Overview

The Department of Developmental Services’ (DDS) Access and Equity (A&E) Division places community at the center of everything we do and values ongoing partnership to ensure services are equitable and person-centered. We value input from individuals, service providers, self-advocates, and community members to inform policy, program implementation, and statewide equity initiatives. The A&E Division fosters these connections by hosting collaborative spaces where our team and members of the community can come together to share insights and exchange best practices.

Click on each tab to learn more about the ways we engage with our community.

The A&E Division hosts meetings every other month for Community Based Organizations from across the state who are currently implementing Service Access and Equity (SAE) Grant projects. These meetings are designed to engage diverse community leaders in open dialogue aimed at finding new ways to expand access to supports for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). Participants share insights, highlight successful SAE project outcomes, and exchange lessons learned to strengthen collaboration across programs.

Community of Practice (COP) with Regional Centers

Community of Practice (CoP) meetings bring together professionals with similar roles or focus areas to exchange knowledge, learn from each other’s experiences, troubleshoot challenges, and build consistent practices across agencies. These meetings are designed to strengthen collective expertise and support continuous improvement statewide.

Chief Equity Officer CoP:

The Community of Practice (CoP), established in April 2025, is a collaborative space that brings together DDS leadership and regional center Chief Equity Officers (CEOs) that oversee statewide equity efforts at the executive level. The CoP supports professional development, peer collaboration, program alignment, and shared learning through dialogue. These meetings provide space to coordinate statewide equity initiatives and discuss innovative strategies that strengthen program implementation across the I/DD system. Together, members advance a unified commitment to equity and system-level improvement. The CoP meets virtually every other month and convenes in-person once a year.

DDS-Regional Center Cultural Specialist CoP:

The DDS Regional Center Cultural Specialist Community of Practice brings together Cultural Specialists from all 21 regional centers to support the statewide equity efforts established through Assembly Bill X2 1 (2016).  These positions were created to improve language access, strengthen community relationships, and reduce disparities in how services are used across California’s diverse communities.

The A&E Division hosts monthly CoP meetings, providing a space for Cultural Specialists to share strategies, discuss equity projects, and learn from one another. Twice a year, the group also meets with community-based organizations that receive Service Access and Equity grant funding from the Department to support shared equity goals. Together, this work helps improve access to services that better meet the needs of California’s diverse communities.

Focus Groups

Focus groups with Self-Advocates and Local Leaders are central to DDS’ commitment to community-centered work, offering intentional spaces where self-advocates, families, and community leaders, can share their lived experiences and ideas directly with the Department.

These conversations ensure that DDS-funded equity programs are shaped by the communities they serve. These meetings help the A&E division gain a deeper understanding of each community’s priorities and inform equitable, person-centered solutions to service barriers.

DDS Black Equity Coalition:

The Black Equity Coalition Focus group was created in July 2020, bringing together a diverse group of African American leaders who represent various parts of California’s developmental disabilities system. Driven by a commitment to justice and representation, the group works to break down disparities faced by African American families served by the developmental disabilities (DD) services system. By examining challenges in housing, public health, and education, the group elevates individual voices and creates pathways for empowerment.

DDS Latino Equity Alliance:

The DDS Hispanic/Latino Focus Group, created in May 2023, brings together many voices from the I/DD community, including self-advocates, families, community leaders, regional centers, and Department staff. The group provides a supportive space to discuss challenges such as language needs, building cultural understanding, and trust. These conversations help the Department identify solutions and strengthen access to services. This work supports ongoing efforts and investments to build a service system that reflects, respects, and uplifts Hispanic and Latino individuals and families across California.

DDS Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Community Feedback Group:

DDS’ newest focus group, the AANHPI Community Feedback Group, brings together community leaders, family members, and self-advocates to share lived experiences and help shape DDS programs and policy. This group uses a locally informed approach to build a more welcoming and culturally responsive system. Through open dialogue, participants identify what is working, uncover gaps, and brainstorm new strategies that increase pathways to success for individuals with I/DD.

Check back for updates and additional information about the AANHPI Community Feedback Group.


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Last modified: June 17, 2026