Our Clients – Past and Present
BRC’s clients range from community based advocacy groups, nonprofit organizations to government agencies. They come to us with the desire to increase their effectiveness and impact. BRC acts as a bridge connecting facilitative consulting with visual strategies that make complex ideas simple.
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California Department of Developmental Services (DDS)DDS is the state department through which California provides services and supports to 245,000 individuals with developmental disabilities and their families living in the community and developmental centers. DDS won a design award from the California State Information Officers Council for the BRC’s innovative “Ways to Make Complex Information Simple” CD Rom. BRC with guidance from the Consumer Advisory Committee developed the effective and successful decision making process – Think-Plan-Do that continues to provide new opportunities for people to “live the life they want.” BRC and DDS Office of Human Rights and Advocacy continue to collaborate on a variety of person-centered and choice making media and learning projects that increase community inclusion, employment opportunities and emergency planning awareness. In addition, BRC produced statewide publications that describe self-direction and family participation. Videos, publications and presentations can be viewed from the Library menu on the BRC website. BRC provides consultation services to the DDS Office of Human Rights and Advocacy Services and Consumer Advisory Committee. We coordinated a multi-year assignment to advance statewide Leadership through Personal Change that included producing and publishing more than 20 advocacy videos and planning guidebooks. BRC developed numerous easy to use publications that outlined strategies and action plans for “Making Choices.” In addition, BRC created statewide emergency preparedness videos and worksheets funded by U.S. Homeland Security through DDS, Feeling Safe, Being Safe, which has been distributed nationally. http://dds.ca.gov/ConsumerCorner/Home.cfm
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California’s Regional Center SystemRegional Centers are large community based non-profit private organizations that contract with the California Department of Developmental Services to provide or coordinate services and supports for persons with developmental disabilities and their families. They have offices throughout California to provide local resources for assessment, case management and access to a range of services available to individuals and their families. There are 21 centers serving more than 235,000 individuals and their families. Videos, publications and presentations can be viewed from the Library menu on the BRC website. http://www.arcanet.org/ BRC has a long-term relationship with numerous Regional Centers providing leadership consultation, governance facilitation, organizational development and training services. BRC has worked with more than half of the Regional Centers, their boards of directors, advisory committees and parent support groups throughout California. In addition, BRC was the key consultant and facilitation team to assist the statewide Association of Regional Center Agencies in establishing their Consumer Advisory Committee. BRC consultancy for Regional Centers has included topical series ranging from governance to school/community inclusion, advocacy, and parent collaboration. In addition, BRC provided multimedia trainings, easy to understand and use materials and developed plain language versions of significant Regional Center and legislative policies for use by community members. Highlights:
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California State Council, Developmental Disabilities Area Boards, University Centers for ExcellenceState Councils on Developmental Disabilities are established in each state through the federal Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act. They have a federally-assigned responsibility to improve services for persons with developmental disabilities and their families. |
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Developmental Disabilities Area Boards are affiliated offices of SCDD that protect and advocate for the civil, legal and service rights of people with developmental disabilities. They were created by California law to carry out monitoring responsibilities that assure persons with developmental disabilities and their families have access to services they need. |
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University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities are authorized under federal law to work with persons with disabilities and their families, state and local governments and community agencies. They focus on projects that provide training, technical assistance, research and information sharing which builds communities to sustain all their citizens. BRC provides consultancy and multimedia production services to SCDD and has provided services to nearly half of its 13 regional Area Boards. BRC was called to address agency priorities through facilitation and training, governance development, accessible media and assist with building community alliances. Key outcomes include the creation of the SCDD Employment Advisory Committee and the production of policies, reports and legislative summaries in accessible formats. In addition, BRC produced media, adapted materials and facilitated consumer groups to support Senate Bill 1270. All videos, publications and presentations produced as part of BRC work with SCDD and Area Boards can be viewed from the Library menu on the BRC website.
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Service Providers and Volunteer AgenciesCommunity-based service and volunteer agencies carry out the work of program delivery to children and adults so they may improve the quality of their lives, advocate for rights and develop career opportunities. Service providers and support groups provide avenues to skill building, networking and finding opportunities to engage with and contribute to their communities. Video and publications produced by BRC can be viewed from the Library menu on the BRC website |
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BRC provides training, coaching and media development services to numerous service agencies and volunteer groups at local, state, national and international levels. BRC focuses on assisting each agency in finding creative ways to express and direct their mission, involve their constituencies and build inclusive community networks. BRC assists agencies with providing person-centered services, team and organizational development, agency-to-agency collaboration, community building, resource expansion, media adaptations and advancement of public policy. BRC produces easy-to-understand and use publications and media to increase citizen awareness, rights and responsibilities, advocacy and action. Emphasis is on best practices in person-centered services and utilization of accessible media that inspires quality service delivery, personal responsibility, volunteerism and community collaboration.
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School Transformation and Community CollaborationCommunity schools that encourage and practice meaningful inclusion of students in typical classes, family involvement and creative thinking provide their learners with tools to become proactive engaged citizens. Schools that develop family, community and business partnerships enhance achievement and full acceptance of all students. Schools that utilize inquiry and exploration as a teaching strategy, partnership development do cultivate student achievement, greater family engagement and peer acceptance. http://www.essentialschools.org/cs/schools/view/ces_centers/7 |
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BRC collaborates with its partners and coaches to develop and facilitate the process to create school and community alliances, vision based strategies that lead to school transformation and higher student achievement. For students who attend public and community non-public schools. BRC and its partners support schools and their districts to build shared visions, drawing on their community's strengths and resources. Through training, coaching and media development, BRC guides parent groups to develop long-term vision and planning for their children’s success, participate in achievement activities and be a participating member of the school. BRC utilizes multimedia and personalized facilitation to guide school leadership teams to reach goals, increase achievement and personalize education and interactions. http://www.scilsgroup.org/index2.html |
Other State, National and International OrganizationsNational advocacy organizations play an important role in setting priorities and direction for personal and community empowerment. Stakeholder engagement can drive policy-making and result in increased quality of life. Successful organizations build sustainable partnerships through strong leadership that ensures high performance and sustainable stakeholder engagement. BRC collaborates with other organizations to provide services to research, education and advocacy organizations at the regional, state and national levels. Teamwork focuses on identifying creative ways to inform and actively involve their constituencies in accomplishing meaningful outcomes. |
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U.S. International Council on DisabilitiesConvention on the
Rights of Persons with Disabilities Washington, DC |
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Leadership Today Inclusive governance training and adaptations |
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NISHPlain language program brochure and field test Vienna,
VA http://www.nish.org
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Additional clients and collaborationsINCLUSION – CONNECTION – TRANSFORMATION |
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The ARC of CA Community Imperative Conference Partners in Policy Making |
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Human Services Research Institute National Core Indicators, California |
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Allen, Shea and Associates Project Collaboration with DDS, Acumen, HSRI |
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Alpha Resource – Santa BarbaraNonprofit Board Governance Retreat |
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HCAR Nonprofit Board Governance Retreat |
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SEIU California Graphic Adaptation
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Regional and National Business Groups |
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State Farm Insurance/Fariba Zand Think-Plan-Do Money Managing |
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Acumen fiscal AgentsSelf-Directed Services - Fiscal Information
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