Council Members
Council Member Listing:
- Alas Bucton, Roque
- Andrade Zuniga, Ligia
- Aquino-Irving, Kyla
- Barajas, Kathleen
- Bateman, Dwight
- Butler, Patrick
- Harris, Eric
- Hayes, Lisa
- Mendez, Maya
- Miller, Tink
- Solorzano, Jose
- Thomas, Jay’Riah
- Yang, Jenny
Ex-officio Member Listing:
- Joe Xavier, Department of Rehabilitation (DOR)
- Vacant California Department of Aging (CDA) Position
- Vacant Department of Developmental Services (DDS) Position
- Vacant Department of Social Services (DSS) Position
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.
Kyla Aquino Irving, 42, of Rancho Cordova, has been Communications and Marketing Manager for United Way California Capital Region since 2020. She was Communications and Marketing Director for California Foundation for Independent Living Centers from 2017 to 2020, Program Director for Physicians for a Healthy California in 2016 and Communications Administrator for the Health Education Council from 2014 to 2015. Irving was a Grant Field Monitor for Richard Heath Associates Inc. in 2014, an Associate for the Social Innovation and Philanthropy Division at Dewey Square Group in 2013 and an Account Coordinator at Randle Communications from 2011 to 2013. She is a member of the Public Relations Society of America.
Hayes, Lisa | Council Chair
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.
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.
Thomas, Jay’Riah | Council Member
Jay’Riah Thomas has been manager of The Arc San Francisco and a summer school ISP teacher for Five Keys Charter School since 2018. She was a teacher for Fortune School of Education from 2016 to 2018. Thomas was a paraeducator for the Elk Grove Unified School District from 2013 to 2016. She is a member of the Black Women of Political Action, Sacramento Chapter and the Spelman College Alumnae Association, Sacramento Chapter. Thomas earned a Master of Education degree from the University of the Pacific.
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:
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.