Lanterman and Friends Sharing Toolkit

Posted October 31, 2025

We created the tools below for our state and community partners. All of the materials in this toolkit are designed to be shared with your audiences across your channels. When sharing, please tag @lantermanandfriends on Facebook, @lantermanandfriends on Instagram, and @mayawithlanterman on Threads.

Social Media Images (right click to save)

Project Description

Lanterman and Friends is an animated explainer-video initiative that makes California’s Regional Center system easy to understand for families and professionals alike. Hundreds of short episodes help people with intellectual and developmental disabilities—and those who support them—discover the tools, services, and opportunities that help everyone thrive.

Character Ambassador

Hey Capeless Heroes! Lanterman here, your friendly galactic spokeshero for California’s Regional Center system!
I’m on a mission to help the 1 in 100 Californians with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (I/DD) understand the services and support they are entitled to. Alongside my amazing crew, we’re making sure everyone understands how our system empowers lives across the Galaxy of California!
Now if you’ll excuse me… it’s back to saving the universe.
To Saturn… then the STARS!

Engage with Lanterman!

Lanterman FB: https://www.facebook.com/lantermanandfriends/
Lanterman IG: https://www.instagram.com/lantermanandfriends/

Article for Your Website

Lanterman and Friends – Follow on Social!

New website offers animated video series that explain Regional Center services in 20 languages

California Regional Centers have launched a new website and social campaign for the animated series Lanterman & Friends, available at www.lantermanandfriends.org. The videos help individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), their families, and service providers better understand the supports and services available through the state’s Regional Center system.

Topics include:

“What Are California Regional Centers?” — a simple introduction for new families
How the Individual Program Plan (IPP) works
What Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) mean and the rights every individual has.

“Individuals and families deserve clear, easy-to-understand information in their own language,” said Amy Westling, Executive Director of the Association of Regional Center Agencies (ARCA).

The inclusive project also features videos created for California’s Mixtec community, respecting their 3500-year-old history by using Mixteco speaking actors and incorporating culture specific traditions in the storytelling.

Future topics will cover:

Emergency preparedness
Cyber safety
Early Start
Employment for people with disabilities

“We wanted something short, helpful, and welcoming—something families could use right away,” said Diva Johnson, Associate Executive Director at Tri-Counties Regional Center.

The current and future series features first-time voice actors who are Regional Center clients themselves as well disability advocate RJ Mitte (Breaking Bad). Produced by Public Pixels Media, the project combines animation, accessibility, and lived experience to make complex systems easier to navigate.

“Lanterman & Friends is exactly what I wish we had when my son began receiving services,” said producer and Regional Center parent Mark Wolfe.

With its multilingual access and friendly storytelling, Lanterman & Friends helps families and providers connect with services—clearly, quickly, and in their own language.

Explore the series at www.lantermanandfriends.org

Like and follow us for news and announcements!

Lanterman FB: https://www.facebook.com/lantermanandfriends/

Lanterman IG: https://www.instagram.com/lantermanandfriends/

Add “What are Regional Centers” Link to your Website

Please add this link to your home page. Would you like it customized for your palette or nudged to better fit your web layout? Find source files here or reach out to our graphics team who will customize the button and work with your dev team if needed.

Article for Email Newsletter to Stakeholders

More to come!

Article for Email to Service Providers