The Disability Equity, Transparency, and Accountability Act, now awaiting Governor Gavin Newsom’s signature, aims to bring transparency to California’s 21 regional centers, which provide services to people with disabilities. Despite being taxpayer-funded, these nonprofit centers have not been subject to public records laws, allowing them to operate without full transparency. Activists like Miguel Lugo and Judy Mark, co-founder of Disability Voices United, argue that this lack of accountability has negatively impacted families seeking services. Lugo, who has cerebral palsy, believes his life could have been different if he’d known about the services available to him.
Mark emphasizes the need for transparency in how taxpayer dollars are spent on disability services, calling for more public insight into policy-making and service distribution at these centers. However, Amy Westling, representing the Association of Regional Center Agencies, contends that the centers already provide sufficient information through the Department of Developmental Services and are concerned about the additional burden the new bill could place on the system, especially regarding the protection of private medical information.
Parents like Valerio Baca feel differently, saying that the centers have not been as transparent or helpful as they should be, with children being denied vital services. If signed into law, the bill could provide more clarity and accountability in the system.
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