Council Members
Council Member Listing:
- Alas Bucton, Roque
- Andrade Zuniga, Ligia
- Bateman, Dwight
- Coe, Shannon
- Cruz, Alan
- Escobedo, Anisa
- Harris, Eric
- Hayes, Lisa
- Miller, Tink
- Reinhardt, Claire
- Rotchy, Susan
- Solorzano, Jose
- Yang, Jenny
Ex-officio Member Listing:
- Nancy Bargmann, Department of Developmental Services (DDS)
- Susan DeMarois, California Department of Aging (CDA)
- Kim Johnson, Department of Social Services (DSS)
- Joe Xavier, Department of Rehabilitation (DOR)
Council Members:
Roque Alas-Bucton, 57, of Duarte, has been a Disability Advocate Coordinator for Painted Brain since 2021 and an Independent Contractor and Producer for music production and performance since 1983. He was Director and Founder of the Filipino Artists Network from 2001 to 2011.
Cruz, Alan | Council Member
Alan Cruz (he/him) is the Youth Community Liaison for the Dayle McIntosh Center (DMC). He is a blind Mexican man. He started with DMC in August 2017 as a youth. In 2018 he became a volunteer through YO! Disabled and Proud. At the end of his time with YO, he got offered a job opportunity at the Dayle McIntosh Center. He has been involved with the California Youth Leadership Forum (YLF) and the Association of Programs for Rural Independent Living (APRIL). Alan was recently appointed to the California State Independent Living Council by the Governor. He enjoys music, technology and helping others be successful in life. Alan has a positive attitude, and he takes his work very seriously. His motto is “Piece of Cake!” when collaborating or taking initiative.
Hayes, Lisa | Council Member
Lisa Hayes is the Executive Director of Rolling Start Independent Living Center. Prior to that she served as Associate Vice President of Managed Long Term Supports and Services for Molina Healthcare, Inc. She has twenty years’ experience working in healthcare operations and contracting; seven of those as Director of Disability and Senior Access services where she focused on helping Molina shape its healthcare delivery system to meet the needs of older adults and people with disabilities moving into more coordinated systems of care.
Along with serving as an appointed member of the California State Independent Living Council, Lisa serves on the National Council of Independent Living’s (NCIL) PAS/healthcare subcommittee. Past service includes six years on the board of an Independent Living Center, three of those as board chair. She is a competent communicator Toastmaster where she served as club secretary.Lisa currently lives in Bellflower, California with her son Christopher.
She holds an AA in Music from Mt. San Antonio College and a Bachelor of Science degree in Organizational Leadership from Biola University.
Reinhardt, Claire | Council Member
Claire has a passion for disability rights and justice, which has manifested in advocacy work for disabled people in the education and medical fields. She has been a consultant for disabled children’s educational access both for school districts as well as for multiply marginalized families. She has earned a Master of Arts in Disability Studies from the City University of New York.
Her past presentations and publications focus on the importance of de-stigmatizing disability and discuss self-advocacy and agency. Topics include empowering students in their IEP meetings, including disabled children in medical discussions and decisions, encouraging medical community members to present disability diagnoses and care with a positive or at minimum neutral lens, and teasing out the power dynamics of helping versus supporting.
Rotchy, Susan | Council Member
Rotchy has played an instrumental role in advocating for people with disabilities after becoming paralyzed from an automobile accident. Susan began her activism at the local community college and she went on and received her Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration at Golden Gate University. Susan has held several employment positions as an Optician, Substitute Teacher, Benefits Specialist, Program Manager and she is currently the Executive Director for Independent Living Resources of Solano & Contra Costa Counties and has been in that position since 2010. Today, Susan sits on the In-Home Support Service advisory committee for Solano County and is a committee member for Solano Transportation for Senior’s and Disabilities.
Solorzano, Jose | Council Member
Jose Solorzano has been a community health representative for the Inland Empire Health Plan since 2017. He was a disability and senior outreach coordinator for Molina Healthcare from 2015 to 2017 and was a benefits and resources specialist for Southern California Rehabilitation Services from 2007 to 2012. Solorzano is a member of the Inland Empire Disabilities Collaborative.
Yang, Jenny | Council Member
Jenny Yang was Vice Chair of the State Council on Developmental Disabilities from 2013 to 2018. She was a student member of the California Community Colleges Board of Governors from 2011 to 2013. Yang was a box office clerk for the Ukiah Players Theatre from 2008 to 2010 and a guest services representative for Holiday Inn Express in 2007. She held multiple positions at Mendocino College from 2006 to 2007, including statistics tutor and teacher’s assistant.
Ex-Officio Members:
Nancy Bargmann | Ex-Officio Member, Department of Developmental Services
NANCY BARGMANN was appointed Director of the California Department of Developmental Services (DDS) on March 4, 2016, by Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. The Department, in conjunction with the 21 private nonprofit regional centers located throughout the State, provides services and supports to over 300,000 Californians with developmental disabilities.
Director Bargmann has extensive experience in the developmental services field, both in the private, non-profit and corporate sectors, and the State. From 2012-2015, she served as deputy director of the Community Services Division at DDS where she developed policy and oversaw regional center operations and services.
Since 2015, she has served as associate executive director at the San Gabriel/Pomona Regional Center. From 2009 to 2012, she held a variety of positions at Home Ownership for Personal Empowerment Inc., including executive director and business consultant, and held several positions at the MENTOR Network from 1998 to 2009, including vice president of operations, vice president of business development and California state director.
In addition, she held several positions at the Inland Regional Center from 1985 to 1998, including community services director, resource manager, adult services program manager and consumer services coordinator. Ms. Bargmann started her career working with individuals who have developmental disabilities as a direct service professional with The Arc of Orange County in 1984.
A native Californian, she was born and raised in San Bernardino.
Director Bargmann earned a Master of Business Administration degree from the Pepperdine University School of Business and Management, and a Master of Science degree in social work from San Diego State University.
Joe Xavier | Ex-Officio Member, Department of Rehabilitation
The Department of Rehabilitation has played a huge role in my life, and I welcome the chance to give back. As a former consumer, I have a profound understanding of the barriers consumers face on their path to meaningful employment. We strive to equip each individual with a disability who enters our door with the tools to attain employment, achieve independence, and realize equality.
Near and dear to my heart is the partnership we have with our stakeholders and communities that deliver services and supports to our consumers. I am pleased to honor what we have built to date, and look forward to improving our future.
For five decades, our services to Californians with disabilities have resulted in countless lives improved, dreams realized, and accomplishments achieved. Regardless of the successes we have already attained, we must continue to find ways to advance our programs so the next 50 years find us celebrating our vision as a reality.