May 1 is IPSE Day, or Inclusive Postsecondary Education Day. IPSE programs integrate education, employment/career training, independent living and community participation. DDS has cited that these programs have dramatically improved employment outcomes for adults with I/DD with 51-96% of IPSE graduates in competitive integrated employment (CIE) (Avelloneetal., 2021) compared to less than 2% of adults with I/DD in CA (SCDD, 2015).

Since the passage of the 2008 Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA), a growing number of universities have founded programs to improve access to postsecondary education for students with intellectual disabilities. Currently, there are about 5,300 colleges and universities in the U.S. and just over 300 have options for students with intellectual disabilities (that’s about 6% of all colleges and universities). Information on 333 postsecondary education programs for students with intellectual disabilities is offered by Think College, a national technical assistance, research, and evaluation center dedicated to developing, expanding, and improving higher education options for students with intellectual disabilities.

Locally, consider the UC Davis Redwood SEED Scholars Program, Sierra College’s Learning Independence for Future Employment (LIFE) Program, and CSUEB’s, Think by the Bay, two-year post-secondary education program.

In recognition that California’s developmental disabilities system is deeply connected to other health and social systems, the Master Plan is intended to create and strengthen bridges that connect the developmental services system to other critical systems across CalHHS, and other systems and services including education, housing, employment, transportation, and safety.

Individuals who receive services today are more diverse and live longer. They face affordable housing shortages, lower rates of employment, and the challenges of accessing services from other systems and sectors to address their physical, social, and behavioral health needs.

A 21st century developmental services system must increase its ability to provide culturally responsive services and to strengthen the accountability and standardization of the system so that it is easier for individuals and their families to navigate no matter where they live in California.

The Master Plan for Developmental Services Committee members were appointed by the CalHHS Secretary for a one-year term with the intent that they collectively deliver a Master Plan by March of 2025.

The Committee has identified five priority discussions:

1. “One Door” Coordinated System of Care: Individuals and their families obtain timely and effective services and supports regardless of where they live or which entity is providing or paying for the services.
2. Workforce: System staff have the skills and knowledge to provide whole person and person-centered services and supports.
3. Data and Information Technology: Information that is usable, accessible, timely, and understandable to improve outcomes, choices, and accountability.
4. Reimagine Regional Centers: Cultivating Accountability, Consistency and Quality Services.
5. Housing: equitable access to affordable housing units and resources.

Committee members and members of the public are invited to reflect on these priorities to prepare for future conversations and to consider how these priorities align with the Vision for Success.

The committee's next meeting is May 15, 10:00 am - 3:30 pm. Register on this page.

California Employing Abilities at Work Certificate

To help promote diversity, inclusion and provide untapped talent to California workplaces, SHRM Foundation partnered with the California Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) to create the California Employing Abilities at Work certificate.

The certificate provides a California-specific curriculum designed to educate participants on how to create environments for disability inclusion in the workplace, best hiring practices throughout the employee lifecycle, and specific strategies and pathways to ensure success for Californians with disabilities in the workplace.

This program supports the DOR’s Demand Side Employment Initiative which is a project by DOR and the California Department of Developmental Services (DDS) to fund strategic initiatives to increase competitive, integrated employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities.

The outcomes of completing the Abilities at Work Certificate program include understanding the barriers to employment experienced by individuals with disabilities, articulating the business case for building a workforce that is equitable and inclusive of individuals with disabilities, and creating organizational strategies to recruit, hire, retain, and develop this talent pool.



The certificate is free of cost, is open to all, and has an estimated time commitment of 10 hours.

Click here for more information.

Date: May 1, 2024

Time: 11 am – 12 pm

Event: Community Meeting

Host: Alta California Regional Center

Meetings are open to clients, families, and the community at large as an opportunity to learn about regional center activities and initiatives, as well as to provide an opportunity for public input. Spanish and ASL interpretation is provided.

Access the meeting link.

Date: May 8, 2024

Time: 4:30 pm

Event: SDP Connect

Host: Disability Voices United

This is part of a series of trainings called What Works for Us, open to the public geared towards self-advocates and family members.

Registration link

Find more events on LIFE Project's Events List. Unless noted, events are not sponsored or endorsed by the LIFE Project. If you have an event that you'd like featured on the list and in our newsletter, email us at info@lifeprojectinfo.org.

Sierra College and Alta California Regional Center (ACRC) have partnered to work on the Learning Independence for Future Employment (LIFE) Project through a California Department of Developmental Services Employment Grant. LIFE Project is a Service Model Transformation Project to develop a new and expanded role for the California Community Colleges (CCCs) in the preparation, placement, and the implementation of innovative strategies and practices to increase Competitive Integrated Employment (CIE) for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and to provide employment and training information resources to employers, people with disabilities, and others working with people with disabilities. 

If you have any newsletter topic requests or feedback, email us at info@lifeprojectinfo.org

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