History of UCDD

The University Center for Developmental Disabilities (UCDD), formerly known as the California Transition Center (CTC), has been in operation on the campus of California State University, San Bernardino since 1990. The program was begun at the request of the Inland Regional Center (IRC) as a supplemental behavioral program to assist with the transition of two year olds with autism from home to daycare centers or preschools. The program initially served six children. Over the past fifteen years the design and scope of the program has changed several times. The current program provides once weekly services to children with autism and their families. While the consumer children attend an intensive, one-to-one behavioral program, parents attend a parent education and support group and siblings attend a program that provides arts and crafts activities, video and computer games, and homework assistance.

In November of 2000, the UCDD started a Satellite Program in the Coachella Valley. The San Bernardino program operates Monday thru Thursday evenings and on Saturday mornings. The Indio program operates Monday thru Thursday evenings with the parent groups offered in Spanish on two nights to better serve the low desert communities. One parent group in San Bernardino is also offered in Spanish. Together, the two programs currently provide weekly services to 170 families. Families remain in the program an average of two years. There are presently 248 families on the wait list to attend the program in San Bernardino and another 35 families on the wait list to attend the program in Indio. In San Bernardino, the UCDD also provides a twice-monthly pre-group for parents on the wait list and a once-a-month post-group for parents who have exited the program.

Prevalence of Autism in the Inland Empire

As of June 30, 2005, the California Department of Developmental Services (CDDS) reports that there are 2,176 persons with autism residing in the Inland Regional Center service area. The IRC provides services and life-long case management for individuals with developmental disabilities who live in Riverside or San Bernardino Counties. Of these 2,176 consumers, 990 reside in Riverside County and 1,178 reside in San Bernardino County. Approximately 72% of these individuals live at home and approximately 18% take medication to help manage their challenging behaviors.

Current estimates suggest that the prevalence rate for autism in newborns is 1 in 168 with boys four times as likely to develop autism. The overall increase of children with autism in California since 1989 is over 634%. The cause of autism continues to remain unknown and to date there is no cure. Research has determined that positive behavioral interventions, like those used at the UCDD, are among the most effective strategies to help reduce the problematic behaviors often associated with autism. Finally, research conducted at the UCDD has demonstrated positive changes for all members of the family who attend the program.