We are committed to building strong partnerships with you and your loved one. Our goal is to be responsive to each individual’s unique needs and to clearly communicate options for the individuals we serve and their families. However, despite our best efforts, there may be a time when you or your family disagree with a decision. If this happens, you may ask us to review our decision to make sure that all information was considered. We will make every effort to resolve disagreements informally, through discussion with your Service Coordinator, their Client Services Manager, or Department Director.

If you receive services from Harbor Regional Center, you have several rights.

This includes the right to receive a response to a request for service. Effective October 1, 2024, a request for service may be made verbally or in writing and Harbor shall acknowledge the receipt of each service request within five (5) business days of receipt. This acknowledgement of receipt can be made by email, U.S. mail, or any other method of communication requested by the individual. Within five (5) business days after acknowledgement of receipt, Harbor will provide a response including approval, denial, request for additional information or a status update regarding each request, by the individual’s preferred method of communication.

You also have the right to appeal if you disagree with the regional center about eligibility or services, and the right to file a complaint if you feel you are wrongly or unfairly treated by a regional center or service provider.

A number of formal processes have been established for responding to concerns or complaints related to services that are provided by Harbor Regional Center or our contracted service providers. The Department of Developmental Services (DDS) contracts with the Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH) to provide mediation and hearings for various programs. 

Complaints

The complaint process is used when an individual/family, or any representative acting on behalf of someone served by regional center, believes that any right has been wrongly or unfairly denied by a regional center or a contracted service provider. This includes your right to be free from discrimination, retaliation, and bias. State and federal laws prohibit agencies from denying benefits or services or providing you with aid that is different from the aid provided to others, because you belong to any protected class, such as: Race, Color, Ancestry, National Origin (including language), Ethnic Group Identification, Age, Physical, or Mental Disability, Medical Condition, Religion, Sex, Gender, Gender Identity or Expression, Sexual Orientation, Marital Status, Domestic Partnership, Political Affiliation, Citizenship, Immigration Status, and Genetic Information. This process is not to be used by individuals/family to resolve disputes about eligibility, or the nature, scope, or amount of services.  

Harbor Regional Center has a zero-tolerance policy for discrimination, retaliation and bias. If you believe that Harbor Regional Center has violated your rights, you may register your complaints with Harbor, DDS, or the other stat and federal agencies listed below. In addition, the Section 4731 complaint process is available to every individual served by Harbor Regional Center and their representatives who believe they are subject to discriminatory, retaliatory, or biased action or non-action taken by a regional center or provider. Court remedies may also be available.

If a violation of rights is confirmed to have occurred, the intent of the complaint process is to provide a meaningful resolution and attempt to prevent similar violations from occurring again.

For children from birth to 36 months whom are served by the Regional Center, complaints are submitted to the Department of Developmental Services (DDS).

For more information for children birth to 36 months who are served by Regional Centers:

• Link to Department of Developmental Services (DDS) website
• Early Start Complaint Investigation Request - English Form
• Queja de Programa Early Start Solicitud de Investigacion- Spanish Form

For those who are Three years of age and older served by Regional Center, complaints are submitted to the Regional Center.

For more information for those who are three years of age and older served by Regional Center:

• Link to Department of Developmental Services (DDS) website
• Complaint Investigation Request - English Form
• Formulario de Queja, Solicitud de Investigacion - Spanish Form

Important Contacts:

Harbor Regional Center
knowyourrights@harborrc.org
(310) 543-4645

Department of Developmental Services
Office of Community Appeals and Resolutions
1215 O Street (MS 8-20) Sacramento, CA 95814
Appeals@dds.ca.gov
Voice: 833-538-3723
Fax: (916) 654-3641

Disability Rights of California
Los Angeles Office
350 South Bixel Street, Suite 290
Los Angeles CA 90017
(213) 213-8000

Office of Clients’ Rights Advocacy
12501 Imperial Highway, Suite 260
Norwalk, CA 90650
Phone: (562) 623-9911
Jamie.Temple@disabilityrightsca.org

Appeals Process

A request for an appeal is a formal request for someone to review or change a regional center decision – whether the decision is about eligibility for services or regarding services to be provided.

​For children from birth to 36 months whom are served by the Regional Center, Due Process Hearing requests are submitted to the Office of Administrative Hearings.

Click on any of the below for more information for Regional Center clients from birth to 36 months: 

• Department of Developmental Services Early Start Due Process Hearing Requests
• Family Guide to the Appeal Process for HRC clients from birth to 36 months
• Due Process Hearing Request – English Form
• Solicitud de Conferencia de Debido Proceso – Spanish Form

For Regional Center clients from birth to 36 months, Mediation requests are submitted to the Office of Administrative Hearings

• Mediation Conference Request – English Form
• Solicitud de Conferencia de Mediacion – Spanish Form

For those who are Three years of age and older served by Regional Center, requests are submitted directly to the Department of Developmental Services (DDS) utilizing the DS 1821 Appeal Request Form

How to appeal: 

• You may submit the form electronically at the DDS website: https://bit.ly/DDSAppealForm
• You may send the Appeals Request Form by email to AppealRequest@dds.ca.gov
• You may send the Appeals Request Form by mail to 1215 O Street MS 8-20, Sacramento, CA 95814
• You may send the Appeals Request Form by fax to 916-654-3641

For More Information: 

• Department of Developmental Services Appeals and Complaint Process Website
• Lanterman Act Eligibility & Service Appeals Information Packet:
        English, Español (Spanish), Korean-한글, Tagalog, Simplified Chinese-简体中文, Khmer (Cambodian), Japanese-日本語
• DS 1821 Appeals Request Form:
       English, Español (Spanish), Korean-한글, Tagalog, Simplified Chinese-简体中文, Khmer (Cambodian), Japanese-日本語 

Whistleblower Complaints

Whistleblower Policy | Política de denuncia de irregularidades

You may refer to this policy for concerns related to actions of the HRC board, officers, directors, employees, contractors, and service providers which you believe may be improper.

You may also refer to the State of California Department of Developmental Services (DDS) webpage  for information on how to file a Whistleblower complaint with DDS.