Join us for a live webinar.

Are you a person with autism, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, and/or other Intellectual and Developmental Disability (I/DD)? Have you heard a little bit about the Master Plan for Developmental Services (“The Plan”) but you don’t know exactly what it is and you don’t know who to ask? Then this webinar is for you!

Come learn about The Plan from your Peers and fellow Advocates who also receive regional center services just like you. Come with questions and ideas to share!

Reasonable Accommodations: ASL Interpreter, Spanish Interpreter and CART Available

About the webinar:

The Master Plan for Developmental Services (“The Plan”) is a roadmap to move regional center services into the future. The Plan hopes to connect agencies and services so that people with I/DD don’t have to connect to different systems to get services that they need, like housing, medical, employment, and transportation. Everything is interconnected. It will help to make it easier for you and your families no matter where you live in California. 

This webinar will focus on reviewing how The Plan will be created, the things that are supposed to be included in it, and learning from Peer Leaders.

Come learn and share…

• What is The Plan
• What Peer Leaders do on The Plan Committee
• Who you can talk to if you have questions about The Plan
• Your ideas about how to make things better
• How you can get involved

Facilitators and The Plan Committee Members:

Lisa Cooley My name is Lisa Cooley and I’m a person who has cerebral palsy who is a very active member of several different developmental disability organizations. I am a two-time former governor appointee of the State Council on Developmental Disabilities. Being a member of the Master Plan for Developmental Services is important to me because it allows me to help people who have developmental disabilities like me now and in the future to have a voice in decision making for our service system. 

Kecia Weller is an accomplished Disability Justice Activist that has worked in the Disabilities Rights field for more than 30 years. Her current advocacy work is with Master Plan Committee and the UCLA Tarjan Center. She has served on the State Council on Developmental Disabilities, and the California State Rehabilitation Council and provided her expertise to the California Department of Aging: Long Term Care Ombudsman Program. Ms. Weller is a nationally recognized Abuse Awareness/Prevention Advocate. Ms. Weller is quite fond of mentoring other people with disabilities to be outstanding leaders in the civil rights movements for disabilities.

Guest Speaker:

Dr. Mark Ghaly was appointed Secretary of the California Health & Human Services Agency by Governor Gavin Newsom. Dr. Ghaly works with partners across sectors and disciplines to improve the lives and life chances of ALL Californians. Dr. Ghaly is a primary care pediatrician who continues to use his clinical and community experiences, working in California’s health care safety net system, to inform a whole person, whole community, approach to integrating services so they are equity-anchored and person-centered for ALL. 

Speakers from the I/DD Community and Allies:

Gordon Cardona, nonverbal person with cerebral palsy, Activities Coordinator Assistant at a therapeutic program for people with disabilities, and self-advocate

Will Leiner, sibling of a person with I/DD, The Plan Committee Member, and Managing Attorney at DRC

Deaka McClain, person with I/DD, Chair of the Community Engagement Committee and member of Board of Directors at DRC, and community leader

Mariza Ochoa, mother of a child diagnosed with autism, member of DRC’s Board of Directors, and Founder and Executive Director of Escuchen Mi Voz (Listen to My Voice) a nonprofit agency serving the Spanish speaking community with I/DD

Jillian Parramore, parent on the autism spectrum with cerebral palsy and epilepsy, member of DRC’s Board of Directors, and trainer of inclusive and health education 

Alexander Moroyoqui Lopez, 8-year-old with spina bifida and autism and self-advocate