About DisCo at the Capitol
The California Disability Advocacy annual conference on Day 1 inspires, educates, and empowers attendees to become advocates for Californians with developmental disabilities. The conference is presented by The Arc of California, Easterseals, and United Cerebral Palsy. Each year, the conference features nationally-known speakers who have been trailblazers who promote policies that improve the disability system, enabling people with disabilities to live inclusively in their communities. Attendees include individuals with disabilities, their families and support staff, service providers and regional center employees, governmental officials, educators, and other leaders and advocates within the disability community.
Join us on Day 2 for our second annual DisCo at the Capitol FREE event bringing together hundreds of disability advocates and professionals across California. The FREE event will be held on the West Steps of the California state Capitol on April 2, 2025. Attendees will hear from inspiring keynote speakers and trailblazers in the disability field, and meet with legislators to advocate for continued progress and resources for the community.
10:00 AM – 4:30 PM (Evening Reception 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM)
SOLD OUT!
Advocacy Conference – Nationally-known speakers who have been trailblazers for promoting policies that improve the disability system will join us to discuss a variety of timely and important topics of interest to Californian’s disability community.
Following these expert-led discussions, we invite you to an evening reception at 5:30 PM at the California Museum. This special gathering promises to be an unforgettable experience, providing an opportunity to network and celebrate our shared mission.
8:30 AM – 4:00 PM
FREE!
Capitol Rally & DisCo – March to meet with your legislators, share your stories and advocate for policies that improve the disability system, and access to vital services and supports. Attendees will also enjoy a silent DisCo experience.
Sponsorship Opportunities
We are excited to announce the following presenters:
(In order of appearance)
Tony Thurmond
California State Superintendent of Public Instruction
Katy Neas
CEO, The Arc of the United States
Nic Novicki
Founder and Director, Easterseals Disability Film Challenge
Toni Atkins
Candidate for Governor and former Democratic leader of the California Senate
Tiffany Yu
Founder & CEO, Diversability
Season Goodpasture
Founder & Executive Director, Acorns to Oak Trees
Kim Johnson
Secretary, California Health and Human Services Agency
Nicole Adler
Disability Rights Advocate & Co-Host
Kecia Weller
Disability Justice Activist
Mark Klaus
Executive Director, San Diego Regional Center
Marty Omoto
Director, CDCAN
Joe Perales
Director, El Arc de California
Jordan Lindsey
Executive Director, The Arc of California & Host of DisCo
Amy Westling
Executive Director, Association of Regional Center Agencies
Barry Jardini
Executive Director, CA Disability Services Association
Lendy Ruano
Director, Easterseals Southern California
Special Performance
ACCESS Dance is a nonprofit 501c3 adaptive dance program for children and adults with disabilities. It is one of the largest and longest running adaptive dance programs in the country. ACCESS is designed especially for people who may need special attention in order to fully experience the joy of movement, self-expression and the therapeutic benefits of dance.
Program
April 1, 2025
California Disability Community Advocacy Day
- 10:00 a.m. – Check in
- 11:00 a.m. – 11:10 a.m. – Program begins
- 11:10 a.m. – 11:20 a.m. – Special Appearance: 2025 Special Education Outlook (Tony Thurmond, California State Superintendent of Public Instruction)
- 11:20 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. – Session 1: Navigating Change: The Impact of Medicaid Cuts and Education Department Closures on Individuals with Disabilities and Their Families (Katy Neas, CEO, The Arc of the United States)
- 12:00 p.m. – 12:30 p.m. – Special Appearance: Authentic Representation In Hollywood (Nic Novicki, Founder and Director, Easterseals Disability Film Challenge)
- 12:30 p.m. – 12:50 p.m. – Lunch
- 12:50 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. – Special Appearance: Disability Champion Award (Toni Atkins, Candidate for Governor and former Democratic leader of the California Senate)
- 1:05 p.m. – 1:45 p.m. – Session 2: Becoming Anti-Ableist: Smashing Stereotypes and Forging Change (“Tiffany Yu, Founder & CEO, Diversability)
- 1:45 p.m. – 2:05 p.m. – California Disability Innovation in Advocacy Award (Season Goodpasture, Founder & Executive Director, Acorns to Oak Trees)
- 2:05 p.m. – 2:15 p.m. – Break
- 2:15 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. – Session 4: Master Plan for Developmental Services Update & What’s Next (Kim Johnson, Secretary, California Department of Health and Human Services & Mark Klaus, Executive Director, San Diego Regional Center & Marty Omoto, Director of California Disability Community Action Network & Kecia Weller, Disability Justice Activist and Moderator & Joe Perales, Director, El Arc de California)
- 3:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. – Session 5: Advocacy Day & State Priorities (PANEL: Lanterman Coalition Co-Chairs Barry Jardini, Executive Director, California Disability Services Association // Jordan Lindsey, Executive Director, The Arc & UCP California Collaboration // Amy Westling, Executive Director, The Association of Regional Center Agencies)
- 3:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. – Call to Action
10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
California State Capitol, West Steps
1315 10th St, Sacramento, CA 95814
April 1, 2025
California Museum Reception
- 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. – Reception with Legislators (Ticketed Event)
5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
CA Museum
1020 O St, Sacramento, CA 95814
April 2, 2025
DisCo At The Capitol
- 8:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. – Check in / Refreshments
- 9:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. – Welcome
- 10:00 a.m. – March to Swing Space
- 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 a.m. – Legislative Meetings
- 12:30 p.m. – Lunch / Silent DisCo!
- 1:30 p.m. – Walk to Swing Space
- 2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. – Legislative Meetings
- 4:00 p.m. – End program / Raffle
8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
West Steps – State Capitol
1315 10th St, Sacramento, CA 95814
*The event will have ASL interpreters and Spanish translation available. For additional questions about ADA accommodations, please click HERE to submit an inquiry.
Thank you to our sponsors:
CHAMPION:
AKT Community for Health and Independence
ADVOCATE:
Association of Regional Center Agencies (ARCA)
SUPPORTER:
Chick-fil-A
Tierra del Sol Foundation
PARTNER:
The Arc of San Diego
California Issues Forum
California State Council of Laborers
College of Adaptive Arts
Electrical Industry Advancement Program for IBEW Local Union 302
FASD Network of Southern California
Home of Guiding Hands
Jazz Pharmaceuticals
LA Metro
Mutual of America
Nor Cal Carpenters Union
Operating Engineers Local 3
PathPoint
Pediatric Day Health Care Coalition
UC Davis Mind Institute
UCP of The North Bay
BENEFACTOR:
Phillip Chen
Jim Frazier
Pat & Tim Hornbecker
Julius & Betsy Katz
The Honorable Assembly Member Tom Lackey
Amy Nishimura
The Honorable Assembly Member Anthony Rendon
The Honorable Assembly Member Eloise Gómez Reyes
Felisa Strickland
Presented By:
The Arc of California promotes and protects the human rights of people with disabilities and actively supports their full inclusion and participation in the community throughout their lifetimes.
For more than 100 years, Easterseals Southern California has been leading the way to full equity, inclusion and access through life-changing disability and community services.
California affiliates of United Cerebral Palsy is a nationwide network of organizations providing support and services to children and adults with disabilities to live a “Life Without Limits”.