anonymous usage patterns: how many sessions, what topics, what languages. Individual conversations are never accessible to us, to your Regional Center, or to anyone else.

You can share as much or as little context as you find helpful — DAN works with whatever you give it.

At the end of every DAN session, there's a feedback option where you can rate whether the session was helpful and leave a comment. If something didn't work, the information felt off, or DAN missed the mark on your situation — that's exactly what it's there for.

We read every response. Feedback from pilot users has already shaped how DAN works, and it will continue to drive what we build next.

How DAN helps you

DAN is built around six common stuck points, plus the ability to come back with follow-up questions or bring something completely different. Families have used DAN hundreds of times already — here's a sample of what people have worked through:

Getting services approved
Drafting letters to request PA hours for a child with complex behavioral needs. Building the written case when a day program denied enrollment. Pushing back when RC capped social recreation activities without a written policy basis.

SDP — getting in and making it work
Understanding what happens after an SDP orientation certificate is issued. Navigating a 60-day extension when the plan year is ending. Figuring out how to set up a parent as a paid provider under a Spending Plan.

When RC isn't responding
Drafting a written follow-up when a service coordinator gave only a verbal update. Escalating to a supervisor after five or more days of silence.

IPP meetings
Identifying IPP goals that are too general to support specific services. Drafting new goal language before an IPP meeting.

Understanding the system
Learning what Supported Decision-Making is and whether it might be right for a family considering conservatorship. Clarifying how school speech services relate to what RC is required to provide.

Every session ends with something concrete — a draft email, a call script, talking points, or a clear next step.

We didn't guess at what families might need — we researched it. DAN covers about 70% of the topics a family might bring to a Regional Center, organized across 10 areas: eligibility and intake, IPP process and meeting prep, types of services and supports, Self-Determination Program, rights and appeals, vendorization and provider selection, common denial patterns, life transitions, language access and equity, and fair hearing trends.

DAN explicitly excludes anything medical, diagnostic, or clinical — and anything that requires legal strategy, like fair hearing representation. When a conversation touches something outside DAN's scope, DAN says so clearly and redirects you to the right professional: OCRA, Disability Rights California, or your own clinical team. DAN never guesses.

The remaining topics are ones we're actively evaluating based on what families actually ask about. Coverage grows from real-world use, not assumptions — and DAN knows what it doesn't know.

No — and we want to be clear about that. DAN is not a replacement for IFs, advocates, or service coordinators.

DAN is what families use at 10pm when they just got a denial letter and their IF isn't available until Thursday. It's what you use to prepare before an IPP meeting so you walk in with clear goals instead of trying to figure it out in the room. DAN fills the gap between "I need help now" and "my next appointment is in two weeks."

The families who need a real person the most are often the ones who can't get one when they need it. DAN helps in those moments — and helps you arrive at your next human conversation better prepared.

Yes — and many people do. DAN is designed for the whole arc of a situation, not just the first question. If you sent the email DAN helped you draft and got a response, come back and DAN will help you figure out the next step. If things didn't go as planned, come back and DAN will help you think through why and what to do differently.

To make returning easier, copy or download your session transcript before you close it. Pasting a quick summary of where things stand when you come back helps DAN pick up right where you left off.

Cost & access

DAN is free for families, self-advocates, and circles of support. Always.

DAN is a program of SDTA — the Self Determination Tech Alliance — a California 501(c)(3). Our mission is to make sure that access to good information about the Regional Center system isn't determined by who you know or what you can afford.

The pilot covers California's Regional Center system broadly, with a focus on the rights and processes that apply statewide under the Lanterman Act. Full coverage of all 21 Regional Centers — including center-specific policies and procedures — is part of Phase 1 development.

Yes — and this is built in at full parity, not layered on top. If a family starts speaking in Spanish, DAN responds entirely in Spanish — same depth, same quality, same legal grounding. This isn't translation. The Spanish support is built into the system at the same level as English.

More than a third of our current pilot participants identify as Hispanic or Latino, and full Spanish language support is a Phase 1 priority. We're building toward navigation in the language families actually use.

DAN is built on California's Regional Center system and the Lanterman Act, but the approach — a tightly scoped navigation program built from vetted law and policy — is extendable to other states and other systems.

We welcome conversations about what that could look like. Reach out at support@sdta-np.com and let's talk.

Navigating Regional Center

Your service coordinator (SC) is your primary point of contact at your Regional Center. They are responsible for developing and monitoring your Individual Program Plan (IPP), coordinating services, and helping you access the supports you're entitled to under the Lanterman Act.

Service coordinators carry large caseloads, and response times can vary. Putting requests and follow-ups in writing — even when you've already spoken by phone — creates a record and often helps things move forward more reliably.

DAN can help you draft emails and letters to your service coordinator for almost any situation.

The Individual Program Plan (IPP) is your legal service plan with Regional Center. It documents your goals, your assessed needs, and the services RC has agreed to provide. Under the Lanterman Act, RC must develop your IPP in partnership with you and update it at least annually.

What goes into an IPP matters a great deal — services generally need to connect to a goal or documented need in your IPP to be funded. If your goals are vague or incomplete, it can make it harder to get specific services approved.

You have the right to request an IPP meeting at any time — not just at your annual review. DAN can help you prepare for an IPP meeting, identify goals worth adding, and draft language that supports the services you're requesting.

The most effective next step is to follow up in writing. A short, friendly email to your service coordinator that summarizes what you're waiting for and asks for a timeline creates a record and often prompts a faster response than another phone call.

If you've sent a written follow-up and still haven't heard back after five or more business days, it's reasonable to copy your service coordinator's supervisor on a follow-up message. You can call your Regional Center's main line to ask who your SC's supervisor is — they're required to give you that information.

DAN can help you draft both the initial follow-up and any escalation messages, in a tone that keeps the relationship collaborative and gets things moving.

First, ask for the denial in writing if you haven't already received one. A written denial must include the reason for the decision and information about your right to appeal — and having it in writing creates a record you can reference. Verbal denials don't start any formal clock.

You have the right to request a fair hearing through the Department of Developmental Services at any point. A fair hearing is a formal appeal process available to you regardless of where things stand in writing. You can also request a meeting with your service coordinator and their supervisor to discuss the decision before or alongside pursuing a formal appeal.

Common situations DAN can help with include services described as "a preference, not a need," RC pointing to a generic community resource, a service being limited without a written policy basis, and services that aren't yet in your IPP. DAN can help you respond in writing, draft a request for reconsideration, and understand your options at each step.

Under the Lanterman Act, Regional Center is required to fund services and supports that are necessary to meet a person's needs related to their disability — when those needs aren't already being met by another source like insurance, school, or a generic community resource.

That last part matters: RC can decline to fund a service if a comparable service is available through another program. This is called the "generic resource" rule. However, if that resource isn't actually available to your family — or doesn't meet the specific need — RC's obligation is restored.

RC is also not required to fund things that aren't related to a person's disability, or that aren't connected to an identified need or goal in the IPP. This is why IPP goal language matters so much.

Yes — this is one of the most valuable things DAN can help with. IPP meetings move quickly and it's easy to leave without having raised everything you wanted to.

DAN can help you identify goals that are missing or too general to support specific services, draft new goal language to bring to the meeting, build talking points for services you're requesting, and think through how to document needs that RC may push back on.

Come to DAN before your meeting with a sense of what you're hoping to accomplish, and DAN will help you arrive prepared.

Self-Determination Program

The Self-Determination Program (SDP) is a California program that gives Regional Center consumers more control over their services and supports. Instead of RC managing your services directly, you receive an Individual Budget and use it to purchase your own services — choosing your own providers, including people RC doesn't typically fund.

SDP is managed alongside a Financial Management Service (FMS) provider, who handles the financial side. An Independent Facilitator (IF) is optional but can be enormously helpful in setting up and managing your plan.

The first step is to attend a DDS SDP orientation — these are offered regularly and DAN can help you find one. After attending, let your service coordinator know you've completed orientation and want to enroll in SDP. That conversation starts the formal process.

From there, your service coordinator works with you to establish your Individual Budget based on your IPP. Once the budget is set, you build a Spending Plan and select an FMS provider before services can begin.

The process has multiple steps and can take several months. Starting the conversation early — before you're in a crisis — gives you the most time to make it work well.

SDP is for Regional Center consumers of all ages who want more control over their services. It's a good fit for families who feel their current services aren't flexible enough, who want to hire providers RC doesn't typically fund, or who want to build a more personalized support plan.

SDP works best when someone — the participant or a family member — is willing to take an active role in managing the budget and plan. It's not more complicated than navigating the traditional RC system, but it does require engagement. That's where DAN can help.

Yes — SDP is one of DAN's core areas. Whether you're just starting to explore the program or you're already enrolled and hitting obstacles, DAN can help.

People have used DAN to understand what SDP is and whether it's a good fit, figure out what to do after an orientation certificate is issued, navigate a plan year that's ending or in a 60-day extension, work through Spending Plan problems, understand how parent-as-provider works, and explore what services are available under SDP that aren't available in the traditional RC system.

A Financial Management Service (FMS) provider manages the financial side of your SDP budget. They handle payments to your vendors and providers, track spending against your Spending Plan, and ensure everything is documented correctly. You can't use SDP without an FMS — they're a required part of the program.

California has many FMS providers and you get to choose your own. They vary in their fees, how they communicate with families, how quickly they process payments, and what tools they offer. It's worth asking other SDP families in your area who they use and what their experience has been.

Regional Center covers the cost of your FMS — it does not come out of your SDP budget. Switching FMS providers is possible if things aren't working well.

Your Spending Plan is the document that describes exactly how you'll use your SDP Individual Budget — which services you'll purchase, which providers you'll use, and how much you'll spend on each. It has to be approved by your Regional Center before services can begin or continue.

Your Spending Plan must stay within your Individual Budget and connect to your IPP goals. You can update it during the year if your needs change — but changes go back to your Regional Center for approval.

If you're having trouble getting your Spending Plan approved, or RC is pushing back on specific line items, DAN can help you understand what the sticking point is and how to respond.

Independent Living Services (ILS) and Supported Living Services (SLS) are both RC-funded supports for adults with developmental disabilities, but they apply to different living situations.

ILS is for adults who live with their family or in another setting where they're not paying their own rent. It provides skills training and support to build independence.

SLS is for adults who live on their own or with roommates in their own home. It provides more intensive, ongoing support to make independent living possible.

The distinction matters because the type of service you qualify for depends on where you live. If you're not sure which applies to your situation, DAN can help you think it through.

The transition to adulthood — typically around age 18 to 22 — is one of the most significant periods in the Regional Center system. Several things shift at once: school-based services end, RC services may change, and legal adulthood raises questions about decision-making and rights.

A few things worth knowing early: RC should be involved in transition planning before your child finishes school. The IPP process continues into adulthood, but the goals and services may look very different. And if you're thinking about how decisions will be made once your child turns 18, Supported Decision-Making is worth understanding before defaulting to conservatorship.

The earlier you start these conversations with your service coordinator, the more time you have to plan.

Supported Decision-Making

Supported Decision-Making (SDM) is a legal arrangement that lets an adult with a disability keep all of their legal rights while choosing trusted people to help them understand information and make decisions. The person is still the decision-maker — their supporters help them think things through, not decide for them.

It's formalized through a written Supported Decision-Making Agreement, which names the supporters and describes what areas they'll help with. No court involvement is required. The agreement can be changed or ended at any time by the person.

Regional Centers in California are required to recognize Supported Decision-Making as a valid alternative to conservatorship.

Conservatorship transfers legal decision-making authority away from the person — a court appoints someone else to make decisions for them. It's expensive, requires ongoing court oversight, and is very difficult to undo.

Supported Decision-Making does the opposite. The person keeps all of their legal rights. Supporters are there to help, not to take over. There's no court process, no ongoing oversight requirement, and no legal transfer of authority.

For many families considering conservatorship as their child approaches adulthood, SDM is worth exploring first. It's less restrictive, less costly, and preserves the person's autonomy and legal standing.

Yes. DAN can help you understand how SDM works, what an SDM agreement includes, and how Regional Centers are required to recognize it. If you're trying to figure out whether SDM is the right fit for your situation, DAN is a good place to start.

For setting up a formal SDM agreement, organizations like Disability Rights California offer templates and support. DAN can help you get oriented before you reach out to them.

Trust & accuracy

DAN doesn't search the internet. It draws exclusively from the Lanterman Act, DDS directives, Title 17, and official Regional Center guidance — nothing outside that. When a family describes a problem, DAN knows the specific legal basis for their rights and produces an email draft or call script they can actually use. A general AI tool gives you a paragraph of general advice. DAN gives you something you can send to your service coordinator Monday morning.

We've also run comparison tests — the same questions put to DAN and to a standard AI chat tool. The standard tool made errors DAN did not. One cited a fair hearing deadline that was changed years ago. Another told a family their SDP budget is based on what they've spent rather than what's been approved — that mistake alone could cost a family thousands of dollars. DAN got both right because it draws from current law and policy, not general training data.

AI is one of the tools that helps build DAN — but not in the way that usually worries people.

Where AI goes wrong is when it searches the internet and finds bad information, or tries to connect dots that shouldn't be connected. DAN doesn't do either of those things. He doesn't search the internet, and he won't reach beyond what he's been explicitly built to help with.

His knowledge comes from a carefully built base of California law, DDS directives, and Regional Center policy — and that's all he works from. If someone asks something outside that scope, DAN says so rather than guessing.

DAN draws only from vetted sources: the Lanterman Act, DDS directives, Regional Center policies, and related California law. His knowledge base is built and reviewed by people who know this system.

DAN won't improvise or fill in gaps by pulling from outside that knowledge base. When something is outside his scope, he says so. That boundary is a feature, not a limitation.

DAN only draws from vetted sources — the Lanterman Act, DDS directives, and Regional Center policies. It can't pull from random internet sources or make things up from general knowledge. When it doesn't know the answer, it says so and redirects you to a qualified professional — an IF, OCRA, or Disability Rights California.

We also run over 100 test scenarios against DAN regularly to catch problems before families see them. That's more quality checking than most human-run programs receive.

No navigation tool is perfect. If something DAN tells you doesn't match what you hear from your service coordinator or another source, always follow up with a qualified professional. And if you notice something that seems off, please use the feedback option at the end of your session — we read every response and act on it.

We're on the mailing list for every DDS directive and monitor relevant policy updates continuously. When something changes, DAN gets updated — often faster than the change can be published in a printed guide or recorded training.

Unlike a binder, a PDF, or a workshop recording, DAN doesn't sit on a shelf getting stale. A change to a fair hearing timeline, a new SDP enrollment step, an updated requirement — those are reflected in DAN quickly. A workshop teaches what was true on the day of the workshop. DAN teaches what's true today.

DAN has served over 540 sessions. We track six types of outcomes — whether families left with a draft email, a call script, an SDP orientation referral, or other actionable next steps — and share usage reports regularly.

Here's what the data shows: 90% of sessions happen outside Regional Center office hours, and 11pm is the single most active hour. That's the gap DAN fills — real families dealing with real situations, when no one else is available.

Specific outcomes families have gotten: a draft advocacy letter that helped push back on an ILS service denial. An SDP Spending Plan dispute resolved after DAN helped frame it correctly. Families who had never heard of SDP learning about the program and requesting an orientation — in every session, DAN introduces SDP to anyone who hasn't enrolled.

We've also run over 100 test scenarios to validate accuracy before families encounter them. And we read every piece of feedback we receive.

For FMS Companies

By pointing your clients to DAN, you're giving them a free, reliable resource to help them navigate Regional Center — available any hour of the day or night.

That matters more than it might seem. DAN pilot data shows that 90% of sessions happen outside RC office hours, and 11pm is the single most active hour. Your clients are trying to figure things out after the kids are in bed, after a long day of work — and DAN is there when no one else is.

Clients who understand the system are better equipped to use their SDP budget effectively, ask the right questions at IPP meetings, and resolve issues before they become emergencies. That's good for them — and it makes your job easier too.

For Independent Facilitators

DAN operates upstream of IF work — it helps families understand SDP and the Regional Center system well enough to know they need an IF. That means more people considering Self-Determination, and more informed families when they come to you.

For families you're already working with, DAN handles the in-between questions so you're not fielding late-night calls about things a navigation tool can answer. Your time stays focused on the work that requires your expertise.

Many IFs are also using DAN directly — it's an efficient way to research common SDP topics and draft responses, letters, and talking points for clients.

Yes — and we'd welcome it. DAN is free, requires no signup, and is available any time. If a client has a question between sessions, DAN can help them think it through and arrive at your next conversation with clearer context.

If you'd like a one-pager to share with clients, reach out at support@sdta-np.com and we'll send one your way.

See DAN in action

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