Growing up, I, Joshua S. Molina, have always admired the accomplishments and successes of my peers. However, despite my documented diagnosis of Asperger's Syndrome (ASD), I find myself lagging far behind in life. I hoped to have the same opportunities for meaningful employment and social connections, yet these remain dreams unfulfilled. This has taken a significant toll on my life, making me feel like a mere waste of space, yearning for a chance to contribute productively to society.

The root of my plight traces back to Southern California Regional Center's (SCLARC) denial of essential services that are rightfully mine. This has further compounded my challenges, making simple aspirations, like finding love and starting a family, seem unattainable. While my peers flourish, I am left feeling isolated and unsupported, leading to a sense of despair and self-doubt.

For years, I have sought assistance from various organizations, including SSI Disability and the Department of Rehabilitation, only to be met with disappointment. Opportunities that could have paved the way for independence and self-sufficiency were within reach but obstructed by the denial of support from SCLARC.

With deep frustration and an unwavering hope for change, I formally petition the Executive Director, Legal Department, and Board of Directors at SCLARC for $230,000 in back pay, reflecting the financial strain imposed by denied services. Additionally, I seek $460,000 in punitive damages as acknowledgment of the emotional and developmental setbacks endured. Most importantly, I request immediate action to provide the services I have been unjustly denied.

Financial compensation is necessary to address the injustices of the past. Yet, my greater hope is for these services to be provided promptly, enabling me to build a future where I can thrive and contribute meaningfully to society.

I seek not just monetary recompense but an opportunity to regain my dignity and autonomy. I ask for support in this journey toward a life that mirrors the opportunities granted to others.

Please sign this petition to hold SCLARC accountable and to advocate for the justice and equity I deserve. Together, we can work towards a future where every individual has the opportunity to reach their full potential.

Southern California Regional Center Los Angeles (SCLARC)
Attn: Executive Director, Legal Department, and Board of Directors

Subject: Request for $230,000 in Back Pay and $460,000 in Punitive Damages, Plus Immediate Services for Joshua S. Molina

I, Joshua S. Molina, am writing to formally petition SCLARC for $230,000 in back pay, plus $460,000 in punitive damages, for the denial of essential Regional Center services—despite my documented diagnosis of Asperger's Syndrome (Autism Spectrum Disorder) since childhood. This denial has severely hindered my ability to achieve financial stability, independence, and equal opportunities in life.

Background and Diagnosis
Suspected Autism at age 9, officially diagnosed at in 2011, between the ages of 15-16 (primarily do to my own resistance to the diagnosis, which is a consistent Autistic trait).
Documented social delays prior to age 15, with ongoing challenges in communication, social discernment, and social functioning.
Multiple applications to SCLARC—not once, but 2-3 times—all denied despite clear evidence of disability.

Impact of Denial
Lack of access to job placement, interview training, and other disability services forced reliance on unstable freelance work, leaving me perpetually behind on bills and unable to catch up to my peers.
Communication deficits related to autism have directly affected my job prospects and daily life, with repeated misunderstandings by neurotypical employers and peers, and Significant financial struggles despite therapeutic progress.

I am now a struggling startup owner, often paying bills late to keep my business afloat, while simultaneously being unable to pursue a more stable career path due to lack of support. Which I was advised to do, by a former Mentor, because if I can't find a Jib, make one.

Evidence of Ongoing Disability and Need for Services
I failed to attend 2 mediation meetings because circumstances arose that I could not navigate independently. This failure to make alternative plans further evidences my disability and my dependency on others' time and assistance, as I lack the necessary resources to function independently.

I cannot simply take a Lyft or arrange alternative transportation because I cannot afford to. My financial instability and lack of resources are direct consequences of SCLARC's denial of services.
My dependency on others for basic needs and scheduling demonstrates the very limitations that SCLARC should be addressing through job placement programs, life skills training, and financial support services.

Urgency: Hearing Scheduled for December 10, 2025
A hearing is scheduled for December 10, 2025, and time is of the essence. The goal of this petition is to encourage SCLARC to settle with me out of court, as something has to give, or I will remain broke and struggling to find employment indefinitely.
I have exhausted multiple avenues for assistance: the regional center, Social Security Disability, and numerous other programs. Still, I have been left to fend for myself as someone with a developmental disability.

Discrimination Based on Being "Less Disabled"
If you are diagnosed with a disability, you should not be discriminated against for being "less disabled," especially when your problems are easily fixable with the appropriate services.
Being gatekept from the services that would solve my struggles is truly disgusting and ironically ableist behavior. Society isn't helping me—society continues to screw me over.
The lack of an intellectual disability does not mean I am unhindered from functioning in broader society. My autism has been present since I was a minor and has consistently held me back in life.

Emotional and Psychological Distress
This systemic discrimination has caused me a great deal of emotional and psychological distress, especially as I look towards my future.
I am left with the devastating thought that no one would care unless I..."became a statistic" . This is the level of despair that SCLARC's denial of services has caused. SCLARC's denial has worsened these feeling, it far from the only contributing factor, but one of them.

I simply wish to live a normal life, catch up to my peers, be able to live independently, fall in love with someone who cares about me, and get married. These basic human desires should not be out of reach because of systemic failures.

Legal and Ethical Basis for Punitive Damages
The punitive damages request of $460,000 is calculated in accordance with California law, which typically allows for an award 2 to 3 times the compensatory damages in cases involving discrimination or egregious misconduct.
SCLARC's repeated denial of services, despite clear legal and ethical obligations, justifies a punitive award to deter future violations and to address the longstanding harm caused.
The regional center has attempted to use my depression, lack of an intellectual disability, and significant life-changing progress made in therapy to dismiss and trivialize my social delays incurred by my disability of autism.
Request for Compensation and Services
$230,000 in back pay
$460,000 in punitive damages
Immediate access to all services I am legally entitled to, including job placement, interview training, and other required supports for independent living.
Conclusion
All I ask is a fair chance to live a normal, independent life, catch up to my peers, and contribute to society. SCLARC can remedy these injustices by granting the back pay, punitive damages, and services I should have received years ago.

Perhaps the regional center should account for the autistic trait of rigidity and understand that I will do everything I legally can to get services (or their financial equivalent) to function as independently as I reasonably can.

Society has failed me at every turn, and it is time for SCLARC to do its job and provide the support I have been denied for far too long.

Thank you for your attention to this matter. I look forward to your prompt response and resolution.

Sincerely,
Joshua S. Molina