The California Policy Center for Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (CPCIDD) was founded in 2022 by Retired Senate Pro Tem Don Perata, Legislative Advocate Kathy Van Osten, and Legislative Policy Consultant and parent Dr. Lou Vismara. Each founder brings a long-standing history in California’s policymaking process, shaped by distinct perspectives and years of experience working on disability-related policy.
As California’s developmental services system continued to expand and implementation of legislatively mandated rate reform began, the founders recognized the need for a non-profit, non-partisan organization focused exclusively on policy issues affecting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. CPCIDD was created to meet that need by providing research and education grounded in data and lived experience.
As Executive Director Teresa Anderson explains, “One of the most important needs we seek to address is the need for data and a comprehensive approach to identifying potential solutions to systemic issues and barriers identified by people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, family members, service providers, and other important stakeholders.”
More information about CPCIDD’s work and mission can be found here.
Current Policy Focus Areas
CPCIDD emphasizes that it is not an advocacy organization. Instead, the center provides information and education on specific policy issues to support informed decision-making across the state. Currently, CPCIDD’s work centers on four strategic priorities: Employment, the Direct Support Professional Workforce Shortage, Early Intervention, and Affordable Housing.
Employement:
People with intellectual and developmental disabilities continue to face disproportionately high rates of unemployment and underemployment. CPCIDD works to understand the barriers that limit employment opportunities and the broader impacts this has on independence, financial stability, and overall well-being.
With funding support from Ability Central, CPCIDD has conducted roundtable discussions and interviews with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, families, employers, service providers, and regional centers across California. This work is helping to identify challenges and opportunities at a statewide level, with a final report and short film expected later this year. Learn more about this project here.
Direct Support Professional (DSP) Workforce Shortage:
The Direct Support Professional workforce shortage has been widely recognized as a major barrier to inclusion and independence for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. This long-standing crisisaffects access to employment, services, medical and dental care, social engagement, and nearly every other aspect of community living.
CPCIDD recently published a comprehensive report examining the impact of the DSP workforce shortage on people individuals served by the regional center system and their families. The report findings have contributed to ongoing statewide discussion and helped inform planning for a two-day Direct Support Professional workforce summit scheduled for May. Review their report here.
Early Intervention Workforce Shortage:
The shortage of Early Intervention providers directly impacts infants and toddlers who have, or are at risk for intellectual or developmental disabilities. These services are often time-sensitive, and delays in access can affect progress in physical, cognitive, and communication development.
Early Intervention services also provide supports families with through education, guidance, and support as they navigate complex systems of care. CPCIDD continues to highlight emphasize the importance of strengthening this workforce to better support children and families statewide.
Affordable Housing:
Affordable housing needs for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities have often been left out of broader housing policy discussions. Many individuals rely on fixed incomes such as SSI or SSDI, making affordable, accessible housing essential for maintaining independence and living in the community of their choice.
CPCIDD has co-hosted Affordable Housing Symposiums with Alta Regional Center and San Diego Regional Center to highlight efforts across the state to improve access to housing for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Additional research on this issue is available here.
Centering Community Voices
Centering the voices of people with lived experience is a core value of CPCIDD’s work. The organization collaborates with self-advocates, families, service providers, advocacy organizations, and other partners through focus groups, surveys, roundtable discussions, co-hosted events, summits, conferences, and stakeholder collaborations.
As Anderson notes, “We collaborate with self-advocates, families, service providers, advocacy organizations, and other partner organizations in many different ways.”
CPCIDD has also developed and shared information and resources on Supported Decision Making in legal and financial settings, supported by a grant from the State Council on Developmental Disabilities. These resources can be found here.
Recent Milestones
Within the last year, CPCIDD has:
Published a comprehensive statewide report on the Direct Support Professional workforce shortage and its impact on regional center services, helping drive continued policy discussion and an upcoming two-day summit
Co-hosted Affordable Housing Symposiums with Alta Regional Center and San Diego Regional Center to highlight statewide efforts to expand access to housing
Convened statewide employment-focused roundtable discussions and interviews with funding support from Ability Central, with a final report and accompanying short documentary expected to be released by the end of the year
Challenges & Opportunities Ahead
The intellectual and developmental disabilities community in California faces both ongoing challenges and emerging opportunities. Uncertainty in state and federal budgets may affect constrain the state’s ability to fund essential services fully, and the Direct Support Professional workforce shortage continues to limit access to supports across many areas of daily life.
At the same time, promising opportunities are emerging, including the launch of the Life Outcomes Improvement System at the Department of Developmental Services, which is expected to improve information sharing for individuals, families, and service providers. There is also strong statewide attention on strengthening workforce conditions and expanding meaningful employment opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
CPCIDD will continue its statewide work on employment, workforce, and housing issues, while ensuring that community voices remain central to its research and policy efforts. Ability Central is proud to support CPCIDD’s efforts to improve policies affecting Californians with intellectual and developmental disabilities. This partnership reflects a shared commitment to centering lived experience and advancing meaningful change across the state.
Want to support more work like this? Explore Abilty Central’s homepage and consider a donation.
Additional Information
The content provided in this article is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for legal, medical, or other professional advice. While we strive to provide accurate and up-to-date resources, some information may become outdated or incomplete. Always consult with your provider about personal medical concerns.
