Who Do We Serve?
Yes I Can Unity Through Music and Education serves individuals with disabilities who have been found eligible for funding with the North Los Angeles County Regional Center (NLACRC), Westside Regional Center (WRC), Frank D. Lanterman Regional Center (FDLRC), East Los Angeles Regional Center (ELARC), or any individual with a disability who has been found eligible for Regional Center funding through any of the 21 Regional Centers in the State of California who are currently participating in the Self-Determination Program (SDP).
To be eligible for Regional Center funding, a person must have a disability that begins before the individual’s 18th birthday that is expected to continue indefinitely and present a substantial disability. Qualifying conditions include intellectual disability, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, autism, and other disabling conditions as defined in Section 4512 of the California Welfare and Institutions Code.
Eligibility is established through diagnosis and assessment performed by regional centers.
Regional Center Eligibility
Eligibility for Regional Center Services is defined by California law and regulation. The Lanterman Act, specifically section 4512 of the Welfare and Institutions Code defines a developmental disability as a disability that originates before an individual attains 18 years of age; continues, or can be expected to continue, indefinitely; and constitutes a substantial disability for that individual.
This includes:
1) Intellectual Disability
2) Cerebral palsy
3) Epilepsy
4) Autism
5) Other disabling conditions found to be closely related to intellectual or developmental disability or that require treatment similar to that required for individuals with an intellectual or developmental disability, but shall not include other handicapping conditions that are solely physical in nature.
A “substantial disability” means the existence of significant functional limitations in three or more of the following areas of major life activity, as determined by a regional center, and as appropriate to the age of the person: Self-care, Receptive and Expressive language, Learning, Mobility, Self-direction, Capacity for independent living and Economic self-sufficiency.
From Lanterman Act, Sec 4512 (a) and Sec 4512 (l)
Regional Center Qualifying Conditions
Autism
Autism, a neurodevelopmental disorder, is defined as a syndrome causing gross and sustained impairment in social interaction and communication with restricted and stereotyped patterns of behavior, interests, and activities that appear prior to the age of three. Specific symptoms may include impaired awareness of others, lack of social or emotional reciprocity, failure to develop peer relationships appropriate to developmental level, delay or absence of spoken language and abnormal nonverbal communication, stereotyped and repetitive language, idiosyncratic language, impaired imaginative play, insistence on sameness (e.g., nonfunctional routines or rituals), and stereotyped and repetitive motor mannerisms.
Intellectual Disability
Intellectual Disability (ID) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by significant limitations in both intellectual functioning and adaptive behavior. Intellectual functioning refers to the ability to reason, plan, solve problems, comprehend complex ideas and learn from experience. Intellectual functioning is measured by standardized cognitive assessment tools. Adaptive behavior refers to the ability to carry on everyday life activities, such as self-care, communicating, socializing, etc.
Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral Palsy (CP) is a group of neurological disorders appearing in infancy or early childhood that permanently affect a person’s movement, muscle coordination and balance. Cerebral Palsy includes two types of motor dysfunction: (1) non-progressive lesion or disorder in the brain occurring during intrauterine life or the perinatal period and characterized by paralysis, spasticity, or abnormal control of movement or posture, such as poor coordination or lack of balance, which is manifest prior to two or three years of age, and (2) other significant motor dysfunction appearing prior to age 18.
Epilepsy
Epilepsy is a neurological disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of seizures, associated with abnormal electrical activity in the brain. Seizures may result in a temporary disturbance of motor, sensory or mental function. For Regional Center eligibility, the diagnosis must be made by a neurologist and the epilepsy is typically refractory to treatment, impairing an individual’s ability to care for self, communicate, or learn.
Other Disabling Conditions
Other Disabling Conditions include handicapping conditions similar to that require treatment (i.e., care and management) similar to that required by individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disability. This does not include handicapping conditions that are solely psychiatric or physical in nature. The handicapping conditions must occur before age 18, result in a substantial handicap, be likely to continue indefinitely, and involve brain dysfunction. Examples of conditions might include intracranial neoplasms, degenerative brain disease or brain damage associated with accidents.
What is the Enrollment Process?
Upon request for further information or initiation of services from the individual’s Regional Center Consumer Services Coordinator (CSC), YIC will schedule and conduct an informational session with the individual. Should the individual decide to move forward with YIC services, YIC will request an authorization on behalf of the individual from the Regional Center and submit an intake packet to the individual. Upon receipt of the intake packet from the individual, additional reports are requested from the Regional Center to assist in YIC’s initial assessment. Once the authorization is received from the Regional Center, an initial in-person structured assessment interview will be scheduled with a counselor assigned to the individual.
Following the interview, the counselor will interview other pertinent providers and review past assessments, transition plans, and supports. Prior work samples and work and/or volunteer experience is requested. In addition, an assessment of functional/occupational performance will be conducted (if applicable) in a real or simulated environment to identify social vocational needs and record baseline data. A Individual Service Plan (ISP) is developed, which will include a summary of the individual’s background, skills and deficits, recommended goals and objectives, and recommendation for services will be submitted within three to four weeks of completion of the assessment. Services will commence once funding has been determined and a new cohort begins (every twelve months). For more information about the enrollment process and services, contact us.
How do we measure progress?
Each participant will be assigned a Counselor once services are authorized to begin. Utilizing the participant’s Individual Service Plan (ISP), the participant’s Counselor will assess participant progress toward ISP outcomes/goals on a semi-annual basis.
Participant progress toward ISP goals are measured and recorded via direct and indirect measures, including the review of formative and cumulative assessments completed by instructors during each training course, instructor comments/feedback, participant comments/feedback, review of participant’s program benchmark assignments, and review of progress notes completed by assigned counselors during direct monthly meetings between the participant and their assigned counselor. Reports will be provided and reviewed with participant, participant's parents (if conserved or requested by participant), and will be reported to generic funding sources if required.
Is there a cost involved to participate in the program?
There is no cost for individuals to participate in the YIC programs if the individual has been found eligible for North Los Angeles County Regional Center (NLACRC) funding, Westside Regional Center (WRC) funding, Frank D. Lanterman Regional Center (FDLRC), East Los Angeles Regional Center (ELARC), or was found eligible for any Regional Center funding and is currently participating in the Regional Center Self-Determination Program (SDP) . YIC is a vendor with the NLACRC; Vendor #PL1769 and WRC; Vendor #PW8317. For more information about program funding and how to request funding for YIC services from your Regional Center Consumer Services Coordinator (CSC), contact us.
Participant placement and funding termination procedures are followed according to all Title 22 and 17 §56718 regulations.