Lanterman and Friends Sharing Toolkit
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 @lanterman_and_friends on Facebook.
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!
Connect with Lanterman on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lanterman_and_friends/ (opens in a new tab)
Tags and Hashtags
Join the conversation — follow #LantermanAndFriends, #RegionalCenter, #HCBS, and #IPP!
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 (opens in a new tab). 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 (opens in a new tab)
Like and follow us for news and announcements!
Lanterman FB: https://www.facebook.com/lantermanandfriends/
Article for Email Newsletter to Stakeholders
Are You Aware of Services You May Qualify For?
California Regional Centers have launched a new website and social campaign for the animated series Lanterman & Friends, available at www.lantermanandfriends.org (opens in a new tab). We have so much to offer you, and we know that sometimes it can feel overwhelming. The videos help you better understand the state’s Regional Center system. The series brings heartwarming, fun and information packed stories about the services available to you or your loved ones, your rights, and how to navigate the system. You can also Follow Lanterman on Facebook, Instagram and Maya on Threads and be the first to hear when a new series launches or join watch parties as Facebook live events! Now offered in 20 languages, topics include:
- “What Are California Regional Centers (opens in a new tab)?” — a simple introduction for new families
- How the Individual Program Plan (IPP) (opens in a new tab) works
- What Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS (opens in a new tab)) mean and the rights every individual has.
Lanterman on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lanterman_and_friends/
Right click and “Save Image” to use this banner graphic
Article for Email to Service Providers
Lanterman and Friends Videos Created for Service Providers Reduce Your Training time!
You may have heard about the growing collection of animated short videos from Lanterman and Friends. These videos have been seen almost 200,000 times across the state, and even the nation. You know that each series has episodes designed for the people we serve. Did you know that every episode has a sister episode designed especially for you, the service provider community? All videos are available in 20 languages.
Visit https://lantermanandfriends.org/ (opens in a new tab), select your language of preference and then select videos for either ‘Persons Receiving Services’ or ‘Service Providers’. Reduce your training time by sharing these videos with your staff. They are also easy to share with the people you support to assist them in understanding the complex nature of our system. Videos are also available on YouTube, though we recommend using use the .org site as they will always be free from ads and pushed videos.
We are also excited to announce the launch of our Lanterman and Friends social media on Facebook, Instagram and Threads with more platforms to come!
Please take a look and LIKE or FOLLOW and SHARE.
Connect with Lanterman on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lanterman_and_friends/
Add “What are Regional Centers” Link to your Website
Would you like this graphic customized for your palette or nudged to better fit your home page layout? Find source files here or reach out to our graphics team who will customize the button. Link to: https://www.lantermanandfriends.org?utm_source=TCRC+toolkit&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=TCRC+Toolkit&utm_id=Toolkit (opens in a new tab)