RDA Strategies

On October 6, 2025, communities around the world recognized World Cerebral Palsy Day—honoring more than 50 million people living with CP. Here in Los Angeles, the day also marked one year since the Los Angeles Unified School District adopted the World Cerebral Palsy Day resolution, a partnership between Board Member Scott Schmerelson’s office and Inclusive Sol, the nonprofit I founded.

The resolution transforms awareness into action through educator training, inclusive recess, and classroom practices that help students with disabilities participate, belong, and thrive. This year, that vision came to life at my son Elijah Sol’s school: the principal wore green, students received green bracelets, and morning announcements focused on kindness and inclusion. I had the joy of reading I’ll Walk With You by Carol Lynn Pearson—a gentle reminder that acceptance grows through everyday acts of love and awareness.

Watching a sea of green bracelets at dismissal was a powerful image of what inclusion can look like when it becomes part of a school’s culture, not just its curriculum.

As we carry this spirit forward, may we continue to create learning environments—and communities—where every child is seen, supported, and celebrated.

Interested in bringing this kind of inclusion-focused programming to your district or organization? Let’s connect and build systems where every learner belongs.

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There’s no better way to start a school year than by reconnecting to purpose. On August 8, 2025, I had the privilege of facilitating a keynote session at Total Education Solutions’ all-staff kick-off meeting for more than 120 therapists, BCBAs, special education teachers, counselors, school psychologists, and administrators.

Together, we explored what connection, collaboration, and community look like in action. From a playful icebreaker to heartfelt reflections on why each person chose this work, the energy in the room was inspiring. TES staff showed up not only with expertise, but with compassion, creativity, and an unwavering commitment to empowering growth and independence for individuals of all abilities.

Jacklin Pfaff, Regional Director of Therapy and Education Services, later shared how the session “facilitated meaningful engagement across a diverse group… heartfelt and deeply impactful.” Her feedback reflects the collaborative spirit that made this session so special—a space where every role and voice mattered.

As Helen Keller once said, “When we do the best we can, we never know what miracle is wrought in our life, or in the life of another.”

To the TES team: thank you for embodying a culture of care, purpose, and shared impact. Let’s keep building systems where everyone belongs.

Disability equity isn’t just a policy goal—it’s personal, it’s community, and it’s the future of Los Angeles.

As a member of the Los Angeles County Commission on Disabilities’ Ad Hoc Strategic Planning Committee, I’ve had the privilege of supporting the County’s efforts to shape its first-ever Disability Services Strategic Plan. This work is grounded in one core belief: change is strongest when it’s community-driven.

On August 29, 2025, the County held its final public Focus Group on Disability Services—one of seven sessions hosted across all five Supervisorial Districts. Each conversation brought together providers, community-based organizations, and partners, but the most powerful insights came from individuals living these realities every day. Friday’s session, held virtually, was among the largest to date, with more than twenty participants sharing perspectives that will guide future priorities.

To date, over 900 community members have also completed the County’s survey, helping ensure the plan reflects lived experience, strengths, and needs across Los Angeles County.

Deep gratitude to the Aging and Disabilities Department, Public Consulting Group, fellow Commissioners, and every participant who has contributed time, energy, and heart to this process.

Together, we’re not just designing a plan—we’re shaping a blueprint for a County where disability equity is built into every system and service.

On August 24, 2025, in West Hollywood, the City’s Women’s Advisory Board hosted its annual Women’s Equality Day celebration. This day honors the movement for gender equity and calls us to keep building systems that include every voice.

I had the honor of moderating Women & The Way Forward, a panel featuring Kat Calvin of Spread The Vote + Project ID, Emiliana Guereca Zeidenfeld of Women’s March Foundation, Rati Gupta of 5 Calls Civic Action, and Deborah Lee Smith of More Than You See. Together, we explored how to advance civic participation, protect voting rights, and create leadership spaces where all women—especially those too often left out—are seen and heard.

Each panelist left us with a challenge:

“Commit to ensuring ten people get to the polls.” – Kat Calvin
“Personalize your politics and make it real for those around you.” – Rati Gupta
“Ask three women when they last felt unequal and create space for dialogue.” – Deborah Lee Smith
“Look at the world through a woman’s lens—and speak up when you see who’s missing from the table.” – Emiliana Guereca Zeidenfeld

As Judith Heumann reminded us, equality is about who’s at the table—and whether that table is accessible. The way forward begins with action. Are you in?

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As Disability Pride Month came to a close on July 25, 2025, in Los Angeles, we marked the 35th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act—a milestone in the civil rights movement and a reminder that true equity requires collective action.

In Los Angeles, the day was more than a commemoration. It was a celebration of what’s possible when collaboration leads the way. Each photo from the event tells a story of connection and purpose. It was also a meaningful reunion with the disability community and a full-circle moment I’ll always cherish: being introduced to Mayor Karen Bass by Stephen David Simon, sharing my “D1$@B1L*tY IS NOT A DIRTY WORD” pin, and thanking her for leading with inclusion.

Mayor Bass stood alongside Councilmember Imelda Padilla, Colleen Wrenn, Reynold Hoover, Paul Krekorian, and other civic and community leaders to reaffirm the city’s commitment to a truly inclusive Games For All. Los Angeles is advancing its Host City Accessibility Commitment through a Games Accessibility Plan and the appointment of its first Accessibility Chief, Natalie Sparrow, within the Office of Major Events—embedding access and equity into the LA28 Olympic & Paralympic Games.

Inclusion is more than a symbol—it’s a system. Let’s keep building a future where disability is part of the blueprint.

As a Commissioner on the Los Angeles County Commission on Disabilities (LACCOD), I was honored to share remarks during an Autistic Pride Day webinar hosted by the L.A. Found team at the Department of Aging and Disabilities on June 18, 2025, in Los Angeles, California.

The session, “Keeping Our Communities Safe: Wandering Prevention & Support for Individuals with Autism and IDDs,” brought together the National Autism Association, the Department of Mental Health, and Aging and Disabilities to explore how coordination among systems—policy, health, education, and community—can prevent harm and foster dignity.

“Every person deserves to be safe and included without shame or stigma. Families should never feel alone—it’s a shared responsibility that involves all of us.”

Autistic Pride Day reminds us that disability is not something to fear or fix. Neurodivergent people bring unique strengths and deserve to be celebrated, not silenced or stereotyped by misinformation.

As a parent and Commissioner, I remain committed to advocating for awareness, funding, and inclusion so every person, regardless of ability, can live safely and freely in our communities.

Swipe through for moments from our recent LACCOD meeting, our visit to Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center, and the L.A. Found webinar—each highlighting the collective effort to build systems grounded in compassion, collaboration, and respect.

Interested in bringing this kind of dialogue to your organization or community? Let’s connect and explore ways to build systems rooted in equity and inclusion.

When discussing inclusion, we often focus on services, timelines, and transitions, but it’s a community that sustains families. On May 6, 2025, I represented Inclusive Sol at the Early Start to Early Childhood Transition Resource Fair hosted by Frank D. Lanterman Regional Center. The event paired with celebration, with playful glasses, warm hugs, and meaningful conversations. It served as a reminder that while we can keep the tone light, the work lives within a larger, shifting system.

A day after the event, conversations resumed in Washington around the federal Medicaid budget, including proposals to cut funding. While decisions were postponed until the week of May 12, the implications were clear: what happens in policy directly impacts the supports, providers, and families represented at this fair.

That’s why these local gatherings matter. They make policy personal. They remind us that behind every funding line item is a child, a caregiver, and a community striving to thrive.

As we continue advocating for systems change through Inclusive Sol, let’s keep working toward a world where budgets reflect the value of every life and every voice. These moments remind me that policy isn’t abstract—it’s personal. And when the community shows up, change feels possible.

It was a joy to attend RENEW 2025: LA Cultural Forum on Disability & Community Engagement – Part I. On April 29, 2025 the event felt like a reunion and a powerful reminder of what’s possible when the disability community leads.

One of the most resonant moments came from Coco Atama (aka Blind Thrasher), who shared: “When you are at your lowest, look at what broke you down. Weather the storm. You are not less than.”

That reminder stayed with me—it spoke to our resilience, power, and capacity to reframe the narrative. It grounded the day’s discussions in lived experience, access, and voice.

The forum also explored how Los Angeles prepares for the 2028 Olympics and Paralympics, with an eye toward inclusion and long-term impact. From performances that opened minds to policy conversations rooted in community leadership, the day reflected celebration and urgency.
As the City’s Department on Disability faces significant budget cuts, we must continue showing up, speaking out, and pushing for systems that center dignity and access. Inclusion requires more than conversation—it calls for commitment.