Breaking Barriers for a More Inclusive Future

Every day, Californians with disabilities—especially Black people and people of color—struggle to access essential services. Former SCDD Vice-Chair, Lisa Cooley, an advocate for disability rights, knows this all too well. She is passionate about ensuring that people with disabilities don’t have to explain or justify their need for essential services repeatedly, like in-home supportive services (IHSS).

Lisa explains how frustrating it can be for people with permanent disabilities, such as cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, autism, or Alzheimer’s, to go through an annual reassessment process just to continue receiving services. They face the same hurdles every year, regardless of whether their condition is lifelong or non-progressive. “Even if you’re a child with a disability or a senior with dementia, you still have to go through this yearly assessment,” she says. “It’s exhausting, and it doesn’t make sense.”

For Lisa, advocacy is about making sure future generations don’t have to fight as hard for basic rights. She’s fighting to simplify processes and ensure that accessible services, such as affordable housing and healthcare, are readily available. Unfortunately, California’s affordable housing waitlists are long and often complicated to navigate. For someone with disabilities, this process can be even more challenging. “The system is not designed with us in mind,” Lisa notes, pointing out that applications should be written in plain language and more accessible to people with different abilities and literacy levels.

Lisa believes that everyone, regardless of their disability, deserves access to housing, healthcare, and civic engagement opportunities. She emphasizes the importance of expanding healthcare for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), especially for those older than transition age. While California does an excellent job of supporting children with I/DD, after age 21, adults often face challenges in finding care providers who understand their specific needs as they age. This gap in adult care is one of Lisa’s major concerns.

Beyond healthcare, Lisa advocates for greater enforcement of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), specifically when it comes to accessible transportation and medical equipment in healthcare facilities. While there have been improvements in transportation for people with disabilities, she knows there’s still a long way to go.

As a contractor for Disability Rights California (DRC) in Sacramento, Lisa is determined to take her advocacy work to the federal level. Her journey started when she was in her 20s, advocating for better transportation services in her local area. What began as a personal mission soon grew into helping others navigate the complex web of services for people with disabilities. Lisa’s work now includes helping DRC hire the best people to advocate for individuals with intellectual, developmental, mental health, and invisible disabilities.

When Lisa isn’t advocating, she enjoys writing, relaxing with TV shows, and trying out new restaurants, and catching the latest movies. Her dream job? Working in the State Capitol, she could impact a larger community and advocate for people with and without disabilities.

Her heroes, Oprah Winfrey and Judy Heumann have inspired her to make a difference in the lives of others. Through her show, Oprah made an indirect yet significant impact, and Heumann fought tirelessly for disability rights, particularly in shaping laws like the ADA.

Lisa faces challenges daily, but she tackles them with grace and determination. “My attitude is a choice,” she says, focusing on positivity and hard work. Her motivation? Knowing that her advocacy helps underrepresented individuals in the disability community—especially those who don’t participate in typical advocacy activities.

As part of the client advisory committee for Alta Regional Center, which covers multiple counties, Lisa continues to fight for the rights of people with disabilities. Her advice to others: “Never give up. Keep working hard and trying, no matter what.”

With a disciplined mindset and a passion for making a difference, Lisa is doing her part to shape a more inclusive future, one step at a time.

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