HELPFUL SERVICES for Those in Need VALLEY MOUNTAIN REGIONAL CENTER SERVES THE UNDERSERVED

 BY NORA HESTON TARTE

Since 1975, Stockton Valley Mountain Regional Center has provided services to those with developmental disabilities, extending a hand to 20,000 people annually from San Joaquin, Calaveras, Amador, Tuolumne, and Stanislaus counties.

Overall, the goal is to change the mindset of what it means to have a disability, especially when someone has intense needs. Instead of telling people they will never move away from home or have a career, Valley Mountain challenges those beliefs and instead connects individuals and their families with the programming necessary to live a full life, including making friends, moving out of the family home, and being able to financially support themselves.

One of the best ways Valley Mountain helps its population is by making its services accessible. For kids with autism or other neurological differences, the organization provides therapies and coordinates behavioral health services under the umbrella of a broad monitoring system.

Programs start at birth for children with delays or developmental circumstances that make them high-risk, granting families access to intensive services early. The early start options serve kids from birth to age three. For four- and five-year-olds, additional support is provided for those who didn’t catch up in the early start programs. And after five years old, services are provided, free of charge, for life.

Respite services are the organization’s most utilized resource, providing childcare and care for adults to give families a reprieve. Caregivers can go sporadically or even daily to give families time to nurture other relationships and themselves while caring for a child or adult that has full-time needs.

Most of the employees at Valley Mountain are also social workers and are well-versed in available resources, connecting clients with community SSI programs and assisting with applications for MediCAL, school, and more.

Creating pathways to job training and careers is another focus of the organization. Tony Andersen, executive director of Valley Mountain, says the organization works with people with disabilities and their families to describe their interests and priorities and develops pathways for them to achieve those goals throughout their lives.

Another focus of the program is on integrating neurodivergent individuals into society. This not only combats loneliness, it also increases ambition and feelings of worthiness, and fights stereotypes. “They have the right to be there together with all of us,” Tony says.