One of the partners of the Local Age and Disability-Friendly Action Plan is Sacramento County’s Resources for Independent Living, which has been serving people in the county for nearly 50 years. Photo courtesy of Sacramento County Health and Social Services

SACRAMENTO COUNTY, CA (MPG) - Sacramento County is celebrating local achievements to create a disability-friendly community. One exciting achievement is the Local Age and Disability-Friendly Action Plan (LADAP).

By 2030, one-fourth of Sacramento 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 Local Age and Disability-Friendly Action Plan, a comprehensive initiative shaped by years of advocacy and community input. The Sacramento County Board of Supervisors voted to adopt the plan in February and the county celebrated the launch in March.

One partner of the Local Age and Disability-Friendly Action Plan is Sacramento County’s Resources for Independent Living, which has been serving people in the county for nearly 50 years.

Resources for Independent Living promotes the independence of people with disabilities by providing independent living services and advocacy. It is part of a national network of more than 400 Independent Living Centers and is one of 28 centers in California.

While the Local Age and Disability-Friendly Action Plan was being shaped, Resources for Independent Living 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 Resources for Independent Living program manager Rebekah Reynolds.

Through partnerships, such as the one with Resources for Independent Living, 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 and Disability-Friendly Action Plan brings lived experience and expertise to the table, proving that real change happens when communities listen, collaborate and act.

Learn more about Resources for Independent Living’s services or access support by visiting its website at ril-sacramento.org or calling 916-446-3074.

To learn more about Sacramento County’s Local Age & Disability-Friendly Action Plan, visit www.agefriendlysaccounty.org.