Our team has gathered a wealth of information for caregivers all in one place. Please access and share this valuable resource.

Advocacy & Civic Engagement

  • The Statewide Self-Advocacy Network will connect self-advocates, their communities and statewide organizations to increase leadership by persons with disabilities.

  • The Center for Self-Determination is devoted to working within the public and private sector to move power and authority over resources directly to individuals with disabilities, families and allies.

  • American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD) promotes progressive policies, research, effective practices, and universal human rights (including right to self-determination).

Aging & End of Life

  • This post describes the end of life journey of a person from the IDD community from the perspective of a sibling.

  • The information in this website portal may help you, as an autistic adult, cope with and communicate your grief and loss. Choose from written material, videos, and social stories.

Caregiver Connections & Wellness

  • This program helps people get paid as caregivers for family members; some government programs pay family and friends of people with disabilities to help with daily activities including personal care, giving medicine, cooking, cleaning, and more.

  • CA website about family caregivers getting paid by the state to provide in-home care to disabled people.

  • A non-profit organization providing education, peer support, and resources to family caregivers across the country free of charge.

Decision-Making & Legal Planning

  • SDP provides individuals and their families with more freedom, control, and responsibility in choosing services and supports to help them meet objectives in their Individual Program Plan

  • What is Supported Decision-Making? Think about how YOU make decisions: when you have to make a choice about something you're not familiar with, or when you think you need some advice, or when you just want to “talk it out,” what do you do?

  • A conservatorship is a court process where a judge decides whether you can care for your own health, food, clothing, shelter, finances, or personal needs. A judge can take some of these important rights away from you. Learn more about your rights by visiting disabilityrights.org.

  • The Statewide Self-Advocacy Network will connect self-advocates, their communities and statewide organizations to increase leadership by persons with disabilities.

  • SCDD is a self-determination or self-advocacy program in CA. When person with disabilities wants to manage own budget and services.

Employment & Volunteering

  • The California Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) works in partnership with consumers and other stakeholders to provide services and advocacy resulting in employment, independent living, and equality for individuals with disabilities.

  • SE services are aimed at finding competitive work in a community integrated work setting for persons with severe disabilities who need ongoing support services to learn and perform the work.

  • A detailed guide for people receiving regional center services on how to gain employment.

  • ThinkWork! is a blog that provides employment successes of people with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) who are working in paid jobs in their communities.

Financial Planning

  • If you have a disability, you may be eligible for benefits through Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI).

  • The CalABLE program enables Californians and out-of-state residents the ability to save for disability-related expenses by putting money in tax-advantaged investments, while protecting their eligibility for means-tested public benefits programs.

  • A Special Needs Trust (SNT) allows for a disabled person to maintain his or her eligibility for public assistance benefits, despite having assets that would otherwise make the person ineligible for those benefits.

Future Planning Tools

  • The Learning Community for Person Centered Practices is an international community of volunteers that organized themselves to promote the use of person-centered practices globally. We strive to be diverse, inclusive, and accessible so that people with lived experiences of disability, family members, advocates, professionals, and all others can participate.

  • Disability Benefits While Working explains how you may be able to continue receiving government disability benefits while holding a paying job.

Generic Resources

  • For help with navigating special education in CA, the California Department of Education website, select your county, find your contact person assigned to your school. Call them if any questions at the county SELPA level. Ask to get on SELPA email list for free parent trainings that include lunch, webinars, and resource fairs on special education topics like IEP, due process, behavioral issues, and working with your district on IEP issues.

  • California Regional Centers provide assessments, determine eligibility for services, and offer case management services and located across the state. Regional centers also develop, purchase, and coordinate the services in each person’s Individual Program Plan.

Health & Safety

  • HealthMatters Program is a collaboration between University of Illinois at Chicago and six states (Alaska, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, and North Carolina) that aims to improve the health of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (DD).

  • COVID-19 vaccination support for people with disabilities. The hotline can also connect callers to services that promote independent living and address fundamental needs like food, housing, and transportation.

  • California Healthcare Advocates is the leading Medicare advocacy and education non-profit in California discussing eligibility, rights, services, equipment, and access.

  • This resource gives detailed steps and tips to prevent loss of Medical coverage.

Housing Support

  • If you need housing assistance or are looking for services that help people with disabilities or older adults with everyday activities, these programs and resources may be able to help. All of the programs and resources on this page are operated or funded by the federal government.

  • DHA is a newly formed group of parents and family members, self-advocates, and organizations who are dedicated to increasing housing options for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).

  • LHA is a statewide organization that serves as a catalyst for the creation of affordable, supportive housing for Californians with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

  • This guide can help you search for housing options and keeps you informed.

Public Benefits

Relationships & Sexuality

  • A disabled advocate's guide to relationships, romance, sexuality, and sexual health developed by UCSF.

  • This article published by the World Institute on Disability gives insight into what dating life is for a person of the IDD community and provides helpful tips.

  • This resource provides information on a full quality of life for a person with a disability may include a person’s ability to exercise choice in the development of personal relationships and the expression of one’s sexuality.

Social Recreation

  • A non-profit statewide association that supports the development of adult day services as an alternative to institutional care and lists all the day programs available in CA.

  • A company based out of Oregon, USA that helps people with disabilities go on group trips and travel the world just like their peers.

  • Special Olympics Northern California provides free year-round programs for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. We offer training and competitions in 11 sports, inclusive schools programs, health & wellness activities, leadership training and more.

  • Special Olympics Southern California offers 13 sports across 4 seasons, serving thousands of athletes in community and school-based programs in 11 counties. It also offers opportunities for athletes to improve their overall health and wellness, gain leadership skills and much more. These programs are supported by a passionate community including more than 50 employees, thousands of volunteers, SOSC’s valued partners and donors, and the community at large.

  • A fully accessible campground serving campers of all ages and abilities for nearly 60 years.

Transition to Adulthood

  • A resource containing helpful questions and needs addressed for IDD Youths transitioning into adulthood; further info on jobs, housing, college, emergency preparedness in CA.

  • A guide developed by UCSF which details what the transition into adulthood for a person with a disability may look like and how the support systems in their lives can help through this transition.