The 2026 themes – “Leading the Change: Women Shaping a Sustainable Future” and “We’re Here: Then, Now, Always” – remind us that women have long been leaders in building more inclusive communities. From advocates and caregivers to artists, professionals, and change makers with developmental disabilities, women continue to shape a future where everyone belongs.

Women with disabilities and their allies have played vital roles in the disability rights movement, advocating for equity in housing, education, employment, and community life. At the same time, women make up 75% of the direct care workforce, providing essential support that helps individuals with developmental disabilities thrive.

This month we celebrate the achievements, leadership, and voices of women across the disability community, and recognize the remarkable women in our programs and services, as well as the women who have dedicated their lives to our mission and advocate and proudly support people with disabilities.

Here are some ways you can join us in celebrating and showing your support:
• Wear purple to promote disability awareness and solidarity
• Share stories that highlight the talents and achievements of people with developmental disabilities
• Amplify the voices of women with disabilities and those who support them.

There are lots of inspiring stories on our social media and in our newsletters about women in our programs, services, and agency who are thriving and inspiring members of the community.

Facebook.com/tierradelsolfoundation

Instagram.com/tierradelsolfdn

WHM Hashtags you can use on social media!
#WomensHistoryMonth
#DDAM2026
#DisabilityAwareness
#InclusionMatters
#IAmTierra

At Tierra del Sol, we believe inclusion means recognizing the contributions of every individual —
yesterday, today, and always.

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Did you know that Black History is intertwined with Disability History? In fact, the Disability Rights Movement was influenced by the Civil Rights Movement with several black leaders who played a critical role in paving the way for change such as Brad Lomax, Johnnie Lacy, Maya Angelou, Fannie Lou Hamer, and Lois Curtis.

At Tierra, we stand in solidarity with the black community and continue to work towards the day when all people are valued for their contributions and gifts. We are proud of our associates, artists, and students and all they bring to this world.

If you would like to support Black Artists in our Careers in the Arts program, visit Tierra’s Gallery – tierradelsolgallery.org – and check out works by John Maull, Marlena Arthur, Kyle Johnson, Aracely Ellis, Tony Barnes, and more!

If you would like to learn more about Black History Month and the Disabilities Movement, check out this great article by our friends at the NILP, https://www.nilp.org/black-history-month-and-the-disability-rights-movement/.

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Kick-off NDEAM and support our organization this October by participating in

Tierra’s Virtual Walk n’ Roll 

Walk, Run, or Roll at your own pace 

October 1st – 15th 

Donate, Start a Team, or Fundraise on your own! Complete a 5K (3.1 miles/7,000 steps) or 10K (6.2 miles/13,000 steps) or your own personal challenge at your convenience any time, anywhere between October 1st through October 15th. 

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER!

PRIZES

All registrants receive a long sleeve 

“Walk n’ Roll” t-shirt.

Prizes for fundraisers include clear stadium  bags, portable chargers, bluetooth speakers,  and beach towels.

Highest fundraiser wins 4 loge seats and parking to a 2026 Dodger Season Home Game!

Register, share with your friends, raise funds, awareness, and HAVE FUN! 

For questions or details, contact Jessica Asciolla at jasciolla@tierradelsol.org or (818) 723-2282 

The post Tierra’s 2nd Annual Virtual Walk n’ Roll  appeared first on Tierra del Sol.

Tune in for laughs, tears, and a HUGE surprise!

For more detials on Celebrations with Lacey Chabert, click here!

The post Lights, Cameras, Action! Tierra on Hallmark’s Celebrations with Lacey Chabert on September 22! appeared first on Tierra del Sol.

The Trump Administration’s Budget Bill was passed last week, which includes nearly $1 trillion in cuts to Medicaid. There is no easing into this reality. But I can say that we fought, and we fought relentlessly. In response to the passing of the Federal budget, Governor Newsom issued a statement and CalHHS Secretary Kim Johnson shared the following message:

“These federal cuts are more than just language in a bill —they are direct and real threats to the health, stability, and dignity of millions of Californians. Stripping food and health care access from families will deepen poverty, widen health disparities, and push people into crisis. CalFresh and Medi-Cal are not only lifelines for individuals and families; they are foundational pillars of local economies and health care infrastructure. Weakening them weakens all of us. These federal cuts are taking food and health care away from those who need it most. California has made real progress toward a healthier, more equitable future. These federal cuts are moving us backward, and will be devastating to families in California and across the nation.”

Recognizing that you may have many questions and concerns, the Department of Developmental Disabilities (DDS) is working hard to understand the full impact on our community. At the same time, reflecting on what our advocacy has made possible is essential! We succeeded in preventing some of the bill’s worst provisions, such as block grants, wide-scale FMAP reductions, per-capita caps, and so on.

Please know Regional Center’s Service Coordinators and Tierra’s staff are here to support you. As we learn more, we will all work together to help you plan for current and future needs. We will continue to share additional information and resources as they become available.

We are in this together. Stay vigilant, remain hopeful, and remember, we are people and we matter.

The post Medicaid Update from Tierra del Sol Source: DDS (California Department of Developmental Services) appeared first on Tierra del Sol.

Dr. Rebecca Lienhard joined Tierra in 1990. Over the course of her tenure, she has championed inclusion and value for people with disabilities through their unique contributions to our communities. She holds a doctorate degree from the University of Southern California in Organization Change and Leadership, a Master’s degree in Special Education, with emphasis in Moderate/Severe Disabilities and is a graduate of the University of Delaware National Leadership Institute on Developmental Disabilities.

Dr. Lienhard serves as the key spokesperson for the agency in local, state, and national venues. She has served on the Vendor Advisory Committee for the California Department of Developmental Services’ North Los Angeles County Regional Center, the State Council on Developmental Disabilities’ Employment First Committee, and as Vice President of the Board of Directors for Southern California APSE (Association of People Supporting Employment First). Additionally, she serves as a member of three of California’s Department of Developmental Services Workgroups, specifically focusing on Employment, System & Fiscal Reform, and Community Resources. Through these roles, she has gained a nation-wide view of services, relevant laws, and emerging trends; all in an effort to advance meaningful and inclusive lives for adults with developmental disabilities.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER TODAY!

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“When 43% of Californians benefit from a program funded by Medicaid, these services support every part of our state,” said Julie Gaona, Chair of the California State Council on Developmental Disabilities. “We want to be sure people with disabilities and aging adults in California can live, work, play, and contribute to their community.”

The federal budget proposals currently under consideration threaten deep and irreversible harm to the people we serve. These proposals include:

• Over $700 billion in cuts to Medicaid, the foundation of community-based supports for individuals with disabilities and complex behavioral health needs;

• Nearly $300 billion in reductions to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), putting direct support professionals and the people they support at risk of food insecurity; and

• Proposed reductions to the Administration for Community Living (ACL), including efforts to eliminate or significantly reduce funding for State Councils on Developmental Disabilities (DD Councils) and other vital programs.

The impact of these cuts would be devastating and widespread:

• People with intellectual/developmental disabilities and co-occurring mental health needs would lose access to critical, individualized supports – including housing, employment services, therapy, case management, and crisis intervention.

• Medicaid-funded behavioral health and home and community-based services (HCBS) would be slashed, leading to increased institutionalization and preventable crises.

• DD Councils, which play a central role in research, policy innovation, advocacy, and systems change, would face defunding or elimination – at a time when inclusive and evidence-based practices are more essential than ever.

• The workforce crisis on disability and mental health services would intensify, with job losses, unsustainable workloads, and diminished service quality.

• Families and unpaid caregivers would be forced to carry impossible burdens, with little to no support from public systems.

This is not just a policy debate – it is a moral reckoning.

Medicaid is not a luxury. SNAP is not an option. ACL programs are not expendable. These are the mechanisms by which we affirm the dignity, rights, and humanity of people with disabilities. To weaken or eliminate them is to regress—to erase decades of advocacy, legal progress, and hard-won equity.

We call on the U.S. Senate to:

• Reject cuts to Medicaid, SNAP, and the Administration for Community Living.
• Protect the funding and integrity of State Councils on Developmental Disabilities and related programs.
• Preserve the right of all people with disabilities to live in their communities with autonomy, support, and dignity.

To every member of Congress: this is your opportunity to stand on the side of justice. 

TAKE ACTION!

Call Your U.S. Senators 

Tell them you oppose the proposed cuts to Medicaid, SNAP, and ACL programs. Demand they protect funding that supports people with disabilities and their access to inclusive, community-based services.

Call the Capitol Switchboard: 1-202-224-3121

Write to Your Local Media 

Submit a letter to the editor of your local newspaper or contact a local journalist. Share how these cuts will harm your community, your work, or your loved ones.

Educate Others 

Talk with colleagues, family members, and self-advocates. Host a discussion or webinar. Use your platform to amplify the message.

Share on Social Media

Use your voice online to raise awareness.

Tag your representatives. Use hashtags like:

#SaveMedicaid

#DontTouchMedicaid

#HandsOffMedicaid

#SaveMediCal

#DisabilityRights

#IAmTierra

Together, we must raise our voices louder than the proposals that threaten to silence us.

Remember, we are not Fraud, Waste, or Abuse. We are people, and we matter.

The post Medicaid Updates & Action Steps appeared first on Tierra del Sol.

CLICK HERE to Share Your Story Here

As an appointed committee member, SCDD kindly asks that you share this link with at least five adults with developmental disabilities and/or their families. Collecting a robust number of stories is vital—SCDD will present these to local elected officials and, when needed, to members of Congress in Washington, D.C.

If you need assistance with completing the letter using the Google Form in the link provided please call the SCDD office

(909) 890-1259.

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“Protecting Medicaid is necessary to protect people with disabilities. The U.S. House voted today to approve a total of at least $715 billion in cuts to federal health programs, with Medicaid bearing the brunt of those reductions, thereby putting people with disabilities in jeopardy of losing access to crucial supports and services,” said Barbara Merrill, chief executive officer at ANCOR.

“Even though the approved cuts are not directly aimed at community-based services, the non-mandatory nature of these supports means people with disabilities will be harmed as a result. The health, safety and quality of life of people with disabilities hinges on a robust and adequately resourced Medicaid program. Their right to live full and independent lives in their communities—rights we should all be able to enjoy—hangs in the balance.

“We now call on lawmakers in the Senate to protect people with disabilities from the very real, very harmful consequences of cutting Medicaid. We urge all Senators to reject Medicaid cuts and to consider the impact of reducing the supports many of us take for granted that enable us to live, work and thrive in our communities. All lawmakers should remember that real lives of real people, and the very prosperity and well-being of people with disabilities, are at stake when you take up this budget legislation.”

To all of our associates, families, and staff, Tierra is a strong and healthy organization, but we must fight these cuts. We are in this together. Stay vigilant, remain hopeful, and remember, “We are not Fraud, Waste, or Abuse!” We are people and we matter.

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