The EmpowerConnect Services Co.

08/18/2026

This is my amazing daycare and will be at the 4th annual SDRC EVENT! Come by and say hi and even learn more about them and all other amazing partners and vendors from SDRC.

Many of my partners and organizations that I am proud and involved in will also be there! Come see us. This is an event that you don’t want to miss. This is an event for community members, partners, families and caregivers and especially individuals with Disabilities!

The Autism Guide The Shine Project Foundation San Diego Regional Center

🌟 Join Together We Grow at the San Diego Regional Center’s 4th Annual Resource Fair! 🌟

We’re excited to be part of this wonderful community event on Saturday, September 26, from 9:00 AM–3:30 PM! 💙

Come visit Together We Grow at Booth #1050 to learn more about our programs and services for medically fragile children and young adults, meet our team, and connect with us!

📍 San Diego Convention Center
📅 September 26, 2026
⏰ 9:00 AM–3:30 PM
📌 Booth #1050

We look forward to seeing families, caregivers, providers, and community partners! Come stop by and say hello! 👋💙

08/17/2026

I highly recommend connecting with The Autism Guide | Parent Support, Resources & Wellness and Monique Haithcock | Caregiver Wellness Coach | San Diego, CA if you’re looking for support, clarity, and guidance as you navigate the journey of autism.

Their brand‑new website makes it easy to get connected — and the support they offer is the kind every California family deserves from the very beginning.

The Autism Guide provides clear, compassionate guidance through Regional Center services, the Self‑Determination Program, caregiver wellness, and everything in between. Navigating disability systems can feel overwhelming, but with The Autism Guide | Parent Support, Resources & Wellness by your side, you don’t have to do it alone. 💛✨

08/15/2026

We are only a little bit over a month away from this amazing community event! Get your tickets today!

08/15/2026

SDRC individuals and families, join our very first Community Connections! Each month, we will hold an informative presentation (either in-person or online) highlighting SDRC services and community resources designed to support you and your family.

September’s spotlight is BrightLife Kids! BrightLife Kids offers free behavioral health support for children and families. Get support with everyday concerns like stress, communication, school, relationships, and emotional regulation. No insurance or referral required. Services and resources are 100% free!

🗓️ Thursday, September 10 | 10am-11am on Zoom
Register here: https://f.mtr.cool/bnnbhkywog
Interpretation is available upon request. Two weeks notice required.

08/07/2026

✨ Friday Down Memory Lane

I’ve been feeling more and more called to help bridge the gap between community leaders and community members — especially individuals with I/DD and other disabilities, and the families who support them. The systems they’re expected to navigate are complex, overwhelming, and often inaccessible, and I want to be part of making that process easier, clearer, and more humane.

I want to be out in the community — listening, learning, and standing alongside families who are trying to make sense of the supports available to them. And I want to use my voice, my experience, and my heart to advocate for change at the state level. My goal is to meet with legislators, representatives, and state leaders to help create a better way forward — one where policies reflect real lived experiences, where families feel supported instead of lost, and where individuals with disabilities are seen, heard, and valued.

This isn’t just about advocacy. It’s about connection, relationships, and making sure every person with a disability has access to the tools, resources, and opportunities they need to thrive.

✨ Five months ago, I walked into the State Capitol for the first time — and it lit something inside me. Seeing the work happening up close reminded me exactly why this matters. It pushed me to grow, to show up more, and to become an even stronger advocate for our disability community.

I know now that visit was just the beginning.

I’m ready to stand in the gap.
Ready to lead.
Ready to help create real change for our community.

We’re just getting started. 🤍✨

08/03/2026

I can’t believe it’s already a new month but here we go into a new one with purpose and a few action steps.
🌟 EmpowerConnect Community Partner Highlight: Path‑Now 🌟
This month, we’re excited to spotlight Path‑Now, a California‑based organization dedicated to helping individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) connect with the services they need — quickly, safely, and easily.
Path‑Now offers one of the largest and most comprehensive directories of service providers across California, including:
Vocational & Independent Living Programs
Transportation & Recreational Services
Healthcare & Support Resources …and so much more.
Through their accessible platform, individuals and families can create a free profile and get custom‑matched to providers that meet their unique needs and preferences.
At EmpowerConnect Services, we believe in building bridges — and Path‑Now is doing exactly that for our IDD community by transforming how people access care and support across the state.
✨ Learn more about Path‑Now and how they’re expanding choice and connection: Visit Path‑Now

08/02/2026

✨ Exciting News!
CalABLE is hosting their monthly webinar, and if you’ve been wanting to learn more about CalABLE and all the benefits they offer, this is your moment.

📅 August 12
⏰ 2:00 PM
💻 Zoom Webinar
IEP Basics & CalABLE: A Guide for Families

This session will help you understand how the IEP supports your child’s educational goals — and how CalABLE can help you save for the services, tools, and resources that make those goals possible.

We’ll cover:
• CalABLE basics & eligibility
• What an IEP is
• Who needs an IEP
• The IEP process
• Resources

ASL, Spanish interpretation, and closed captions will be available.
Don’t miss this opportunity to learn, connect, and get your questions answered.

08/01/2026

Today we have exciting news to share — registration is officially open for our annual Resource Fair serving San Diego and Imperial Valley families! 🎉

San Diego families, join us Saturday, September 26 at the San Diego Convention Center.
Register: https://f.mtr.cool/cffoshjrqj

Imperial Valley families, we’ll see you Wednesday, October 21 at the Imperial Valley Fairgrounds.
Register: https://f.mtr.cool/utluwuceng

This fall, we’re bringing together resources, support, opportunities, and community for individuals with I/DD — and we can’t wait to welcome you and your family. Save your spot today by visiting the link in bio. ❤️

Grateful to be part of an event that continues to uplift, empower, and connect our community.
The Autism Guide | Parent Support, Resources & Wellness Shine Project Foundation | Special Needs Community

07/30/2026

California Department of Developmental Services has released a statement regarding the May Revision of the state’s budget called the Equitable and Consistent Needs Assessment, now referred to as Equitable Access to Intake and Services. There has been a lot of misinformation being shared about this proposal, which has caused confusion. Please read the following to better understand what this proposal does and does not do.

Read more: https://f.mtr.cool/awwyhdiwll

07/26/2026

36 years ago today, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law — a milestone that forever reshaped the landscape of disability rights in the United States.

The ADA didn’t just create protections. It created possibility. It opened doors — literally and figuratively — for millions of disabled Americans to access education, employment, transportation, community spaces, and the basic dignity of being included. It affirmed what the disability community had been saying long before 1990: access is a civil right, and inclusion is non‑negotiable.

As someone who walks alongside families, self‑advocates, and caregivers every day, I’m reminded that the ADA is both a celebration and a call to action. Progress has been made, yes — but the work continues. Barriers still exist. Systems still need to evolve. Voices still need to be heard. And every step forward is built on the courage of those who fought tirelessly for recognition, equity, and respect.

Today, we honor the advocates who paved the way, the community members who continue to push for change, and the generations who will benefit from the protections this landmark law set in motion.

Disability rights are human rights.
Access is freedom.
Inclusion is the future.

Here’s to 36 years of the ADA — and to the ongoing work of building a world where every person can thrive.