Infant Development Association
Infant Development Association of California is a non-profit grassroots organization of professionals from different disciplines, agencies, and service systems, as well as parents, who are committed to improving our early intervention service system.

California Association of Health Facilities
CAHF members are providers of four to 15-bed community-based homes called intermediate care facilities (ICF) that are licensed by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH). There are approximately 1,145 facilities statewide with 16 large ICF/DD facilities, 700 ICF/DD-H (Habilitation) facilities and 418 ICF/DD-N (Nursing) facilities  CAHF represents 486 member-facilities with 98 agency-providers of ICF/IID services.

California Autism Professional Training and Information Network, (CAPTAIN )
Regional Center is proud to partner with the California Autism Professional Training and Information Network, (CAPTAIN ) by promoting the use of evidence-based practices for individuals with Autism and related developmental disabilities.  CAPTAIN is part of the California Department of Education Statewide System of Support in collaboration with Marin County SELPA.

Developmental Services Network
The Developmental Services Network is a coalition of ICF/MR providers committed to quality services as well as community integration. This coalition includes providers of ICF/MR services who operate facilities serving 15 or fewer individuals. DSN promotes a support system for community based ICF/MR providers through dissemination of information, training, leadership, and professionalism within the field. Working with nationally recognized consultants, DSN is responsive to the needs of Association members.

Autism Business Association
The Autism Business Association was formed in 2015 when companies providing applied behavior analysis (ABA) services for individuals with autism saw the need to work together collaboratively to ensure that families with children with autism could continue to access evidence-based ABA treatment despite the changing political and regulatory environment. Owners and directors of local companies headquartered in Orange County and Los Angeles County, California began meeting together regularly to organize pro-active efforts to ensure that ABA companies maintain the ability to practice and that families continue to receive the high-quality ABA services their child deserves. The Autism Business Association has grown to include members from companies across 11 states and 3 countries. The association has retained legislative advocates at the local, state, and national level to advocate on behalf of their mission.

Family Resource Center Network of California
The Family Resource Centers Network of California (FRCNCA) is a coalition of California’s 47 Family Resource Centers. The 47 Early Start Family Resource Centers are funded through the Individual with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) — Infants and Toddlers Part C. Members are represented on the statewide network through Regional Representatives.

People First of California
After generations of being invisible we have joined together, with our OWN voice to inspire and educate each other “peer to peer” throughout the state, to start People First chapters. We train, inform, and support all people with developmental disabilities to help our peers learn to: (1) Speak up for themselves, (2) Know our rights and responsibilities, (3) Make decisions and solve problems, (4) And, stand together in unity, to take our rightful place in the world.

Service Employees International Union Local 521 Developmental Disabilities Council
The SEIU California Developmental Disabilities Council was formed in 2007 and is made up of direct support and regional center workers at our 19 DD agencies across the state. We are committed to increasing union density and improving the wages and conditions of workers in the field of Developmental Disability while supporting dignity, respect, and quality services to the people we serve.

Society of California Care Operators
The Society of California Care Operators (SOCCO) is a non-profit organization that is composed of different vendors who provide professional care services for adult individuals who are diagnosed with developmental disabilities. Our people and resources are all dedicated to helping our consumers lead a quality, active, and independent life. We know and recognize the burdens, pains, and worries each developmentally disabled adult goes through in his/her life. Because of this, we are inspired to take actions that will give them hope and a worthwhile life today and in the future. Society of California Care Operators aims to raise community awareness about the real situations developmentally disabled adults face. Our organization is devoted to providing assessments, community resources, counseling, information and education, family support and services, as well as assistance with the client’s legal and individual rights.

Disability Voices United
“A powerful advocacy network of individuals with developmental disabilities and their family members throughout California who have united to take back the systems they created a half-century ago. We have diverse board and committee members and Ambassadors in every part of the state and at every regional center.”

Department of Developmental Services
The California Department of Developmental Services is the agency through which the State of California provides services and supports to individuals with developmental disabilities. These disabilities include intellectual disability, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, autism and related conditions. Services are provided through state-operated developmental centers and community facilities, and contracts with 21 nonprofit regional centers. The regional centers serve as a local resource to help find and access the services and supports available to individuals with developmental disabilities and their families.

The Arc of California
The Arc of California maintains a strong advocacy network of self-advocates, family members, service providers and community members dedicated to promoting and protecting the civil rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Our advocacy efforts include: (1) Grassroots Advocacy (2) Legislative Advocacy (3) State Budget Advocacy (4) Regulatory Advocacy and (5) Policy/Position Statements.

Autism Society California
The mission of the Autism Society of California (ASC) is to improve the lives of all affected by an autism spectrum disorder. We do this by increasing public awareness about the day-to-day issues faced by people on the spectrum, advocating for appropriate services for individuals across the lifespan, and providing the latest information regarding treatment, education, research, support and advocacy. ASC networks with nine chapters of the Autism Society located throughout the state in an effort to reach all those affected by autism in California.

California State Council on Developmental Disabilities
The State Council on Developmental Disabilities (SCDD) is established by federal law (Developmental Disabilities and Bill of Rights Act) and state law (Lanterman Act at Welfare and Institutions Code, section 4520 et. seq.).SCDD is to ensure that individuals with developmental disabilities and their families participate in the planning, design and receipt of the services and supports they need which promote increased independence, productivity, inclusion and self-determination. Federal law requires SCDD to identify methods to improve and increase services for individuals and their families and to submit these to the federal government in the form of a State Plan. The State Plan is approved by the federal Administration on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AIDD). AIDD is the funding source for SCDD and its State Plan Activities. SCDD and its regional offices’ primary work is achieving the State Plan goals, objectives, and strategies. The Council is comprised of 31 members appointed by the Governor, including individuals with disabilities, their families, federally funded partners and state agencies. In addition to headquarters in Sacramento, the Council supports 12 regional offices that provide services to individuals with developmental disabilities and their families including, but not limited to, advocacy assistance, training, monitoring and public information. 

California Supported Living Network
The California Supported Living Network is a diverse network of nearly 100 service agencies that provide quality community-based services for people with Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities.  The network employs nearly 100,000 people who provide hands-on services to 29,000 clients in their homes, communities or workplaces.  These direct service professionals work every day to ensure their clients receive the quality, reliable and sustainable services they need and deserve.

California Sibling Leadership Network
The California Sibling Leadership Network envisions a future where Sibs – the sisters and brothers of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities* – have a thriving support network at all stages of life.  * While CaliforniaSibs primarily focuses on the needs of sisters and brothers of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, we welcome anyone who self-identifies. This may includes sibs-in-law, cousins, and friends. It may also include physical or mental health disabilities.

United Cerebral Palsy – California Policy
The Arc and UCP CA Collaboration is governed by an Executive Council with representative members from each partner. The Collaboration maintains a public policy agenda that includes legislative, budget and regulatory advocacy in support of the furtherance of each entity’s mission and ensuring the commitment of the Lanterman Act is kept for people with IDD in California. Over the years, the Collaboration has developed, and continues to have, a strong presence in the State Capitol and various departments within the Administration in order to effectively advocate for and advance the interest of people with IDD and their families.

Lanterman Coalition
The Lanterman Coalition consists of the 19 major stakeholders in California’s community based developmental services system. Membership in the coalition requires a commitment to (1) the Preservation of the Lanterman Act and the entitlement, (2) no categorical elimination of services, (3) no enrollment caps or waiting lists, (4) no reductions to services and supports important to people with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and their families and (5) full support of the community imperative and the Olmstead decision.

California Disability Services Association
CDSA is a statewide association representing nearly 100 community-based organizations that support and empower persons with developmental disabilities and their families, helping to create choices and opportunities that enhance the quality of their lives. Our members help their clients develop skills, engage in meaningful activities, participate in community life, and live independently, as well as helping family caregivers balance life’s demands.

California Association of People Supporting Employment First (APSE)
Cal APSE is a chapter of National APSE, the only national association focusing solely on expanding integrated employment for individuals with disabilities. Regardless of the severity of disability, and assistance required, employment means earning a living wage in a job of a person’s choosing, based on the individual’s talents, skills and abilities.

UCLA Tarjan Center: University Center on Disability
The Tarjan Center is part of a national network of < >University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDDs). The Tarjan Center is a catalyst for collaboration, innovation, and systems change to advance the self -determination and inclusion of people with disabilities. We do this through university and community education, technical assistance, program evaluation, research and demonstration of exemplary programs and information dissemination. Our main activity currently includes: (1) Supporting children, young adults and adults with developmental disabilities and mental health, and physical health needs; (2) Forging new alliances between individuals with disabilities, agencies and policymaking bodies in order to change policies, provide opportunities and improve services for people with disabilities, in education, employment,  mental health, health, and arts and culture; (3) Expanding the arts and cultural community’s capacity to include individuals with disabilities and support opportunities for individuals with disabilities to pursue careers in the arts; (4) Examining the impact of national and state policies on people with disabilities and their families.

USC – Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles: University Center on Disability
The USC University Center of Excellence in Developmental Disabilities at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles was founded in 1966. It is one of 67 UCEDDs in the nation, which were authorized under the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act (DD Act) of 1963. The USC UCEDD has a 50-year history of promoting the well-being of persons with developmental disabilities through training, research and evaluation, community services, technical assistance, information dissemination, and policy development. Each year the USC UCEDD works on diverse projects related to four focus areas: (1) Autism spectrum disorders (2) Early intervention, prevention and infant mental health (3) Behavioral health (4) Racial disparities, equity and cultural proficiency

UC Davis MIND Institute
The Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (CEDD), established in 2006, is one of 67 federally designated university centers (UCEDDs) across the country. These centers are authorized by the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act and funded by the Administration on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AIDD), part of the Administration on Community Living within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. CEDD brings added resources to expand the activities and impact of the MIND Institute, serving as a resource in the areas of education, research and service, and providing a link between the university and the community to improve the quality of life for individuals with developmental disabilities.  The Center accomplishes this mission through advocacy, community partnerships, interdisciplinary training, and the translation of research into practical applications. We make the personal perspective of disability and cultural/linguistic diversity prominent in all our program activities and strive for an organizational culture that values diversity and inclusion.

Autism Speaks (Northern California)
Serving communities in the Greater Bay Area and the Central Valley, Autism Speaks is dedicated to promoting solutions, across the spectrum and throughout the life span, for the needs of individuals with autism and their families. We do this through advocacy and support, increasing understanding and acceptance of people with autism, and advancing research into causes and better interventions for autism spectrum disorder and related conditions. 

California Association for Parent-Child Advocacy
CAPCA provides a network of support for parents, professionals and attorneys who represent children with disabilities and their families. CAPCA provides several levels of support to its members, including active listservs, semiannual meetings, and a members section of the web site. Because CAPCA is a crucial organizational resource for our community, employees of school districts and governmental agencies working on disability fields cannot be included. If you are such a person and are sympathetic to CAPCA’s goals and would like to be informed of its activities, please let us know and we will forward you information when possible.

Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund
DREDF is dedicated to improving the lives of people with disabilities through legal advocacy, training, education, and public policy and legislative development. 

California Foundation for Independent Living Centers
California Foundation for Independent Living Centers (“the Foundation”) is a nonprofit organization which supports member California Independent Living Centers in advocating for systems change and in creating access and integration for people with disabilities in their community. Some of the programs they implement include: Ability Tools (Adaptive equipment resources), Digital Access (low cost internet access for people with disabilities), DO network (community organizing), Freedom Tech (lending program for adaptive equipment), YO (Youth organizing, and leads coalitions such as CA Assistive tech reuse Coalition and the Disability Action Coalition.

Family Voices of California
FVCA is a statewide collaborative of parent-run centers working to ensure quality health care for children and youth with special health care needs. FVCA builds the capacity of parent centers throughout California to provide families with the information and support they need to make informed decisions about the health care of their children. FVCA provides information and a forum for parent centers and families to advocate for improved public and private policies, builds partnerships between professionals and families, and serves as a vital resource on health care.

NAMI California
NAMI California is a grassroots organization of families and individuals whose lives have been affected by serious mental illness. We advocate for lives of quality and respect, without discrimination and stigma, for all our constituents. We provide leadership in advocacy, legislation, policy development, education and support throughout California.

Association of Regional Center Agencies
The Association of Regional Center Agencies (ARCA) represents California’s network of 21 independent, non-profit regional centers that advocate on behalf of and coordinate services for California’s over 300,000 people with developmental disabilities. The work of ARCA is directed by the guidance of the Board of Directors. Each regional center is represented by a member of their board of directors and the center’s executive director. The Board’s decision-making is also informed by various committees and discipline groups. The committees are primarily – though not exclusively – composed of Board members. The discipline groups are professional peer groups that meet and discuss shared professional concerns. Concurrently, the Directors Group (regional center executive directors) and Board Delegates Group (regional centers’ board member delegates) work to keep their members informed of issues of particular relevance.

California Association of Resource Specialists
CARSplus is the only association whose sole purpose is to represent the unique needs of resource specialists and other special education teachers. The California Association of Resource Specialists was founded in 1981 as a non-profit association dedicated to the support of resource specialists. In February of 1996, the organization voted to expand its active membership to include all special education teachers.

California State Independent Living Council
In cooperation with the state Department of Rehabilitation, the SILC prepares a State Plan for Independent Living which sets the policy and funding levels for the state’s network of Independent Living Centers (ILCs) and services. To help guide this policy, the SILC solicits continual public feedback on the effectiveness of independent living services and the changing needs of the community. In addition to preparing and updating the State Plan for Independent Living, the SILC monitors the implementation of it. The SILC also coordinates with similar agencies and councils at the state and federal levels to increase communication and help assure that services to people with disabilities are delivered effectively.

Disability Rights California
DRC is a nonprofit agency. We are the largest disability rights group in the nation. Federal law established us to protect and advocate for the rights of people with disabilities. Last year we helped almost 25,000 people. Hundreds of thousands more were helped because of our litigation, policy work, trainings and publications. We are the protection and advocacy agency for California.

California Respite Association
The mission of the California Respite Association (CRA) is to support the expansion and enhancement of respite services to individuals, families and caregivers of the elderly, persons with developmental and/or physical disabilities, brain impairment and other disabling conditions

California Disability-Senior Community Action Network
The California Disability Community Action Network is a non-partisan link to tens of thousands of Californians in every community, including people of color, people of every type of disability, including people with physical disabilities, people with developmental and other disabilities, people with traumatic brain and other injures, people with mental health needs, seniors, people with MS, Alzheimer’s and others, and all of their families, community organizations and providers, direct care and other workers, and other advocates. These action alerts and news reports, townhall telemeetings and other projects is for all of them.

Special Needs Alliance
The Special Needs Alliance (SNA) is a national organization comprised of attorneys committed to the practice of disability and public benefits law. To find the California attorneys in their network click on the link above.

CalTASH
Cal-TASH is the California chapter of TASH, the international leader in disability advocacy. Founded in 1975, TASH advocates for human rights and inclusion for people with significant disabilities and support needs – those most vulnerable to segregation, abuse, neglect, and institutionalization. TASH works to advance inclusive communities through advocacy, research, professional development, policy, and information and resources for parents, families and self-advocates. The inclusive practices TASH validates through research have been shown to improve outcomes for all people. Cal-TASH supports practices that promote our resolution that all people, regardless of their label or perceived level of disability, should have the supports they need to direct the course of their own lives, and to live and participate successfully in inclusive schools and communities.

California Workforce Development Board
The California Workforce Development Board (CWDB) was established in 1998, as outlined in the federal Workforce Investment Act (WIA). In 2014, the WIA was replaced by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), which outlines the vision and structure through which state workforce training and education programs are funded and administered regionally and locally. The CWDB is responsible for the oversight and continuous improvement of the workforce system in California, which encompasses a wide array of work, including: policy development; workforce support and innovation; and performance assessment, measurement and reporting.