Background
The California Department of Developmental Disabilities (CDDS) is responsible for overseeing the coordination and delivery of services and supports to more than 400,000 Californians with developmental disabilities including cerebral palsy, intellectual disability, autism, epilepsy and related conditions. The state’s service system is designed to meet the needs and choices of individuals at each stage of their lives, and, to the extent possible, serve them in their home communities, providing choices that are reflective of lifestyle, cultural and linguistic backgrounds.
The Service, Access, & Equity (SAE) Grant Program annually awards Regional Centers and community-based organizations to implement strategies to reduce disparities and increase equity in regional center services.
Navigating Change Grant Award: In January 2025, the Social Policy Institute was awarded an SAE grant to develop and implement a program designed to support and improve the experiences of Transition Age Youth (16-22) with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (I/DD), specifically focusing on non-white, non-English speaking families.
One of SDRC’s greatest identified needs is partnering with youth and their families to engage in transition planning. The transition process can be filled with a lot of emotions and can feel very overwhelming, so the goals of this program are to:
- Embolden families for proactive transition preparation
- Address cultural stigmas and barriers to utilizing services
- Connect and build trust with families, especially through shared culture
Navigating Change Program
Navigating Change is a free, 3-month hybrid program that supports any youth with an I/DD who is transitioning from high school and their families, including current Regional Center clients between the ages of 16–22. The first English speaking cohort will launch in August 2025 North County (Escondido, San Marcos, Vista). The second Spanish speaking cohort will launch in September 2025. This program will expand to other parts of San Diego County throughout 2025-2026. Over the course of the program, participants will
- Attend an in-person kickoff event to share experiences, challenges, and hopes.
- Enroll in the Home of Guiding Hands 6-week Life Planning Series (2.5-hour classes every other week) to develop a Life Plan for specific next steps.
- Receive access to self-paced virtual trainings and peer support groups.
- Be paired with a designated program Navigator who will check in regularly, share resources, and help with referrals.
SPI will launch cohorts for the following language and cultural needs: Arabic, Mandarin, Vietnamese, and/or Tagalog. If you are interested in joining a cohort, sign up here (English & Spanish)
If you are interested in becoming a Navigator, sign up here.
Navigating Lunch and Learn Webinar Series
This is an 8-part series designed to provide professionals working with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities helpful information during your lunch hour. Each webinar will be 30 – 45 minutes long, and the speakers for this series will be local professionals who have dedicated their lives and careers to supporting and advocating for those in the I/DD community.
Our 2026 calendar will be released during Fall 2025.
- September 9th at Noon Webinar: Register here
- November 4th at Noon Webinar: Register here
View prior recorded sessions.
Sign up for In the Loop: I/DD Progress for Wellness, a monthly highlight from the Social Policy Institute dedicated to keeping you informed and engaged with the latest developments affecting individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (I/DD).
In the Loop provides a clear, accessible snapshot of key news, policy changes, and pressing issues – all in one place. Whether you’re a family member, service provider, advocate, or policymaker, I/DD Progress for Wellness is designed to help you stay connected, informed, and involved.
Youth and Family Resource Guide
To further support participants and their families, we created this Youth and Family Resource Guide as a centralized tool for navigating local supports and services. This guide includes a wide range of resources curated to reflect the needs and interests of the community. Because we believe the best resource guides are built collaboratively, we invite participants, families, and community partners to share additional resources with us so we can continue to grow this guide together. Please email us at: socialpolicyinstitute@sdsu.edu.
To learn more about Navigating Change, contact Lori Clarke or Yvonne Epps
Contact SPI Director, Lori Clarke | lsclarke@sdsu.edu
Contact Program Manager, Yvonne Epps | yepps@sdsu.edu