July is Disability Pride Month and Sacramento County recognizes how recent work is helping our community become a more livable space for everyone. July also marks the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) being signed into law in 1990.
As we honor 35 years of this civil rights legislation in 2025, we are celebrating local achievements to create a disability-friendly community. One exciting achievement is the creation and approval of the Local Age & Disability-Friendly Action Plan.
What is the Local Age & Disability -Friendly Action Plan (also known as the LADAP)?
By 2030, one-fourth of the County’s population will be 60 or older, and currently, approximately 200,000 residents live with a disability. In response to these growing needs, the Department of Child, Family and Adult Services launched the LADAP, a comprehensive initiative shaped by years of advocacy and community input. The County Board of Supervisors voted to adopt the plan in February 2025, and the County celebrated the launch in March 2025.
To understand the needs of our community, Sacramento County connected with community partners and hosted listening sessions with people who live all across the County to shape the plan.
Recognizing the work in the community
One of the partners of the LADAP is Sacramento County’s Resources for Independent Living (RIL), which has been serving people in the County for nearly 50 years. RIL promotes the independence of people with disabilities by providing independent living services and advocacy. RIL is part of a national network of over 400 Independent Living Centers and is one of 28 centers in California. While the LADAP was being shaped, RIL and its partners coordinated efforts to make sure the plan would reflect the lived experiences and priorities of people with disabilities.
“At the core of the Independent Living Movement is the conviction that all individuals, regardless of disability, have a fundamental civil right to make their own choices and to live independently within their communities,” said RIL Program Manager Rebekah Reynolds.
Looking Ahead: A Stronger, More Inclusive Sacramento County
Through partnerships, like the one with RIL, Sacramento County is helping lift up the voices and the needs of people with disabilities. From housing to health, caregiving to inclusion, the Local Age & Disability-Friendly Action Plan brings lived experience and expertise to the table—proving that real change happens when communities listen, collaborate and act.
Resources
Learn more about RIL’s services or access support by visiting their website or calling (916) 446-3074.
To learn more about Sacramento County’s Local Age & Disability-Friendly Action Plan, visit www.agefriendlysaccounty.org.