Before defining or expanding equity goals, CCDA conducted an internal review to ensure alignment with its statutory purpose as defined in Government Code 14985. Government Code 14985 establishes CCDA’s role as a non-regulatory body tasked with promoting disability access through collaboration, education, and information sharing among the business community, disability community, and all levels of government. CCDA’s current equity definition, which focuses on identifying and addressing barriers disproportionately affecting people with disabilities, directly supports this purpose. Rather than altering the Commission’s mission, the equity lens enhances it by ensuring that outreach and technical assistance are tailored, inclusive, and responsive to diverse disability experiences across California.
Additionally, while CCDA remains aware of evolving federal equity guidance, any future adoption of such frameworks will be carefully assessed to ensure that they complement and do not conflict with CCDA’s legislatively defined role in California. The equity strategies CCDA pursues are purposefully grounded in its state-defined mission and are designed to promote access while respecting the statutory framework under which the Commission operates.
3. CCDA’s Equity Lens in Action
In its efforts, CCDA implemented an equity-centered approach to disability access compliance that extends beyond meeting minimum legal requirements. This approach emphasized creating environments in which all individuals could fully participate. It takes ongoing efforts to identify and remove systemic barriers, advocate for the most inclusive solutions, and ensure that all people are treated with dignity and respect in every environment they enter whether physical, digital, or social.
For example, in implementing CCDA Strategic Goal #3: Increase Engagement with Businesses Led by Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), etc., among other objectives, CCDA prioritized regions with both a high number of accessibility violations as well as significant BIPOC populations, who often face systemic barriers to access. By focusing outreach efforts on locations where accessibility challenges and equity concerns intersect, CCDA was able to maximize the impact and relevance of its technical assistance. The analysis of demographic trends alongside accessibility enabled CCDA to adjust its outreach