Across the country, disability programs and protections are under strain—leaving many individuals, families, and professionals feeling frustrated, tired, or unseen. Yet those same emotions can become powerful fuel for collective action.
In this practical and empowering session, Reena De Asis—Principal at RDA Strategies, Founder of Inclusive Sol, and Commissioner on the L.A. County Commission on Disabilities—shares how she initiated Los Angeles County’s first-ever Cerebral Palsy Motion and the L.A. Unified School District’s World CP Day Resolution. Both were designed not simply to mark an observance, but to drive substantial systems change through collaboration, community building, and public-awareness efforts that improve access and equity for people with disabilities beyond any single diagnosis. This session is designed for caregivers, adults with disabilities, educators, and providers who want to influence systems more effectively in their own communities.
Through real-world examples and a step-by-step Advocacy Blueprint, participants will explore how to transform frustration into organized advocacy that leads to lasting outcomes.
By the end of this 45-minute session, attendees will be able to:
• Recognize how transparency, partnerships, and persistence can sustain progress over time.
• Understand that while systems change takes time, it is possible to advance it within their own city, county, or organization.
Participants will leave with a customizable Advocacy Blueprint template, accessible resource links, and renewed confidence that every effort—no matter how small—can contribute to meaningful, long-term change.
