California Disability Services Association

06/02/2026

That's a wrap on the 2026 Direct Support Professional (DSP) Workforce Summit!

More than 175 direct support professionals and 100 disability community leaders came together last week in Sacramento. It was an inspiring two days of DSPs sharing their truths, experiences, and deep, unwavering support to the Californians with disabilities they serve every day.

CDSA was honored to help provide a space to amplify their voices. Because that is exactly what DSPs deserve – to be heard and recognized as the professionals they are.

A huge thank you to our planning team partners who made this all possible: ARCA - Association of Regional Center Agencies California Policy Center for Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, and California Community Living Network. This summit is a reflection of your dedication to this workforce and the people we serve.

05/04/2026

CDSA is pleased to honor Dr. Christine Santiago with the 2025 Interdisciplinary Medical Impact Award. This award recognizes leaders in the medical field who identify gaps in care and find solutions across systems to improve health and wellness for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).

Through her leadership in the Stanford Department of Medicine Health Equity, Advocacy, and Research (HEARs) program, Dr. Santiago partnered with CDSA member AbilityPath to develop a curriculum for disability-informed health care delivery. This partnership has transformed how more than 100 medical residents will provide care to Californians with IDD. We presented her award while a few of those residents were with us learning more about IDD.

As a busy physician and educator, Dr. Santiago was unavailable to join our fall conference to receive her award. We are proud to finally make it official!

Congratulations, Dr. Santiago — this recognition is well deserved.

04/29/2026

Calling all service providers! We want your passionate direct support professionals (DSPs) to join us in Sacramento on May 27–28 for the Direct Support Workforce Summit! CDSA is proudly co-hosting this two-day event with California Policy Center for Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, ARCA - Association of Regional Center Agencies, and California Community Living Network.

Day 1 is for DSPs to learn, grow, and share with each other. Day 2 brings DSPs and provider leadership together to connect and build solutions. Attendees will hear from policymakers and thought leaders in disability services.

An investment in the direct support workforce is an investment in the future of Californians with IDD and their families. Learn more and register yourself or your DSP staff today: https://Cal-DSA.org/DSPSummit

03/20/2026

Check out the next installment of our conversations with candidates for California Governor! We will be hosting Tom Steyer on Thursday, March 26 at 10:00 am PST!

REGISTER NOW: https://cal-dsa.org/CAGovLC

Hosted by the Lanterman Coalition, this forum is part of a statewide nonpartisan interview series. The live webinar will include a Q&A, with the opportunity for attendees to submit questions.

We will ask every candidate the same questions about how they will protect and strengthen the promise of the Lanterman Act. This landmark civil rights law guarantees services and supports for Californians with intellectual and developmental disabilities. In the face of federal changes and growing uncertainty, candidates will share how they plan to preserve California’s commitment to disability rights, essential services, dignity, and inclusion.

Check out the complete series and register for future events: https://TheLantermanCoalition.org/Events

03/17/2026

CDSA was proud to present Assemblymember Liz Ortega with our Legislative Leadership Award last week during our conference! Assemblymember Ortega authored AB 815, our bill to protect direct support professionals (DSPs) from being forced into costly insurance coverage. Her leadership will help to ensure Californians with disabilities receive the support they need to live and thrive in their communities.

Thank you for your partnership and commitment to our essential direct support workforce!

For years, caregivers to persons with disabilities had trouble getting auto insurance and paid inflated rates due to misclassification. My bill, AB 815, changed that. Thank you to the CA Disability Services Association for your advocacy and for awarding me the 2026 Legislative Leadership Award!

03/11/2026

March is Developmental Disability Awareness Month and we're celebrating how we always do: advocacy! Today, CDSA members, self-advocates, families, and direct support professionals are spreading awareness at the State Capitol. They're in meetings with all 120 state legislators.

This good-looking group got trained on advocacy skills and public policy issues yesterday. Tag yourself and your organization if you were in this crowd!

02/19/2026

CDSA Executive Director Barry Jardini is emceeing the next installment of our LantermanCoalition conversations with candidates for California Governor! We will be hosting California State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond on Monday, February 23 at 2:00 pm PST!

REGISTER NOW: https://cal-dsa.org/CAGovLC

Hosted by the Lanterman Coalition, this forum is part of a statewide nonpartisan interview series. The live webinar will include a Q&A, with the opportunity for attendees to submit questions.

We will ask every candidate the same questions about how they will protect and strengthen the promise of the Lanterman Act. This landmark civil rights law guarantees services and supports for Californians with intellectual and developmental disabilities. In the face of federal changes and growing uncertainty, candidates will share how they plan to preserve California’s commitment to disability rights, essential services, dignity, and inclusion.

Check out the complete series and register for future events: https://TheLantermanCoalition.org/Events

02/18/2026

The next installment of our LantermanCoalition conversations with candidates for California Governor is TODAY, February 18 at 1:00 pm PST! This session will feature former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio R. Villaraigosa.

REGISTER NOW: https://cal-dsa.org/CAGovLC

Hosted by the Lanterman Coalition, this forum is part of a statewide nonpartisan interview series. The live webinar will include a Q&A, with the opportunity for attendees to submit questions.

We will ask every candidate the same questions about how they will protect and strengthen the promise of the Lanterman Act. This landmark civil rights law guarantees services and supports for Californians with intellectual and developmental disabilities. In the face of federal changes and growing uncertainty, candidates will share how they plan to preserve California’s commitment to disability rights, essential services, dignity, and inclusion.

Check out the complete series and register for future events: https://TheLantermanCoalition.org/Events

02/09/2026

The next installment of our LantermanCoalition conversations with candidates for California Governor is this Friday, February 13 at 1:00 pm PST! CDSA Executive Director Barry Jardini will be interviewing former US Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra.

REGISTER NOW: https://cal-dsa.org/CAGovLC

Hosted by the Lanterman Coalition, this forum is part of a statewide nonpartisan interview series. The live webinar will include a Q&A, with the opportunity for attendees to submit questions.

We will ask every candidate the same questions about how they will protect and strengthen the promise of the Lanterman Act. This landmark civil rights law guarantees services and supports for Californians with intellectual and developmental disabilities. In the face of federal changes and growing uncertainty, candidates will share how they plan to preserve California’s commitment to disability rights, essential services, dignity, and inclusion.

Check out the complete series and register for future events: https://TheLantermanCoalition.org/Events

01/26/2026

Join CDSA and the LantermanCoalition today at 2:00 pm PST to kick off our conversations with candidates for California Governor! CDSA Executive Director Barry Jardini will be interviewing former California State Controller Betty Yee for California.

REGISTER NOW: bit.ly/GovernorCandidatesCA

Hosted by the Lanterman Coalition, this forum is part of a statewide nonpartisan interview series. The live webinar will include a Q&A, with the opportunity for attendees to submit questions.

We will ask every candidate the same questions about how they will protect and strengthen the promise of the Lanterman Act. This landmark civil rights law guarantees services and supports for Californians with intellectual and developmental disabilities. In the face of federal changes and growing uncertainty, candidates will share how they plan to preserve California’s commitment to disability rights, essential services, dignity, and inclusion.

Check out the complete series and register for future events: https://TheLantermanCoalition.org/Events