Policy update
October 2026
National
- October Is Recognized As National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM).
- The ARC
- California Department of Rehabilitation: Order of Selection (OOS) https://www.dor.ca.gov/Home/OrderofSelection
- Voting: voter registration: individuals with disabilities and conservatees
- Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP)
- Disability Rights California
https://www.dol.gov/agencies/odep/initiatives/ndeam
In October 2026, we celebrate National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), an annual recognition of the positive impact of people with disabilities in the American workforce. This year’s NDEAM theme will be "Celebrating Value and Talent,"
National Disability Employment Awareness Month 2026: Key Theme, Facts, And Resources
October 7, 2026
Every October, National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) recognizes the contributions of workers with disabilities and calls attention to the barriers that still keep too many people out of the workforce. There’s still a long way to go. In September 2026, only 40.3% of working-age people with disabilities were employed, compared with 75% of people without disabilities. For people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), opportunities for competitive, integrated employment are even more limited. At The Arc, disability employment is year-round work. We advocate for policies that expand competitive, integrated employment, challenge low expectations and discrimination, and create more opportunities for people with disabilities to build careers and earn fair wages.
ODEP and the U.S. Department of Labor Announce the Career Track Challenge
http://dol.gov/agencies/odep/initiatives/career-track-challenge
The Career Track Challenge is a national competition inviting innovators, developers, entrepreneurs, disabled Americans, and workforce experts to create accessible digital tools that empower job seekers with disabilities to translate their strengths and goals into real-world career pathways in local, high-demand industries. A webinar planned for Thursday, December 3, 2026 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM PST will discuss the challenge’s mission, question and feedback submission, expected prize amounts, and the planned January 2027 launch.
State
ODEP and the U.S. Department of Labor Announce the Career Track Challenge
October 16, 2026
California Health and Human Services Agency Secretary Kim Johnson sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Justice reaffirming California’s commitment to protecting the rights of people with disabilities to live, work, and fully participate in their communities. The letter expresses strong opposition to recent federal actions that threaten longstanding civil rights protections established under the Americans with Disabilities Act and the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark Olmstead v. L.C. decision. California remains committed to ensuring people with disabilities have access to the services, supports, and opportunities they need to live independently and thrive in the communities of their choice.
Beginning August 31, 2026, the Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) is in an order of selection (OOS).
The federal government requires that an OOS process be initiated when the department does not have available resources to provide the full range of Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) services. DOR has experienced a significant increase in the number of individuals receiving VR services, combined with the rising costs of those services. Staffing and financial resources have not grown at the same pace, creating a strain on our capacity to serve every individual to the high standard we uphold. At this time, all new applicants who are determined eligible for services will be placed on a waiting list. OOS does not impact consumers who have an approved and signed Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE) in place. Those services will continue without interruption. OOS only affects new applicants who have been deemed eligible for services. Questions about OOS should be directed to DOR at OOSQuestions@dor.ca.gov
Additional information is available through DOR’s Order of Selection webpage https://www.dor.ca.gov/Home/OrderofSelection
Governor Newsom Announces 49,000 New Apprenticeships For Californians, Supporting Nearly 700,000 Earn-And-Learn Opportunities
Oct 16, 2026
BAKERSFIELD – Governor Newsom today (10/16/26) announced a $44.4 million investment to train 49,000 new apprentices through 131 programs statewide. Since 2019, California has supported more than 694,000 earn-and-learn opportunities, including nearly 267,000 registered apprentices.
Governor Newsom’s strategies to create more earn-and-learn opportunities continue to pay off for Californians, with 694,000 earn-and-learn opportunities created since 2019. Workforce training programs have helped boost job creation in California, with 129,300 jobs created year over year at twice the national rate.
The latest investments include:
- $15.9 million in funding to 67 programs supporting approximately 10,000 individuals through the Apprenticeship Innovation Fund (AIF).
- $28.5 million in Employment Training Panel (ETP) funding to support 64 apprenticeship programs, training an estimated 39,040 California workers.
- All Regional Centers to Implement the Life Outcomes Improvement System (LOIS) Department of Developmental Services
https://www.dds.ca.gov/initiatives/lois/
https://trailerbill.dof.ca.gov/public/trailerBill/pdf/1350
https://arcanet.org/about-arca-legislation-2026-27-2/
The Life Outcomes Improvement System (LOIS) shall serve as the system used by all regional centers to improve the user experience, promote access, and manage eligibility and services for individuals and families who are applying for or receiving regional center services.
Senate Bill 589 (2015): Voting Rights and Conservatorships
https://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/15-16/bill/sen/sb_0551-0600/sb_589_bill_20150820_amended_asm_v96.htm
This bill authorizes an individual with a disability who is otherwise qualified to vote to complete an affidavit of registration with reasonable accommodations as needed. The bill would also authorize an individual with a disability who is under a conservatorship to be registered to vote if he or she has not been disqualified from voting. The bill would authorize an affiant who is an individual with a disability to complete the affidavit of registration with reasonable accommodations as needed. The bill would find and declare that by explicitly adding the concept of reasonable accommodation to state laws on voter qualification, the bill brings the state into compliance with federal standards.
https://www.disabilityrightsca.org/legislation/sb-589-block-2015-voting-and-conservatorships
Voting and Conservatorships (SB 589)
This bill authorizes an individual with a disability who is otherwise qualified to vote to complete an affidavit of registration with reasonable accommodations as needed.
Los Angeles County
H.R. 1: Changes to Medi-Cal Eligibility for Federally Funded Coverage Take Effect October 1, 2026
The federal government will change how it classifies some immigration statuses. The change will affect whether some adults can continue to keep federally funded full-scope Medi-Cal. The Los Angeles County Department of Public Social Services (DPSS) is reminding Medi-Cal customers who may be affected by the October 1, 2026, changes to carefully review notices they receive from DPSS and the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS), keep their contact information current, respond to requests for information and complete their Medi-Cal renewal on time. While the new federal requirements change eligibility for federal Medicaid funding for certain Qualified Non-Citizens, some populations will remain federally eligible, and others will continue to receive full-scope Medi-Cal through state funding.
The Changes. Your Options. Our Support., focuses on helping customers understand what is changing, what actions may be required and what options and resources are available. Medi-Cal customers, families, and community partners can visit the Keep Your Benefits website for the latest updates, resources and upcoming webinars.
LA County Takes Lead on Federal Homelessness Funding and Annual Homeless Count
October 13, 2026
https://www.dailynews.com/2026/10/13/la-county-becomes-lead-agency-for-federal-homeless-funds-plus-performing-annual-homeless-count/
Los Angeles County will be responsible for running the annual homeless count starting in 2028 and will take the lead on applying for federal funding grants, according to a vote by Los Angeles Continuum of Care members in downtown L.A. on Tuesday, Oct. 13. The vote marks the transfer of two long-held functions from the troubled Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) to L.A. County, specifically to the county’s Homeless Services and Housing Department (HSH).