The Department is proposing a new grievance process for people who receive services through the developmental disabilities services system. It would begin in July 2026.
Right now, there are several different complaint processes with different requirements, which can be confusing. The Department has been talking with the community about combining these into a single, consistent grievance process. It is designed to be easier to use, faster, and focused on person-centered resolutions for people receiving services. The new process would not change the federally required steps for appealing decisions about eligibility and services.
Under this proposal, all allegations of rights violations, citizen’s complaints, and general complaints would be managed through one grievance process.
People would be able to file grievances in several ways:
- Online through our website
- Verbally by telephone
- By mail
- By e-mail at appeals@dds.ca.gov
Once a grievance is filed, the Department would turn it over to the regional center. The regional center will have 60 days to review it and provide a written plan and decision. Prior to the response, regional centers also would share, free of charge, the records they used during the review with both the person who filed the grievance and the Department.
If the person filing the grievance does not agree with the regional center’s resolution of the grievance, the person could ask the Department to review it. The Department would then look at the plan and decision and make a determination.
This proposed change comes in response to the Access Rule, published in 2024 by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. The Access Rule requires every state to have one clear grievance process for people receiving home and community-based services by July 2026.
More information about the proposed grievance process can be found on the Department’s website. If you have any questions or input, you may contact us at grievance.process.input@dds.ca.gov.