Conference Panelists

Zoe directs ACLU’s litigation and advocacy to eliminate discrimination against people with disabilities and to advance their rights and liberties. Zoe is considered a national expert on alternatives to conservatorship and has testified before the U.S. Congress. She has brought disability rights claims, including challenges to inaccessible aspects of the criminal legal system. She has also worked to protect the rights of parents with disabilities, holding the state accountable when it fails to provide legally required support before seeking to remove children from their care.

Aaron has worked in civil rights policy and programs for over twenty-five years, including as an appointee of two Governors, for California’s Attorney General, and in the State Senate and Assembly. He is currently carrying out the Council’s 2025 theme, “We’re in Charge.” Last year SCDD’s work impacted more than 9.3 million Californians. He is a child of parents with developmental and other disabilities, is a person with disabilities, and is the parent of a young man with disabilities.

Claudia supervises DREDF’s legal team and litigates cases advancing civil rights and civil liberties for people with disabilities. She also represents the disability community in legislative, policy, amicus, and appellate work.

Lisa’s journey in the disability community began as a family member and direct care provider for her autistic cousin. Supporting him gave her a deep appreciation for the importance of personalized care, advocacy, and family-centered support. Over time, she became a vendor for the regional center, providing respite care and day program services to other families. Today, she continues this work as a Financial Management Services (FMS) provider under the Self-Determination Program, helping individuals and families manage their services with flexibility and dignity.

Melissa is a writer, adventure seeker, and health advocate. She navigates the world using a purple power wheelchair and is in her fifth year in the Self-Determination Program. Melissa was co-chair of the SDP Local Advisory Committee for RCEB and now serves on multiple disability-related advocacy boards and committees. She and her husband Owen live in Oakland with two opinionated black cats and enjoy traveling, good food, and time with loved ones.

Eileen directs Family Resource Navigators, a nonprofit in Northern California serving families of children with developmental delays, social-emotional concerns, and special health care needs. She and her multicultural, multilingual peer parent staff support about 3,000 families a year, helping with community services including IEPs and IFSPs. Eileen has experience as a special education advocate, in private practice, and in higher education. She also serves on boards and teaches in special education advocacy programs.

Morgan Curtiz has worked at Far Northern Regional Center for almost 19 years and is currently the Self-Determination Program Specialist for the Chico office. She has been a part of the SDP team at Far Northern since 2017.  Morgan coordinates the Self-Determination Program to ensure that staff, families and her community are educated and empowered to be successful when participating in this service delivery system. She is also a certified Person-Centered Thinking Skills trainer and regularly trains about person-centered approaches to develop goals and supports.

Vivian leads DVU’s Supported Decision-Making Training and Information Center, which provides statewide training, resources, and public education. She is passionate about advancing equity, drawing from her experiences as a family member, disability studies researcher, and facilitator of weekly bingo for adults with I/DD. Her research has focused on conservatorship reform and SDM in healthcare. Vivian holds a B.S. in Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics and Global Health from UCLA and an MPH from CSU San Marcos.

Tina has been a participant in the Self-Determination Program since 2001 in the pilot project and practices informal supported decision-making daily. She conducts outreach and trainings for DVU on the SDP and SDM and co-leads SDP Connect and Think Outside the Box meetings. Tina is a strong self-advocate and the human member of a service dog team; her service dog’s name is Buddy. Tina is a member of the Department of Developmental Services Lived Experience Advisory Group and the Applied Self-Direction Participants Council.

Thomas is a self-advocate with a bachelor’s degree in International Relations from San Francisco State University and a minor in Criminal Justice and National Security Policy. He has been served by the regional center system for over 40 years and has participated in the Self-Determination Program for more than three years. Thomas co-chairs the San Andreas Regional Center local advisory committee, practices supported decision-making with his support circles, and mentors other self-advocates to lead self-determined lives. He has also been involved in statewide disability policy and advisory work for several years.

Gilda directs DVU’s Outreach and Leadership Training efforts, including the Emerging Leaders Program and Ambassadors Program. Gilda previously worked for almost two decades across colleges, adult day programs, and state-funded services focusing on underserved communities. Gilda holds a Master’s degree in Rehabilitation Counseling and is the mother of three children with disabilities.

Marta is the parent advocate of a creative, dynamic, and kind son with autism. She advises national and state policymakers, health care organizations, and nonprofits on programs aimed at improving health care access, equity, quality, and affordability. Marta’s favorite projects combine advocacy with her professional skills to ensure individuals with disabilities have access to high-quality, culturally competent health care services.

Madeline has been involved with CalABLE for three years, beginning with a Master of Public Health internship during which she researched how a CalABLE account can improve a person’s health. She is committed to promoting the CalABLE Program and sharing its benefits with the community..

Darlene is dedicated to empowering self-advocates to share their voices and take leadership in their communities. With extensive experience supporting individuals with communication differences, she works with students, families, and professionals to promote skills for lifelong self-advocacy. Her approach combines training, advocacy, and direct support, guided by the belief that everyone has the right to communicate, participate, and make decisions about their own lives.

Katie has spent her career working with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including teaching Early Intervention and special education, providing in-home behavioral support, and consulting for regional centers. She has worked in clients’ rights advocacy, managed programs, conducted policy work, and provided community trainings. Katie has also developed and overseen offices and programs supporting advocacy, appeals, and community assistance. She holds a B.A. in Sociology and a Juris Doctor.

Vi has served on the RCEB Local Advisory Committee for Self-Determination and the Statewide Advisory Committee since 2015. She works with the Contra Costa County Developmental Disabilities Council and is the parent of a young adult entering his sixth year in the Self-Determination Program.

Dr. Kemper has worked in special education for over 20 years and is a strong advocate for radical inclusion and autonomy for people with disabilities. She teaches future educators how to include students with disabilities, emphasizing presuming competence and that education is a right for all. Kemper is a founder of Think by the Bay, a college inclusion program for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and she is working on a grant to inform professionals about supported decision-making.

Dr. Kripke provides primary care to some of the Bay Area’s most medically and behaviorally complex adolescents and adults with developmental disabilities. She leads work in developmental primary care and is passionate about improving health care access and quality for people with disabilities.

Ayesha focuses on litigation and public policy that impact people with disabilities at DREDF. Her work includes marriage equality, decisional autonomy, access to the legal system, and AI regulation.

Miguel speaks widely about disability rights issues for DVU. He also manages programs at DVU’s sister organization, the Integrated Community Collaborative. Miguel is a “sit-down comedian” and motivational speaker living who appears widely in Southern California. Miguel lives with cerebral palsy. Find out more at ElChueco.org.

Judy identifies as a person with disabilities and is the parent of an adult son with autism who is in his 6th year in the Self-Determination Program and practices supported decision-making. She was instrumental in passing California’s Self-Determination Law in 2013 and the Supported Decision-Making Law in 2022. She leads efforts to implement both laws statewide, training thousands of individuals and families and authoring two books on the program. Judy has appeared widely in the media on disability justice issues. She is also a faculty member in UCLA’s Disability Studies Program.

Dashiell is a college student, storyteller, disability rights advocate, speaker, and filmmaker. As the National Down Syndrome Society Ambassador of the Year 2025 and Special Olympics Global Messenger, he advocates for people with disabilities in California, nationally, and internationally. In 2024, Dashiell spoke at the United Nations in New York about health equity and at the World Down Syndrome Conference in Australia. He is also an award-winning filmmaker working on a feature documentary about Trisomy 21/Down syndrome.

Peter is a disability rights advocate who works to advance equity, accessibility, and self-determination for people with developmental disabilities across California. Drawing from professional expertise and lived experience, he champions policies and programs that remove barriers and empower individuals to thrive. Peter has collaborated with state agencies, advocacy groups, and local partners to strengthen inclusion and ensure that the voices of people with disabilities guide decision-making. He is dedicated to creating a California where all individuals can live with dignity and independence.

Oscar is a 22-year old Mexican-American autistic individual served by Valley Mountain Regional Center. He resides in Tracy, California and has faced numerous academic barriers throughout his early life. Oscar now works for for the Integrated Community Collaborative, an organization working in the Latino and Spanish-speaking communities. He promotes the values of self-determination and assists individuals navigate the regional center system.

Antonio is a disability advocate and computer engineer focused on removing barriers to education for people with disabilities. His work has been featured in Insider Higher Ed and Metro News. A Stanford senior in computer science, he has conducted policy research on California’s regional centers and previously advocated for policy changes as a disabled high school student. Antonio continues to promote a more accessible world while demonstrating the importance of an inter-able society.

Alison both directs SIDDLAPP and teaches law courses including contracts, employment law, and mental health law. She has written numerous academic articles and policy reports on disability-related issues, including California’s regional center system. Her son, who has autism and serious mental illness, lives in the community and enjoys considerable day-to-day autonomy, sees his family often, and takes full advantage of the amenities the Bay Area offers.

Sherry recently retired from Kaiser Permanente, where she addressed social needs that affect health and supported community-based initiatives across 13 counties in Northern California. She previously worked with the First 5 Association of California and the Assembly Human Services Committee, focusing on child and family services, health care for low-income individuals, disability, and long-term care. Sherry is the mother of a 34-year-old daughter who is a regional center client.

Amelia has a deep passion for providing support and training to disadvantaged and underserved populations. As a longtime Alameda County resident and parent to a child with an ultra-rare genetic mutation and multiple disabilities, she understands how access to services can change people with disabilities and their caregivers’ lives. At FRN, she has done most of her work with adults with disabilities although supports people and families of all ages. With a background in housing, she can support families not only with disability services but basic needs support.

Ken is an engineer, innovation consultant, and executive advisor who has spent over 25 years developing neuro-distinct leaders and building high-performing teams. He has created several neuro-informed leadership development programs. A parent of two boys on the autism spectrum, Ken serves on advisory boards including the Stanford Autism Center, GGRC Self-Determination Local Advisory Committee, and the Stanford Neurodiversity Project. Through his advocacy, he helps create pathways and opportunities for neuro-distinct leaders to thrive.

Suzy brings over 20 years of hands-on experience within California’s regional center system, supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. She began her career as a direct support professional and has since held a variety of roles, including behavior consultation, service coordination, leadership, and policy development.

Cynthia began her career as a Deaf Services Coordinator at an Independent Living Center, discovering her passion for supporting individuals with disabilities and their communities. She joined Disability Rights California in 2006, serving individuals supported by the regional center system, and later worked on statewide special education matters. Cynthia also conducted reviews and investigations with the Office of Payee Reviews and Beneficiary Assistance to safeguard individuals and strengthen programs. She currently serves as Acting SDP Ombudsperson, a neutral role focused on program improvement, accountability, and collaboration across the system.

Michelle is the parent of three children in the Self-Determination Program and a pediatric physical therapist. She has served as an Independent Facilitator since 2017, learning the policies and processes to support her children and extending that knowledge to help others successfully enter the program. In 2024, Michelle and a colleague were awarded a SAE grant to develop training and support for parents and self-advocates in the Central Valley, with a focus on reaching underserved communities.

Nina leads DVU’s policy and legislative efforts and supports DVU programs. She is the parent of an adult son with autism and has long been active in advocacy for the East Bay autism and developmental disability communities. She helped grow the East Bay Parents Housing Network into a strong family support and education group and is currently focused on improving crisis prevention and intervention services. Before retiring in 2018, Nina served over 30 years as Associate Regional Counsel at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Pacific Southwest Office, supervising attorneys on federal environmental law.

Kavita is the parent of a neurodivergent young woman and co-founder of PRAGNYA, an organization in the Bay Area that creates real world experiences for the neurodiverse community.. She is a person-centered planner, Independent Facilitator, and has served on the San Andreas Regional Center SDP advisory committee. Kavita also serves on the stakeholder committee of the Master Plan on Developmental Services.

Kishan is the co-founder of PRAGNYA and a person-centered planner, self-determination coach, and Independent Facilitator. He is the architect of the NeuroAlly Support Program at PRAGNYA, which trains individuals to be natural allies of the neurominority community. Kishan is also a family member of a neurodiverse young woman, whom he supports through supported decision-making.

Carolyn is the mother of Marisa, who has Down syndrome. Carolyn works to organize community resources and legislative advocacy for the Down syndrome and disability communities in Tulare and Fresno counties . She helped launch the Wayfinders Program at Fresno State and has 23 years of experience as a clinical social worker, including at Valley Children’s Hospital working with transition-age youth. Carolyn serves on the board of Disability Voices United and the Central Valley Regional Center’s Local Advisory Committee. Her daughter Marisa has lived in her own home with two roommates since 2015, fully participating in the Self-Determination Program and community life.

Thao is a passionate advocate for disability rights, immigrant families, and inclusive education. She serves as an ambassador and Emerging Leaders Program Council member at Disability Voices United. Thao has spoken for the U.S. Department of Education and NCSSLE to nearly 900 attendees and is the current Champion of the Year for Best Buddies International. She empowers parents through experiential learning, uplifts immigrant voices, and instills hope in children and adults with disabilities. Her leadership emphasizes cultural humility, equity, and restorative justice.

Sandra serves as Chairperson of the Kern Regional Center SDP Local Volunteer Advisory Committee. She is also a member of the Supported Life Institute Board of Directors. In addition, Sandra works as a direct support provider for four individuals participating in the Self-Determination Program.

Rick is the parent of Davis Wood, who participated in the Kern Regional Center self-determination pilot for over 23 years before joining the statewide Self-Determination Program. A California attorney, Rick has been an active parent-advocate and speaker at state and national disability and self-determination conferences. He is a founding member of Disability Voices United and serves on statewide and local Self-Determination advisory committees. Rick lives in Mammoth Lakes, California, with his wife Cheryl and son Davis, who is 30.

Jacklyn is an autistic self-advocate with multiple co-occurring mental and physical health conditions. She is a trained LIFE Connector at PRAGNYA, supporting Mandarin-speaking individuals and families in navigating systemic supports. After losing her single mother’s support due to a stroke, Jacklyn continued learning about Self-Determination and Supported Decision-Making and now lives an empowered life of her choice with Regional Center supports. She actively advocates for neurodiversity inclusion and helps others understand the importance of empowering choice and control in their own lives.