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By Joe Perales, Director, El Arc de California
Last week, El Arc de California organized a powerful two-day Latino Disability Leadership Summit, bringing together over 53 Latino leaders from across California. Representing more than 50 community-based organizations and groups, these advocates united to push forward AB 1220 (Arambula), a landmark bill aimed at increasing transparency and accountability in the state’s developmental services system.
AB 1220, authored by Assembly Member Dr. Joaquín Arambula (D-Fresno), passed out of the Assembly Human Services Committee with a unanimous vote, and now heads to the Appropriations Committee. This is a historic win for California’s disability rights movement and marks the first time in the state’s history that legislation requiring California’s Regional Centers to document and publicly report service denials, notices of action and appeals, has advanced through committee.
The summit opened with remarks from Assembly Member Arambula and Dr. Michi Gates, Chief Deputy Director of the California Department of Developmental Services (DDS). Both recognized the power and leadership of the Latino disability community in advocating for systemic change.
Advocates received hands-on training from Chris Arroyo, Assistant Director of Policy and Public Affairs at the State Council on Developmental Disabilities, learning how to craft compelling testimony, organize their communities, and use their personal stories to drive change. And Jorda
The group of leaders, which included adults with developmental disabilities, their family members and allies, put their training into action. With their rally signs and voices united, the group took to the streets chanting “¡Latinos unidos jamás serán vencidos!”(Latinos united will never be defeated) as they marched toward the legislative building to testify at the Assembly Human Services Committee Hearing in support of AB 1220.
Across California, Latino families are being denied critical services for their family member with a developmental disability— and too often, they aren’t told why or what they can do about it. AB 1220 addresses this barrier to accessing services.
El Arc Coalition leaders and community members delivered passionate public comments inside the hearing. Families and advocates shared honest and emotional testimonies rooted in truth.
Ana Alonso, a parent of three children with disabilities and advocate from Kern County, said “As a mother, I know the importance of access to services, which makes a difference in our lives. Transparency when services are denied is important to the family. The disability doesn’t go away because services are denied. The need is still there.”
“This bill is about fairness. Every family deserves to understand what decisions are being made about their child’s care, and why,” said Patricia Albeño, parent of an young-adult with disabilities, and disability rights advocate.”This bill gives us the tools we need to advocate for our loved ones.”
This is not just progress — it is a milestone in the movement for racial equity, disability justice, and accountability. The voices of Latino families, self-advocates, community leaders, and the El Arc Coalition helped move this bill forward.
We are grateful for the support of the Human Services Committee Members, and will continue to advocate for passage of AB 1220 as it moves through the legislative process to become law.
AB 1220 gives our communities the power of visibility — and that’s how change begins.
To show support for this landmark legislation, you can sign onto an Open Letter to our Elected Officials. We want to get at least 5,000 signatures. It only takes two minutes to add your name: Click HERE for English and click HERE for Spanish.