Nearly 50 years ago, Project Independence was founded on a belief that was far from universally accepted at the time: people with developmental disabilities should have the opportunity to leave institutional settings, live more independently, and become active members of their communities. That belief has guided Project Independence since 1977. Today, the people we serve live in their own homes and apartments, work at businesses throughout Orange County, shop ...

Inclusion in education doesn't end at high school. For adults with developmental disabilities in California, access to meaningful college experiences is expanding, but advocacy is still key to making it truly inclusive. Programs like Think by the Bay at Cal State East Bay are opening doors for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities to attend college alongside their peers. But when students in that program were recently excluded from participating ...

Orange County Rally to Save Medicaid! Right now, there’s a lot of talk in Congress about cutting Medicaid (which is called MediCal in California) —and that could hit people with developmental disabilities especially hard. If Medicaid gets cut, people with developmental disabilities could lose access to the healthcare they depend on every single day. We're talking about things like doctor visits, medications, therapy, and even basic preventive care. Without Medicaid, ...

California released a comprehensive plan last month aimed at reducing service barriers and enhancing support in employment, education, transportation, and health for individuals with developmental disabilities. The Master Plan is all about making life better and more independent for people with developmental disabilities in California. It aims to improve access to services like housing, healthcare, education, and jobs — and make those services more person-centered and easier to navigate. It ...

Beginning in 2022, the state of California started implementing a new rate reform plan for developmental disability service providers, rolling it out in phases. The new reform system is essentially a guide that tells the state how much to pay disability service providers for the work they do. The rate reform plan was designed to gradually increase what the state pays disability service providers, which is great in theory because ...

If you’ve been hearing about budget cuts happening in the Social Security Administration and feeling worried, take a deep breath—advocates are stepping up to protect your rights. Groups like AAPD and Justice in Aging are fighting back because they know how critical these services are for people with  disabilities and their families. The goal of the lawsuit is to make sure the Social Security system stays accessible, fair, and fully ...

Help Save Critical Services for Californians with Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities by signing this petition / letter to Governor Newsom: Dear Governor Newsom; I am a Californian who truly cares about the wellbeing of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.  Which is why it’s unacceptable that Californians with intellectual and developmental disabilities are losing their services, families are struggling, direct support staff are leaving because of low wages and service ...