What is LOIS and how will it help families?

LOIS stands for Life Outcomes Information System. It’s a new platform to help Regional Centers better track and support your loved one’s evolving needs. LOIS aligns services with family goals, tracks long-term outcomes and stability, and reduces miscommunication between care providers.

How can California families get involved?

Families can: ask their case manager how LOIS will affect their IPP, contact their Regional Center about implementation timelines, check if their loved one’s job program is moving toward minimum wage, sign up for their Regional Center’s newsletter, attend public feedback meetings, and reach out to state legislators about how the rollout is going.

California’s New Master Plan for Developmental Services: What Every Special Needs Family Should Know

Q: What is California’s Master Plan for Developmental Services?

It’s a 10-year roadmap created to overhaul how California supports individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). It includes 167 action items across six major focus areas: accessibility, self-determination, statewide access to services, workforce development, accountability, and innovation.

Q: Who helped create the Master Plan for Developmental Services?

The plan was shaped by California families, Regional Center participants, and disability advocates, making it one of the most community-driven efforts in state history.

Q: How will the Master Plan improve service consistency across counties?

The Master Plan aims to eliminate unequal services by region. Whether you live in Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Diego, or rural Northern California, your family will benefit from standardized eligibility requirements, equal access to programs and vendors, and clearer, more consistent IPP language.

Q: Is California ending subminimum wages for people with disabilities?

Yes. California is phasing out programs that paid people with disabilities below minimum wage under Senate Bill 639.

Supporting California Families with Developmental Disabilities

If you’re raising a child or supporting an adult with autism, Down syndrome, dementia, or any intellectual or developmental disability (I/DD), you know how difficult it can be to get consistent, reliable services.
From Regional Center case management to school transition programs, navigating California’s disability system can feel overwhelming.

In response to years of feedback from parents, disability advocates, and service providers, California has introduced a new Master Plan for Developmental Services, a major step toward accessibility for families like yours.

What Is California’s Master Plan for Developmental Services?

Consider the Master Plan as a 10-year roadmap created to overhaul how California supports individuals with I/DD. It includes 167 action items across six major focus areas:

Accessibility in systems serving people with I/DD
Self-determination and life choices for individuals
Access to necessary services statewide
A strong, trained workforce to support I/DD needs
Accountability and transparency
Vision and innovation for the future

This plan was shaped by California families, Regional Center participants, and disability advocates, making it one of the most community-driven efforts in state history.

5 Key Changes California Families Should Know About

1. A New Case Management Tool: LOIS

California is launching LOIS (Life Outcomes Information System), a new platform to help Regional Centers better track and support your loved one’s evolving needs.

Benefits of LOIS:

Aligns services with family goals
Tracks long-term outcomes and stability
Reduces miscommunication between care providers

2. Consistent Services Across California Counties

The Master Plan aims to eliminate the long-standing issue of unequal services by region. Whether you live in Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Diego, or rural Northern California, your family will benefit from:

Standardized eligibility requirements
Equal access to programs and vendors
Clearer, more consistent IPP language

3. Subminimum Wages Are Ending (Senate Bill 639)

California is phasing out programs that paid people with disabilities below minimum wage.

4. More Inclusive Schools and Colleges

New initiatives will promote inclusive dual enrollment programs in California community colleges and improve high school transition planning starting at age 14.
Programs like Think College are being expanded to ensure students with disabilities don’t miss out on higher education opportunities.

5. Police and First Responder Training

Thanks to the Master Plan, California law enforcement agencies will now receive specialized training on how to interact with people with I/DD, including autism and dementia.
This will lead to safer, more respectful encounters during emergencies or crises.

Why the Master Plan Matters for California’s Special Needs Families

California’s developmental services have long been described as a maze, confusing, fragmented, and difficult to access.
The Master Plan promises a more streamlined, fair, and compassionate system.

However, lasting change requires involvement. Parents, caregivers, and self-advocates are encouraged to take an active role.

How California Families Can Get Involved

Ask your case manager how LOIS will affect your IPP
Contact your Regional Center about implementation timelines
Check if your loved one’s job program is moving toward minimum wage
Sign up for your Regional Center’s newsletter for updates
Attend public feedback meetings and share your voice
Reach out to state legislators about how the rollout is going

Final Thoughts: A New Era for Developmental Services in California

Galt Advocacy will continue to support you. As changes take effect, we will bring you further updates.
Until then, follow us on Facebook for more of what’s going on in the I/DD community.

You can read the Master Plan for Developmental Services here.