California Department of Developmental Services

California Department of Developmental Services Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from California Department of Developmental Services, Disability service, 1215 O Street, Sacramento, CA.

DDS ensures that Californians who have an intellectual or developmental disability have the opportunity to make choices and lead independent, productive lives as members of their communities in the least restrictive setting possible.

09/08/2025

September 7-13 is Direct Support Professional (DSP) Recognition Week and DDS is celebrating all week long by featuring some incredible individuals working every day to support individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities!

🔑 For Gary Lewis, every moment on the job is a chance to open doors to independence, growth, and confidence.

Gary doesn’t just support people with their jobs — he's there for each person as they grow in every part of life. From teaching workplace skills to building confidence and communication, Gary’s care and dedication leave a lasting impact on the people he supports, their families, and their communities.

This year, The Arc of San Diego recognized Gary’s achievements by nominating him for the statewide DSP Empowerment Awards from California Disability Services Association (CDSA). His work shows what it means to truly put people first.

We are so grateful for Gary’s passion, wisdom, and heart for his role as a direct support professional. Thank you, Gary, for making a difference every day. 👏

🎥 Watch our short interview with Gary to hear in his own words what brings meaning to this important work.

Thank you to The Arc of San Diego and CDSA for celebrating the incredible contributions of DSPs across the state.

September is National Deaf Awareness Month! And what a better way to kick off the month than by celebrating the opening...
09/02/2025

September is National Deaf Awareness Month!

And what a better way to kick off the month than by celebrating the opening of Bleu Moon Living, a Deaf-centered and Deaf-led home for the DeafPlus community in Newark. A first for California!

The home will be for people supported by the Regional Center of the East Bay.

“This home is more than just a building,” said Stefanie Ellis-Gonzales (first picture above), one of the administrators. “For far too long, DeafPlus individuals have been placed in settings that weren’t designed for them, leaving them isolated, disconnected and misunderstood.”

With ASL-fluent staff, Deaf Space design, and features like visual intercoms, bed shakers, and indicator lights, Bleu Moon Living is a safe, inclusive place where residents can thrive.

Discover more about this milestone and California’s growing housing options in our Bridges Newsletter: https://www.dds.ca.gov/newsletter/a-new-housing-option-for-the-deafplus-community-in-the-east-bay/

We're excited to be at 39th Annual Supported Life Institute Conference on October 9-10 in Sacramento!Department staff wi...
08/29/2025

We're excited to be at 39th Annual Supported Life Institute Conference on October 9-10 in Sacramento!

Department staff will be there to answer your questions and share resources.

Stop by our table to learn more about:
• The Offices of the Ombudspersons
• Competitive Integrated Employment supports
• DSP Internship Program
• Transition for school-age individuals into adult living, and community inclusion
• How to support every individual with developmental disabilities and their families receive fair, inclusive, and culturally responsive services

Hope to see you there!

Photo: Ombudsperson Katie Homberger (left) and Associate Governmental Program Analyst Leslie Garcia at last year's conference.

đź“Ł Service providers: the DSP Internship Program is here to help you build stronger teams with dedicated, passionate inte...
08/28/2025

đź“Ł Service providers: the DSP Internship Program is here to help you build stronger teams with dedicated, passionate interns.

Every day, Direct Support Professionals make a difference, supporting daily routines, building independence, and creating community connections.

The program connects providers with engaged candidates, covers hiring costs, and makes it easier to grow your workforce. Chris Martin, Executive Director of UCP of Stanislaus
called it “a game-changer” for building strong, reliable teams.

📸 These photos from United Cerebral Palsy of Stanislaus County show just a few of the many ways DSPs support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities at home, at work, and in the community:
1. DSP Chris stands with Elisa at the beach
2. DSP Damian and Andres enjoy some pool time
3. DSP Adan supports as Amanda gets on a bus lift

Ready to turn interns into essential employees? Want to see how other providers are finding success through the DSP Internship Program? Learn more in our Bridges Newsletter: https://www.dds.ca.gov/newsletter/service-providers-the-dsp-internship-program-makes-growing-skilled-teams-easier-and-faster/

🏠 15 new affordable homes are now open for Californians with intellectual and developmental disabilities!South River Vil...
08/27/2025

🏠 15 new affordable homes are now open for Californians with intellectual and developmental disabilities!

South River Village Apartments in Oceanside includes 43 total affordable units, with 15 reserved for individuals and families receiving services with San Diego Regional Center.

“We really want to see individuals we serve be in a safe environment, where they are part of the community and have access to activities that are around them,” said Kate Kinnamont, SDRC’s Assistant Executive Director.

One new resident summed it up: “It feels amazing. I love it so much.”

See how California is expanding housing opportunities in our Bridges Newsletter: https://www.dds.ca.gov/newsletter/15-new-affordable-housing-units-for-people-supported-by-san-diego-regional-center/

Pictured: Mayor Esther Sanchez cuts ceremonial ribbon during South River Village Apartments grand opening in Oceanside on August 7, 2025.

🎒✨ Back-to-school spirit was strong at Harbor Regional Center (Harbor) Annual Backpack Giveaway!Staff and volunteers pac...
08/22/2025

🎒✨ Back-to-school spirit was strong at Harbor Regional Center (Harbor) Annual Backpack Giveaway!

Staff and volunteers packed and distributed 200 backpacks at the Torrance campus on August 12, with another 200 on the way to students who couldn’t attend. Over 80 families stopped by to gear up for an exciting new school year.

📸 Snapshots of the event:
1️. Volunteers from Social Vocational Services helping pack supplies
2️. Hector from 24 Hour Home Care dropping off backpacks
3️. A Harbor Regional Center staff member sharing a smile with a young visitor

Events like these are just one way Harbor supports children and families. Year-round, service coordinators help with IEP meetings, connect parents with advocacy resources, and guide students in transition programs (ages 18–22) to explore work experience opportunities.

Here’s to a fantastic 2025–26 school year filled with learning, growth, and new opportunities!

Read more in our Bridges Newsletter: https://www.dds.ca.gov/newsletter/harbor-regional-centers-annual-backpack-giveaway-was-a-huge-hit/

Thank you to ALL who shared their input on the new LOIS project at our FIRST town hall for individuals & families today!...
08/22/2025

Thank you to ALL who shared their input on the new LOIS project at our FIRST town hall for individuals & families today!đź‘Ť Held at Alta California Regional Center in Sacramento, we heard lots of great ideas and feedback about how LOIS can be an online system that better supports individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, their families, regional centers and service providers.

Ready to share your ideas? Register today to join one of the in-person LOIS town halls for individuals and families coming soon across California:

đź“ŚBerkeley: August 25th
đź“ŚFresno: September 11th
đź“ŚPomona: September 16th
đź“ŚSan Diego: September 23rd

Visit the Department's event stakeholder page or www.dds.ca.gov/LOIS to learn more. We hope to see you there!

Not sure what LOIS is? It's also known as the Life Outcomes Improvement System! LOIS is a multi-year project that will replace the outdated technology used to manage services and supports for Californians with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

The Special Needs Network (SNN) is helping improve access to services for foster youth and their families within the reg...
08/12/2025

The Special Needs Network (SNN) is helping improve access to services for foster youth and their families within the regional center system in Los Angeles County. SNN is a California-based nonprofit that has worked with DDS since 2017 through the Access and Equity Grant Program.

After years of advocacy with SNN, foster youth now have a new Medi-Cal benefit to access care more directly. Since July 1, 2025, the new Fee-for-Service Behavioral Health Treatment benefit removes barriers and helps families get the support they need.

Visit the Department's Bridges Newsletter web page to read more about our partner SNN and its advocacy for access to care and services. https://www.dds.ca.gov/newsletter

Photo: From left to right: Edguin Castellanos, Juan Carlos Garcia, Krystal Williams, DDS's Service Access & Equity Manager Shanola Harvey, and Ingrid Rivera-Guzman during a Community Site Visit on June 17, 2025.

When Brooklynn moved to LA, she didn’t know where to turn for autism support for her son Shakeur. Help Me Grow LA (HMG L...
08/05/2025

When Brooklynn moved to LA, she didn’t know where to turn for autism support for her son Shakeur. Help Me Grow LA (HMG LA), a collaboration between First 5 LA and Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, connected her to a Family Partner who guided her to reach her local regional center, apply for medical and Social Security benefits, and find housing and food resources.

HMG LA’s Family Partners work closely with parents and caregivers to connect them to local programs and services.

Help Me Grow California is now in 32 counties across our state.

To see if your county offers Help Me Grow, visit: https://helpmegrownational.org/affiliates/ca/hmg-california/

07/26/2025

Today we celebrate 35 years of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). On Tuesday, July 22, 2025, Tim Jin delivered a powerful speech alongside leaders from California Health & Human Services Agency, Department of Developmental Services, California Department of Rehabilitation, California Department of Social Services, and Disability Rights California at the steps of the State Capitol in Sacramento, California to commemorate the 35th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Tim acknowledged influential leaders and movements whose activism, courage, and collective action helped the ADA to become law, including:

• Ed Roberts: A pioneer of the independent living movement, who showed the world that disability is not a limitation, but part of human diversity.
• Judy Heumann: Brought disability rights into the national spotlight with powerful advocacy and an unshakable commitment to justice.
• 504 Sit-In (1977) and Capitol Crawl (1990): Forced the nation to confront the barriers and discrimination faced by people with disabilities.

He also paid tribute to Richard Devylder, a powerful advocate both in California and at the national level, for playing a key role in the movement. For Tim, Richard was a personal friend and mentor during his college years.

Tim Jin, born with cerebral palsy, is a passionate advocate for the rights of people with speech-related disabilities to access the communication tools and support they deserve. Since the 1980s, he has relied on an augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) device, giving him a unique perspective on the importance of inclusive technology.

Tim currently serves as a Community Program Specialist II at the California Department of Developmental Services in their Self-Determination Team, writing policy work. A graduate of California State University, Long Beach, with a degree in speech communication, he lives in Southern California and embraces a self-determined life.

Valley Mountain Regional Center (VMRC), serves over 22,000 people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Am...
07/24/2025

Valley Mountain Regional Center (VMRC), serves over 22,000 people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Amador, Calaveras, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, and Tuolumne counties. This Disability Pride Month, VMRC is celebrating the accomplishments of talented artist Kimo Kamakaalohaamailkalani (James T. Briones).

Kimo is known for being an all-around amazing person who cares about clients’ rights and being a business owner and creating beautiful artwork. Kimo participates in his day program at ARC of Amador in Calaveras. He loves helping his peers and finds great joy in self-advocacy.

Born and raised in the South Bay Area, Kimo is of Native Hawaiian and Filipino heritage. Kimo began painting as a child alongside his twin brother. By his junior year of high school, Kimo was deeply committed to his craft. He was inspired by love of seeing color in his painting. His favorite painting was “Love is All” which was also printed as greeting card.

With encouragement from the late Wilma Murray of VMRC and support from Dena Hernandez, Regional Manager of California State Council on Developmental Disabilities, Kimo launched his own micro-business successfully marketing and selling his artwork.

He enjoys running a business though he notes it takes patience and dedication. People always ask if his artwork is original and he is proud to share that all pieces are from his own artwork and one-of-a kind. Kimo is a talented artist with a passion for photography and especially enjoys capturing sunrises during his visits to home to Hawaii.

Check out Kimo’s art at: https://fineartamerica.com/profiles/james-briones

Learn more about the support and services offered by VMRC at: https://www.vmrc.net/

Celebrating 35 years of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in Sacramento today! 🎉We were happy to see such a big ...
07/23/2025

Celebrating 35 years of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in Sacramento today! 🎉

We were happy to see such a big crowd and grateful to hear from so many about how the ADA has made an impact in their life.

As DDS Community Program Specialist Tim Jin said, "As we look ahead to the next 35 years, I hope we’ll be celebrating the American with Disabilities Act not only as a landmark law, but as a symbol of how far we’ve come. Just a footnote in history books that mark the beginning of true inclusion for all."

Here's to the work ahead over the next 35 years!

Address

1215 O Street
Sacramento, CA
95814

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Website

https://www.dds.ca.gov/newsletter

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