Greetings, friends, colleagues and members of the IDD community! I am here today to share with you some good news about the work that we are doing at the California Policy Center for Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (CPCIDD). But before I do that, let me tell you a little bit about myself and why I am so passionate about this mission.
My name is Dave Manson and I have the honor and the joy of serving as the Director of Outreach and Engagement for CPCIDD. I come to this work with a fire in my soul that was ignited by the love of my family. You see, I have a sister, Monika, who is a single mother raising her son, Kody, who has autism. And I have a nephew, Kody, who is one of the most beautiful souls I have ever known. He is 28 years old now, and he has taught me so much about life, about courage, about resilience, and about grace.
Together, we have experienced the hopes and the hurdles that come with living with an intellectual or developmental disability (IDD) in this world. We have celebrated his milestones, his achievements, his dreams. We have also faced the challenges, the barriers, the frustrations, the fears. We have navigated the complex system of services and supports that are supposed to help people with IDD and their families live as independent and productive lives as possible in the community. We have seen the gaps, the flaws, the inequities, the injustices in that system. And we have also seen the potential, the promise, the possibilities of what that system could be.
That is why I joined CPCIDD, an organization that is dedicated to advancing the rights, dignity, and well-being of people with IDD and their families in California. CPCIDD is a nonpartisan, nonprofit think tank that provides policy analysis, research, education, and advocacy on issues affecting the IDD community. CPCIDD works with individuals with IDD, families, advocates, experts, stakeholders, and policymakers to ensure that the policies and practices that shape the lives of people with IDD are informed by evidence, data, and best practices. CPCIDD also works to promote a culture of inclusion, respect, and empowerment for people with IDD and their families in our society.
At CPCIDD, I lead the outreach and engagement efforts to connect with the IDD community and the broader public. I work to raise awareness, to educate, to inspire, and to mobilize people to get involved in the policy process and to make their voices heard. I work to build partnerships, to foster collaboration, to create coalitions, and to amplify the impact of our work. I work to make sure that the people who are most affected by the policies and decisions that are made are the ones who are at the table, who are part of the conversation, who are part of the solution.
I am proud and grateful to be part of this amazing team at CPCIDD, and I invite you to join us in our mission. Together, we can make a difference. Together, we can make California a better place for people with IDD and their families. Together, we can make it possible for every Californian living with an IDD to live their fullest and best lives!
Dave Manson
