Advocacy (Disabilities and Health Conditions)

The center provides services for people with disabilities who live in Artesia, Avalon, Cypress, Hawaiian Gardens, La Palma, Lakewood, Long Beach and Signal Hill. Services include advocacy, assistive technology equipment loan, personal assistance services, housing services, independent living skills, peer support, welfare rights assistance, transitional funding and specialized information and referral services. Geographic restrictions apply.

The program provides advocacy for the disabled community and works to educate elected officials on issues concerning the disabled community on a local, state and federal level.

The program provides assistance to help people with disabilities receive benefits to which they are entitled. DRC staff provide information concerning eligibility and application for available support.

The center maintains a registry of attendants. It screens people before adding them to the registry. Consultation regarding how to manage an attendant is available for people who use the registry.

The center's housing program helps people with disabilities locate available accessible housing.

The center also offers interpreter referrals and TDD relay services for people who are deaf or hard of hearing, peer support on an individual or group basis and information and referral to other resources. It can provide specialized information, referral and support for homeless people with disabilities who are in Long Beach. Staff assess the homeless person's or family's needs, then links them with a variety of resources. The Transitional Funding Program assists people to move from convalescent care to independent living.