Your Rights
Early Start Complaints & Appeals
For children from Birth to Age 3
Parents’ Rights: An Early Start Guide for Families: The “Parents’ Rights: An Early Start Guide for Families” booklet provides in-depth information about procedural safeguards available to assure services are provided in a manner appropriate to the child’s needs and the concerns of the family. If additional information is needed, contact your regional center, LEA, or the Early Start Program at 1-800-515-2229 or send an e-mail to: earlystart@dds.ca.gov.
Early Start Parents Rights 20190201
Early Start Due Process Hearing: This process is used to resolve disagreements between parents and a regional center or local educational agency related to a proposal or refusal for identification, evaluation, placement, or services. Click here for link to DDS website information regarding Early Start Due Process Hearing Requests.
DUE PROCESS HEARING REQUEST DS1802
SOLICITUD DE CONFERENCIA DE DEBIDO PROCESO DS1802
Early Start Mediation Conference Request: A voluntary process used to informally resolve disagreements between a parent, as defined in law, and a regional center or a local education agency related to any alleged violation of federal or state statutes/regulation governing California’s Early Start Program, including eligibility and services, or related to a proposal or refusal for identification, evaluation, assessment, placement, or services. Click here for link to DDS website information regarding Early Start Mediation Conference Requests.
MEDIATION CONFERENCE REQUEST DS 1808
SOLICITUD DE CONFERENCIA DE MEDIACIÓN DS 1808
Early Start Complaint: A voluntary process is used to investigate and resolve any alleged violation of federal or state statutes or regulations governing California’s Early Start (Early Intervention). If you prefer to use the mediation conference to resolve this disagreement, please complete DS 1808. While mediation is encouraged it is not required. Click here for link to Department of Developmental Services (DDS) website information regarding Early Start Complaints.
EARLY START COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REQUEST DS 1827
QUEJA DEL PROGRAMA EARLY START SOLICITUD DE INVESTIGACIÓN DS 1827