About Us
Incorporated in 1976, the Disabled Resources Center was founded by Jerry Stein, Lee Tardy, and Warren Moss. Guided by the vision and dedication of the founders, the services offered by DRC evolved from giving information and referrals, to providing eighteen services to thousands of people each year in the cities of Artesia, Avalon, Cypress, Hawaiian Gardens, Lakewood, La Palma, Long Beach, Seal Beach, and Signal Hill plus 52 ZIP Codes in Los Angeles County and Orange County, California.
Most of the staff members are people with disabilities, as are the members of the Board of Directors, who provide positive role models for other people with disabilities. The mission of the agency is, “To empower people with disabilities to live independently in the community, to make their own decisions about their lives and to advocate on their own behalf”.
Staff
Dolores Nason
Executive Director
Disabled Resource Center
Mario Rodriguez
Assistant Director/Housing Coordinator
Disabled Resource Center
Susan Pearson
Accountant
Disabled Resource Center
Samantha Mam
Operations Manager
Disabled Resource Center
Gino Elliot
Peer Support Services/Transitional Youth Program
Disabled Resource Center
Khanny Ou
Personal Assistant/Mobility Training
Disabled Resource Center
Gail Thomas
Administrative Assistant/Gavel Club/Ticket to Work
Disabled Resource Center
Richard Hernandez
Systems Change Advocate/Ticket to Work Specialist/Covered California
Disabled Resource Center
Vincent Johnson
Assistive Technology Coordinator
Disabled Resource Center
Zaid Moges
Employment Services Coordinator/Sign Language Interpreter/Emergency Preparedness Program
Disabled Resource Center
Mugi Miyazaki
Assistive Technology Lending Program
Disabled Resource Center
Lupe Gracian
ADRC Coordinator, Benefits Counselor
Disabled Resource Center
Betty Cruz
Receptionist
Disabled Resource Center
Adrienne Crew
Employment Services
Disabled Resource CenterBoard of Directors
Gail Morrison
Member
Disabled Resource Center
Councilwoman Mary Zendejas
Member
Disabled Resource Center
Jennifer Kumiyama
President
Disabled Resource Center
Robert Graves
Member
Disabled Resource Center
Vincent Ewing
Member
Disabled Resource Center
Chaka Garbutt
Vice-President
Disabled Resource Center
Richard Gibson
Treasurer
Disabled Resource Center
Margaret Vento-Wilson, Ph.D.
Member
Disabled Resource Center
Henry Broadbent
Member
Disabled Resource CenterSupporters and Funders
FUNDERS
The Board of Directors and Staff of DRC greatly appreciate all the people and organizations that have made contributions throughout the year.
Department of Health and Human Services—Title VII C
Department of Rehabilitation—AB204-AT Grant
Department of Rehabilitation—Employment Services
Department of Rehabilitation—Title VII B SPIL Grant
Department of Rehabilitation—Title VII B Grant Tier Augmentation Department of Rehabilitation—Transition Funding Grant
Department of Rehabilitation—Transitional Youth Grant
Metro—FTA Section 5310 Grant, Mobility Training and Travel Training
PRIVATE FUNDERS AND CORPORATE CONTRIBUTORS
Administration for Community Living (ACL), “Expanding Disabilities Network’s
(Part C CILs) Access to COVID 19 Vaccines”
Anonymous
Anonymous, Unrestricted General Operating Support
Bee Specialties, Inc., Printing
Otto P. Berdach Trust
Al Buck, Executive Director’s Monthly Discretionary Fund
CalAIM (California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal) MOUT certification and
agreement with Blue Shield renewed again
CalFresh Applications ILC Prescreening Grant
California Foundation for Independent Living Centers
CARES Act SPIL for FY 2021-2022
City of Long Beach, Census Community Outreach
CIL 2020 Grant
Coast Motel
Disability Disaster Access & Resources (DDAR) Program, subcontractor under
CFILC’s PG&E Contract
Edison International, Disaster Preparedness Training Program, 2020-2021 Edison International, Disaster Preparedness Training Program, 2021-2022 Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP), County of Los Angeles, Homeless
Services
Supervisor Janice Hahn, 4th District, Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors,
Thanksgiving Turkeys distribution grant
LA ILCs Collaboration Grant, Aging and Disability Resource Connection
Long Beach Community Impact Fund, Homeless Transitional Youth
Earl B. & Loraine H. Miller Foundation, Transitional Youth Program
Partnership with Pacific Gateway to provide Renters’ Relief (housing rental
assistance) to Long Beach and Signal Hill residents
Port of Long Beach Sponsorship, Transitional Youth Program, Virtual Education
on Port of Long Beach
John W. Porter Trust
Ethel Josephine Scantland Foundation
Southern California Edison, Disaster Preparedness Training Program, 2020-2021 Southern California Edison, Safety and Preparedness Marketing Outreach Initiative
Southern California Edison, Initiatives 2020-2021 United Way (Costco, Truist and Frontstream)
PRIVATE DONORS
Martha Alvarez
Al Buck
Robert C. Clements & Marie
Clements
Liz Crozer
E. T. Kurata & Frances Kurata Vincent Ewing, Esq.
Berlin Gutenkauf
Caleb Gutenkauf
Natalie Gutenkauf
Robert Graves
Joanne K. Gromley
Frances Emily Dawson Harris Kellie Irving
Reverend Sopheak Kheng Dr. Jeff Klaus
Don Knabe
Jennifer Kumiyama
Char & Bob Kozlowski
Maureen E. Mason & Jose R.
Nunez
Gail Morrison
Dolores & George Nason Scott Nason
Cathy Parsa
Susan Pearson
Jerilynn Peterson
Elizabeth Leta Pettepiece &
Theodore A. Pettepiece Rick & Kathy Potter Barbara Saposnek
Heather Schmoll
B. Strutin
Heather Van Wijk
Wilson High School Sports
Teams: Soccer, Cross-Country & Track
Mary Zendejas
48th ANNUAL AWARDS RECOGNITION EVENT CONTRIBUTORS AND SUPPORTERS
The Board of Directors and Staff of DRC would like to thank all our wonderful contributors and supporters.
Molina Healthcare California, Diamond Sponsor
California Transit, Inc., Gold Sponsor
Councilwoman Mary Zendejas, 1st District, Long Beach, Gold Sponsor
San Gabriel Transit, Gold Sponsor
MTM Transportation, Gold Sponsor
Mr. & Mrs. Robert E. Braly, Silver Sponsors
Supervisor Janice Hahn, 4th District, Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, Silver Sponsor
LA Metro, Silver Sponsor
Access Services (LA), Bronze Sponsor
Rick Archbold, Hearing Now USA, Bronze Sponsor
Al Buck, Bronze Sponsor
Farmers & Merchants Bank, Bronze Sponsor
Foothill Transit, Bronze Sponsor
Global Paratransit, Bronze Sponsor
Long Beach Transit, Bronze Sponsor
Mitsubishi Cement Corporation, Bronze Sponsor
Mobility Advancement Group, Bronze Sponsor
Specialized Transportation Consulting LLC, Bronze Sponsor
WSP, Bronze Sponsor
2760 Spring Street
Lance Anderson, DDS
Anaheim Ducks Hockey Club
Angels Baseball
Anonymous
Aquarium of the Pacific
Myra Ballon
Jordan Barile, Primo Plumbing & Heating
Bixby Knolls Hand Car Wash & Detail Center
Kenny Breding, Bee Specialties, Printing
Henry Broadbent
Lindsay Broderick, DC, Life Choice Chiropractic
Al Buck
Clare Corcoran
Adrienne Crew
Betty Cruz
Euro Car Clinic, Inc.
Gino Elliot
Vincent Ewing
Chaka Garbutt
Richard Hernandez
Lupe Gracian
Robert Graves
William A. Grella, Jr., DDS
Donna Gurr, City Lights Streetwear
Frances Emily Dawson Harris
Richard Gibson, Global View Capital Advisors
Hilton Long Beach
Ellen Mathis, Organizing Services
Hotel Maya
Shirley Hsaio
Hurricane Harbor
In-N-Out Burger
Jamie Jauregui
Nicole Jauregui
Greg Kozlowski
Jennifer Kumiyama
Long Beach Symphony Association
Los Angeles Lakers
Samantha Mam
Mark Matsui
Zaid Moges
Gail Morrison
Mugi Miyazaki
Musical Theatre West
Dolores Nason
Orozco’s Auto Service
Khanny Ou
Pacific Park
Cathy Parsa
Susan Pearson
Yulandria Pearson
Jerilynn Peterson
Helene Pizzini
Mario Rodriguez
Bryan Root
Dave Sanfilippo
Heather Schmoll
Silissa Uriarte Smith
Six Flags Magic Mountain
Gail S. Thomas
Trader Joe’s Bixby Knolls #116
UPS Store #4466
Shirley Wild
Margaret Vento-Wilson
The Wine Country
World Famous Laugh Factory Long Beach
Zoe’s Studio
Your gift today helps DRC to continue to help its consumers toward independent living. See the list below for ways you can help DRC make this possible:
Gifts of Cash
Cash gifts are of vital importance because they can be immediately applied to services for our consumers.
Gifts-in-Kind
In-kind contributions include gifts of professional services, equipment and other tangible items that can be used by DRC.
Planned Gifts
The most common form of a planned gift is a bequest. DRC can be named as a beneficiary in a will. All charitable requests are fully tax deductible. Distinctive naming opportunities and recognition are available.
Donate Your Time
Become a volunteer and spend that free time with us. We are always looking for people to assist us around the office. For more information, be sure to check out the volunteer section under the Programs tab.
United Way Employee Campaign
If your work place participates in the United Way Employee Campaign, you can help DRC by filling out Section C – Designated Gift and naming Disabled Resources Center as the recipient of your contribution. Simply enter our information from the home page and use our agency code: 15886
Real / Personal Property & Securities
These gifts offer substantial tax advantages to the donor. Sale of these items by the organization offers the same flexibility as cash gifts.
Notifying the Public of Rights Under Title VI Disabled Resources Center, Inc.
• Disabled Resources Center, Inc. (DRC) operates its programs and services without regard to race, color, and national origin in accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. Any person who believes she or he has been aggrieved by any unlawful discriminatory practice under Title VI may file a complaint with DRC.
• For more information on DRC’s civil rights program, and the procedures to file a complaint, contact 562-427-1000 (TTY 562-427-1366); email title.vi.complaint@drcinc.org; or visit our administrative office at 2750 East Spring Street, Suite 100, Long Beach, CA 90806. For more information, visit www.drcinc.org.
• A complainant may file a complaint directly with the Federal Transit Administration by filing a complaint with the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), Office of Civil Rights, Region IX, San Francisco Federal Building, 90, 7th Street, Suite 15-300, San Francisco, CA 94103.
• If information is needed in another language, contact 562-427-1000.
In order to comply with 49 CFR Section 21.9 (b), the following complaint procedure will be followed by DRC in the event that any person believes that he or she, individually, or as a member of any specific class of persons, has been excluded from participation in, been denied the benefits of, or been subjected to discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, sexual orientation, disability or income level, with regard to:
• The availability and equitable distribution of mobility training services and benefits;
• The level and quality of mobility training services that are sufficient to provide equal access and mobility for all persons;
• The opportunity to participate in the mobility training planning and decision-making processes; and
• The right to fair decisions on the location of mobility training.
Notificar al Público de los Derechos Bajo Título VI
Disabled Resources Center, Inc.
• Disabled Resources Center, Inc. (DRC) opera sus programas y servicios sin distinción de raza, color, o origen nacional, con arreglo al Título VI de la Ley de Derechos Civiles. Cualquier persona que cree que él o ella ha sido agraviado por cualquier práctica discriminatoria ilegal bajo el Título VI puede presentar una queja con DRC.
• Para obtener más información sobre el programa derechos civiles de DRC y los procedimientos para presentar una queja, comuníquese con 562-427-1000 (TTY 562-427-1366); correo electrónico title.vi.complaint@drcinc.org; o visite nuestra oficina administrativa en 2750 East Spring Street, Suite 100, Long Beach, CA 90806. Para obtener más información, visite www.drcinc.org.
• El demandante puede presentar una queja directamente ante la Federal Transit Administration para archivar una queja con la Oficina de Derechos Civiles, Atención: Coordinador del Programa Título VI, Region IX, San Francisco Federal Building, 90, 7th Street, Suite 15-300, San Francisco, CA 94103.
• Si necesita mas información en otro idioma, llame al 562-427-1000.
Job Announcements
JOB OPENING:
DRC currently has job openings for new Personal Assistants (PA), who are interested in becoming IN-HOME CAREGIVERS to DRC’s consumers. Working as a Personal Assistant can consist of one or more of the following jobs: personal care, bathing, dressing, cooking, driving, shopping, and general housekeeping.
