2021 Annual Report - Employment
2021 Annual Report - Employment
Transforming California’s Approach to Disability Employment
Disability Rights California continues to work with partners to promote an economy that is open and accessible for all people with all types of disabilities, including people from intersectional communities, and people who have significant support needs.
As California recovers from the economic crisis of the COVID-19 pandemic, the state must reshape the labor market with new vision for the inclusion and equity of people with disabilities. Some of the goals we are trying to aim our advocacy efforts on include:
- Increasing labor market participation for people with disabilities;
- Closing the gap in service disparities for Black, Indigenous and communities of color;
- Ensuring people with disabilities can participate in program design, policy decisions, and California’s economic recovery efforts;
- Increasing access to a living wage for people with disabilities;
- Increasing opportunities for work-based learning from an early age; and
- Increasing access to employment supports for people who need them.
drc client, Stephanie Souza
Client Success Story
Stephanie contacted DRC’s Client Assistance Program (CAP) in 2021 because the Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) would not refer her case to its Mobility Evaluation Program for an assessment. Stephanie is a person with Spinal Cord Injury due to Transverse Myelitis and is paralyzed from her ribcage down. She uses a manual wheelchair for her mobility needs. She could no longer use her old van because the modifications were no longer adequate. She could not mount or dismount her van, without the assistance of another person to help her in or out of her van.
DRC helped Stephanie request an Administrative Review, appealing to the DOR’s District Administrator. Stephanie won her appeal and the DOR agreed to refer Stephanie to the Mobility Evaluation Program for an evaluation. The evaluator recommended that Stephanie receive appropriate vehicle modifications and a motorized wheelchair to preserve her safety when driving.
Ms. Souza is in the process of getting the motorized wheelchair and modifications to a new van, which will increase her independence. A special thanks to Lisa Navarro, DRC Client Assistance Program (CAP) advocate who assisted Stephanie!
Building Back Better for the Nation
This past year, we also hosted an employment summit with discussions from national, state, and business leaders discussing their vision for building a more equitable, inclusive, and just workforce in our economic recovery from COVID-19.
Introduction by Eric Harris, Director of Public Policy, Disability Rights California. Keynote Governor Gavin Newsom, Governor of California
Senator Sydney Kamlager, California State Senate
Kevin Kish, Director, Department of Fair Employment and Housing
Secretary Mark Ghaly, California Health and Human Services Agency
Panel Discussion:
Moderator - Nancy Bargmann, Director, California Department of Developmental Services
Kim McCoy Wade, Director, Department of Aging
Dr. Olivia Raynor, University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, Tarjan Center at UCLA
Wesley Witherspoon, State Council on Developmental Disabilities
Joe Xavier, Director, Department of Rehabilitation
Heather Calomese, Director of Special Education for the California Department of Education
Senator María Elena Durazo, California State Senate
Mayor Libby Schaaf, Mayor of Oakland and breakout room introduction by Vivian Haun, Senior Attorney, Disability Rights California
Senator Dave Cortese, California State Senate and closing by Philip Leung, Sacramento Municipal Utility District