Easterseals SoCal Speaks Out on Behalf of the Disability Community at DisCo at the Capitol

Easterseals was front and center in May for two days of advocacy, celebration and connection at the California Disability Community Advocacy Conference (DisCo) at the California State Capitol in Sacramento.

“I can’t quite find the words to fully express this incredible feeling of community, unity and strength that we experienced at DisCo,” said Lendy Ruano, Director of Person-Centered Culture and Practices for Easterseals SoCal (ESSC), who helped organize the participation of ESSC, an official presenter of the event.

“Seeing people come together, find their voices and support one another in such a powerful way was both humbling and inspiring,” she continued. “It reminded me why this work matters so much.”

The Voices that Matter Most

Utilizing a wheelchair and ABC Writes to help communicate, Valerie has been a participant in ESSC’s Glendale Adult Day Services program for 11 years. She was able to begin living independently for the first time last year when she also began receiving services from Living Options and moved into residential care in Pasadena—achieving a longtime, personal goal.

As a member of ESSC’s Our Voices Matter committee, supporting Easterseals disability advocacy efforts, she was eager to lend her voice at DisCo. “It felt powerful to talk to legislators,” said Valerie, who wrote her own speech and delivered it in her own voice, with help from a translator.

As part of her remarks, Valerie told them, “My story is one of many that depended on the Medi-Cal funds to live a safe and independent lifestyle. Without Medi-Cal benefits, I would be deprived of accessible healthcare, medical equipment and programs that benefit my independent lifestyle. I’ve worked hard to advocate for myself and have a voice of my own.”

Xochitl Raygoza, Valerie’s Life Skills Coach who accompanied her on the trip, said, “Valerie had the opportunity to use her voice, and, by using her voice, she achieves her goals and is able to help decide things for her future. We saw so many amazing people who shared their stories and it was awesome. Different lives, different stories—one goal.”

A Time of Celebration

While the tone of the conference was serious, an opening-night mixer, a luncheon under the Big Tent on the Capitol lawn and a closing reception—which included an awards presentation—were joyful times of celebration. The Disability community came together to connect and to enjoy food, art, music and dancing.

Highlighting the luncheon was a silent disco, where participants wear wireless headphones to listen to music rather than using traditional loudspeakers, making the dance accessible to people with sensory sensitivities and allowing users to choose their preferred music genre. The closing reception featured dancing to music from rising hip-hop artist MC Down, who has Down’s Syndrome, and DJ Hymn.

Leading the Way

During the morning program and awards reception, ESSC CEO & President Mark Whitley took the stage to present the California Disability Innovation in Advocacy Award to Nic Novicki. An actor, comedian, producer and disability advocate, Novicki is founder and director of the Easterseals Disability Film Challenge and an ESSC board member.

A little person, Novicki was recognized for his leadership of the Film Challenge, which recently celebrated 13 years in advocating for authentic storytelling and casting in the entertainment industry, leading to countless jobs for talent with disabilities, both in front of and behind the camera.

Presented by four of California's leading disability rights organizations—The Arc of California, Association of Regional Center Agencies, Easterseals and United Cerebral Palsy—recipients of this award exemplify excellence in advocacy, showcasing groundbreaking approaches that support the needs of the disability community, inspire change and create lasting impact.

Said Novicki, “I created the Film Challenge 13 years ago to help people with disabilities take their careers into their own hands. Partnering with Easterseals and with the generous support of so many sponsors and individuals, we have grown tremendously and made so much progress.

“As a little person,” he continued. “I think I have a competitive advantage when it comes to innovation. I’ve always found another way to reach a sink that was above my head. As a disability community, innovation is always at the core of how we live our lives. I feel truly honored to receive this recognition. It means the world to me.”

“Hollywood has only just begun to tap into the power of inclusion and to showcase this significant segment of our society,” said Whitley. “The Easterseals Disability Film Challenge gives filmmakers, directors, actors and their crews an opportunity for authentic storytelling and a meaningful way to change how we all experience and understand disability. A well-deserved congratulations to Nic for leading the way and creating a singularly impactful inroad into the entertainment industry for people with disabilities by finding, showcasing and introducing new talent.”

Make Your Voice Heard!

While great strides were made at the two-day conference, it takes ongoing effort to make our voices heard and to impact change.

“We are building a new generation of advocates every year,” said Pat Hornbecker, President of the Board of Directors for The Arc of California, one of the event’s presenters. “We should be proud. And the people with lived experiences who were highlighted throughout our event brought so much hope and joy in their success to us, it left me breathless.”