The Voices for Equity and Access
By Nancy Bargmann, Director of the California Department of Developmental Services
One voice can make a world of difference. One voice can spark conversation that ignites change in big and small ways, and lead to life-changing impacts for many.
One such voice, the voice of a mother and advocate, reached out in February 2021. That’s when I met Season Goodpasture, who at the time was the Director of Social Services at Pala Band of Mission Indians. In that role, Season learned about the regional center system and was surprised she hadn’t heard of it sooner. Her daughter, Harley, needed specialized support and qualified for Regional Center services. Season knew she wasn’t the only Tribal mother unaware of her rights and the services available to her. Determined to change that, she began advocating for more resources for Native American families.
A listening session between the California Tribal Families Coalition (CTFC) and the Department of Developmental Services (DDS) leadership soon followed. As more Tribal voices were lifted and heard, more doors began opening to equitable change for Native families across the state. Recommendations were made to improve outreach and education for tribal communities, and DDS began creating culturally appropriate materials and training for staff, regional centers, and service providers. Annual funding was established to improve tribal community outreach and awareness of early intervention programs, including Early Start. Season opened Acorns to Oak Trees, becoming the first Early Start provider on Native American land. DDS also began collecting and sharing data on these populations to identify service gaps and direct plans toward solutions. Those efforts are ongoing, and they will have lasting impacts.
When it comes to advancing equity and access within developmental services, we need to be sure we invite an array of voices that represent California’s diversity to the table.
Bringing Together Voices to Modernize the Developmental Services System
Season is now a committee member helping us to modernize the developmental services system. She joins many other voices of people with lived experiences, professionals, leaders and partners, coming together to plan for the future of services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (ID/DD). Within these first few committee meetings, we’re reminded just how powerful listening and collaborating with one another can be.
We are hearing from moms who want their children to be understood and to succeed at school. We are talking about the cultural and regional needs of families and their challenges to accessing services. We are connecting with advocates who are looking for new and creative ways for services and supports to better the lives of people across the Golden State. These unique voices will be woven into recommendations and actions that will ultimately shape the way services are coordinated across systems. Better understanding how people live and get their information will help us to remove barriers and reach people no matter where they live, what language they speak, or their cultural identity.
It can be hard to trust that our voices are being heard, but this is a journey we must take together. By sharing stories, solutions, and progress, we will continue to see how our community’s voices are guiding change. By seeing those impacts, we hope more voices are empowered to engage in these crucial discussions and effect more changes.
From Listening to Action
DDS has heard from different communities about the importance of transparency and access to data. Data can tell us a story. It can speak to the needs of the populations who are being missed and it can show us pathways to opportunities. DDS is working to make more data available in accessible formats online. We’re also collaborating and sharing that data with state partners to break down silos and support people to make informed decisions.
One of those partnerships is with the California Cradle-to-Career (C2C) Data System. C2C is working to link together data across service systems to provide a clearer picture of equity gaps in education and workforce development. In May, the C2C Governing Board voted to include DDS as a data partner. This work will make sure the experiences of people with developmental delays and disabilities are included in that picture.
Self-advocates, families, and community leaders will be able to look at the C2C data system to help answer key questions, including:
- What are education and employment outcomes for students who participated in DDS’s Early Start?
- Does the length of time enrolled in Early Start impact education and employment milestones?
- How do education and employment outcomes vary by regional centers?
This will support Californians to make essential life decisions and equip lawmakers with more information to make equitable policy.
C2C’s data system protects the privacy of Californians while also creating a resource that will allow us to better understand how people access services and progress, beginning with Early Start and throughout key milestones across lifespans.
Advocates and community leaders have also recommended that we make it easier to access services and improve language access. By streamlining processes and sharing materials in the languages of California’s diverse populations, we can better connect people to services. Some of the DDS initiatives that are now underway because of that feedback includes:
- New standardized IPP template to be implemented by January 2025. The template guides conversation and planning to support each person to make decisions about their life and future.
- The Lanterman Act was translated into Spanish.
- The Service Access and Equity Grant Program for Regional Centers and community-based organizations to create and use strategies to reduce disparities and increase equity in regional center services.
- The Community Navigator Program in partnership with the Family Resource Centers Network of California (FRCNCA) providing one-on-one support for resources and services.
While these are just some of the great strides within developmental services, there is still much to be done to reduce inequities and disparities. As California Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Ghaly shared in his blog post, equity looks different for every person with ID/DD. Transparency, community, and connection are what will continue to drive equitable change.
Connecting Communities and Embracing Lanterman
There are many reasons it may be difficult for individuals and families to share about their experiences. Many topics can be challenging to discuss. That’s why we must try to meet people where they feel most comfortable and provide a variety of options for sharing. Some of the in-person and virtual options available within developmental services and the Master Plan process include:
For the Master Plan for Developmental Services:
- Join online or in-person at Committee Meetings and Community Roundtables
- Email DSMasterPlan@chhs.ca.gov
- You can learn more about how to get involved on the CalHHS website
At DDS:
It’s heartwarming to see so many people showing up, sharing their voices, and trusting us with what matters the most to them. This will remain key as we are making policy changes and creating bridges across service systems.
Thank you to the self-advocates, families, community partners, and staff across the state for working to turn our combined mission into reality. The Lanterman Act was established to ensure every person with a developmental disability in California has the right to services and supports to live happy, healthy lives of their choosing. I believe the work we are doing is essential to fulfilling that vision and intention. Together we will build pathways for every Californian with an intellectual and/or developmental disability to direct their own lives, understand their rights, and make meaningful choices in every stage of life. The voices of our communities will help us realize a future for services that is equitable and accessible for all Californians.
