THE SAN DIEGO REGIONAL CENTER The San Diego Regional Center is one of 21 Regional Centers for persons with developmental disabilities in the State of California. These centers were originally established to assist persons with mental retardation (intellectual disabilities) and their families in locating and developing services and programs within their communities. These original centers were established in 1965 under legislation sponsored by Assemblyman Frank Lanterman. The Lanterman Act became effective in 1969 and established the statewide Regional Center network. The Legislation later expanded the populations served to include persons with intellectual disabilities, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, autism, and other disabling conditions similar to intellectual disabilities. The San Diego Regional Center was the third Regional Center established in California. It serves people living within the geographic boundaries of San Diego and Imperial counties.