As 2025 ends, we’ve been thinking about the moments we shared with you and the progress we have made together.
The year started with unimaginable loss as wildfires upended the lives of Southern California families. Even now, many families are still working through the loss and instability that followed. Yet Californians are resilient. And our community stepped up in a big way this year.
Service coordinators like Felicia Romero stepped in to support people through the immediate wildfire crisis and the long recovery ahead. We also saw the opening of new homes, long-term plans take shape, culture and identity celebrated, expanded access to care, and inclusive workplaces thrive. All of this work happened with you and because of you.
Here are some quick highlights of that work:
- Collected your input on the Life Outcomes Improvement System (LOIS) project and created a Request for Information (RFI). LOIS will be a new, online system for case management and financial Information. It will improve support, communication, information-sharing, and data tracking across our regional centers
- Published the Master Plan for Developmental Services shaped by people with lived experience. Now everyone can share what they’re doing to implement its recommendations
- Expanded affordable and accessible housing through new developments and community partnerships
- Advanced to the final phase of rate reform and made significant progress with a new statewide Provider Directory
- Continued employment efforts, including partnering with Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) and the Department of Education, and with CalAble, DOR, and TKMomentum for the first hiring job fair at Alta California Regional Center
- Expanded workforce initiatives, with outreach through programs like the DSP internship
- Strengthened community connections through stories, events, and collaboration across all 21 regional centers
- Governor Newsom signed several new bills into law that support and improve services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
You can read a longer list of accomplishments in this presentation—we all should celebrate these things we did together! We are excited for the work ahead. Today we’re calling on you, individuals, families, self-advocates, regional center staff, service providers, and community partners, to stay engaged with us to keep building a more inclusive California for ALL.
“Whatever your beliefs, traditions, values, and practices are this time of year, December marks the last month of 2025. I hope year-end brings you much joy from the people and things that matter to you! We are grateful for your partnership in everything done to improve outcomes for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities”, says Pete Cervinka, DDS Director.