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Golden Gate Regional Center and Support for Families urge city to expand paid internships, youth access and inclusive recreation
Summary
Presenters from Golden Gate Regional Center and Support for Families described programs that connect people with disabilities to paid internships and family supports; they recommended coordinated city action on internships, later youth-program start times, adaptive playgrounds and clearer accommodation procedures for youth internships.
Two nonprofit presenters at the Oct. 17 Mayor's Disability Council meeting urged the council to help expand employment and youth-access opportunities for people with disabilities.
Julian McCarthy, employment specialist at the Golden Gate Regional Center, described a state-funded paid internship program that allows people under regional center services to work up to 20 hours a week for a year with wages paid through a financial-management service. "It's a fantastic opportunity for folks that are under our purview to work at any employer site," he said, and asked the council to consider how the city might partner with GGRC and the ACE (Access to City Employment) program to create a referral funnel into city jobs.
Wendy Neikirk Rhodes, executive director of Support for Families of Children with Disabilities, and Myrna Little, the organization's manager of family support, outlined family-centered services (case management, parent training, inclusive events) and recommended several priorities for youth and teens: later program start times to accommodate longer commutes for students with IEP-provided busing, increased accessibility and adaptive equipment at parks and playgrounds, improved staff training and ratios for programs that serve children with complex needs, and clearer processes for requesting accommodations during internship applications.
Council members thanked both presenters and noted the practical value of linking these programs to city employment and recreation partners. What happens next: Presentations will be uploaded to the MDC agenda; presenters and ODA staff signaled willingness to pursue coordination with city departments on internship pipelines and accessible youth programming.
