Who is your
clients' rights advocate?

Alta California Regional Center, Sacramento

Jackie Coleman, CRA

Phone: (916) 575-1615

Central Valley Regional Center, Fresno

Arthur Lipscomb, CRA

All of my life, I have been committed to advocating for the rights of traditionally underserved and disadvantaged communities, with a particular interest in the educational rights of children. I earned my undergraduate degree from the University of California, Berkeley.  I majored in Legal Studies with a minor in Education.  While at Berkeley, I had the opportunity to work for two years at the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office as a legal intern.  I also devoted much of my time to outreach, tutoring and youth mentoring so I could help and motivate young people to get a college education.   

I earned my J.D. from the University of California, Davis School of Law.  In law school, I worked as a legal extern for the Yolo County Office of Court Counsel and was an intern at Consumers Union.  I also participated with my law school’s Pro Bono program and volunteered my time at an employment law clinic. 

I started working for OCRA in 2003, after two years working for Legal Services of Northern California.  While at LSNC, I first began advocating for persons with disabilities while serving as a CAP Advocate.   

I am honored to serve as the Clients’ Rights Advocate for Central Valley Regional Center and look forward to being of service.

Phone: (559 271-6606

Regional Center of the East Bay, Oakland

Anna Leach-Proffer , CRA

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Phone: (510) 636-4213

East Los Angeles Regional Center

Matthew Pope, CRA

After returning from Vietnam, I decided to get a special education teachers' credential. I started as an aide, then became a teacher. In 1978, I went to work at Eastern Los Angeles Regional Center as an intake worker, then became a client program coordinator, a parent training project supervisor, and finally a CRA.

When the law passed to put CRAs under an independent agency, I still wanted to advocate for people with disabilities. I formed a corporation to bid for the contract. I'm glad that my fledgling agency did not get it, but that PAI did.

Phone: (626) 576-4437.

Far Northern Regional Center, Chico, CRA

Andrew Holcombe, CRA

Phone: (530) 345-4113

Golden Gate Regional Center, San Francisco

Katy Lusson, CRA

I have worked for over thirty years with people with Developmental Disabilities and has done direct service work in many different capacities. I have a Juris Doctorate and also has a degree in Special Ed. and Psychology.

Phone: (415) 499-9724

Harbor Regional Center, Los Angeles

Katie Casada-Hornberger, CRA

Prior to and periodically during law school, I taught special education. While in law school I interned at Dependency Court Legal Services and The Alliance for Children’s Rights. I came to OCRA after practicing special education law after graduating from law school.

Playing with my three dogs helps me to unwind after some of the challenging cases that come into the office.

Phone: (562) 623-9911

Inland Regional Center, Montclair

Veronica Cervantes, CRA

Phone: (909) 890-4798

Kern Regional Center, Bakersfield

Margie Oppel , Intrim CRA

Phone: (661) 327-8531 ext. 313

Lanterman Regional Center, Los Angeles

Debby Doitch, Intrim CRA

North Bay Regional Center, Napa

Yulahlia Hernandez, CRA

After graduating from San Jose State University with a B.A. in Latin American History, I continued on to Santa Clara University School of Law to earn my J.D. and Public Interest Certificate. While in law school, I worked for Bay Area Legal Aid focusing on SSI appeals and advocacy workshops for Spanish speaking survivors of domestic violence. Also, while in law school, I had the opportunity to intern for the Northern California Innocence Project which gave me the experience to advocate for prisoners with respect to claims of innocence.

I have been working as a CRA since April of 2003. I am grateful for the opportunity to assist consumers, and to be a part of a great advocacy team!

Phone: (707) 224-2798

North Los Angeles Regional Center

Ibrahim (“Bebo”) K. Saab, CRA

As an individual with a developmental disability and a consumer of the Westside Regional Center, I am thrilled to join OCRA as a Clients’ Rights Advocate.  It is indeed a privilege to use my professional training not only to address the significant legal issues surrounding developmental disabilities, but also to support a group of individuals with whom I share a deep affinity.

 I received my B.A. in English, with high honors, from the University of California, Berkeley in 1999.  I remained at Berkeley another three years to earn my Juris Doctorate from Boalt Hall.  I served as President of the Boalt Disability Law Society and helped to organize a daylong symposium on cutting edge issues in disability rights law.  I also served as a summer law clerk at the Western Law Center for Disability Rights. Since graduation, I have remained on WLCDR’s Young Professionals Board.

Prior to joining OCRA, I was an associate working in the commercial litigation department of a major law firm.  I learned a great deal during my tenure at the firm, but I have no doubt that my position at OCRA will prove far more rewarding.

Phone: (818)-756-6290

Regional Center of Orange County, Santa Ana

Jacqueline Miller, CRA

Phone: (714) 621-0563

Redwood Coast Regional Center, Eureka

Jim Stoepler, CRA

My first job as an attorney was with a legal aid office in Oxnard. I quickly learned that laws can be used to help or to hurt the most vulnerable people. As a CRA, I have the opportunity to use the law to assist consumers. I consider myself fortunate to work in a small community while having ties to the statewide resources of PAI.

Phone: (707) 445-0893

Redwood Coast Regional Center, Lake County

Doug Harris, CRA

Transplanted to California from northern Wisconsin in my mid 20’s, I found myself embroiled in advocacy in public benefits, not by design, but because of my personal experience with a county welfare department.  As I started this work, the more I did and saw the more there was to see and do.  My time since has involved over eleven years with legal services serving Mendocino and Lake Counties as a public benefits paralegal, and nearly as long as a paralegal for a private social security/SSI practitioner in Lake County.  I subsequently grabbed opportunities to serve as director of the Lake-Mendocino Area Agency on Aging while completing an MSW program through San Francisco State University, work in an intensive out-patient mental health facility, and serve briefly as an administrator for a private foster family agency.  Since fall 1998, I have taught Human Services courses part-time for the local community college.

Coming to OCRA in late 1999 has reminded me how firmly my roots are planted in advocacy.  Serving as a resource to facilitate people’s quest for their maximum fulfillment, in the face of notable obstacles, has been my most satisfying endeavor.  This explains by great appreciation for the opportunity OCRA provides. 

Phone: (707) 994-7068, ext. 132.

San Andreas Regional Center, San Jose

Rita Difilippis, CRA

Phone: (408) 374-2470

San Diego Regional Center

Bernadette Bautista, CRA

Prior to law school, I held social work positions at a Women’s Homeless Shelter, a group home for teenage foster kids, and a program for homeless immigrant youth. In those positions, I quickly realized what a huge impact the law had on the lives of disadvantaged communities such as people of color, the poor, and people with disabilities. I decided to attend Southwestern University School of Law to help empower people of underrepresented communities.

I began working at PAI as a law clerk during law school and this led me to my current position as a Client’s Rights Advocate for the IRC. Working to empower consumers and advocating on their behalf has been an amazing and rewarding experience!

Phone: (619) 239-7787

San Gabriel/Pomona Regional Center

Aimee Delgado, CRA

I obtained my BA in English and Political Science from Mount St. Mary’s College and then received my JD from Whittier Law School.  During graduate school, I was fortunate to clerk for the Public Law Center in Orange County, Dependency Court Legal Services, and the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office Consumer Protection Division.  I then had the wonderful opportunity to clerk for Protection & Advocacy, Inc.  Working for PAI opened the door to an opportunity to become an advocate with the Office of Clients' Rights Advocacy. 

I was born and raised in the San Gabriel Valley.  Now as a Clients' Rights Advocate for San Gabriel/Pomona Regional Center, I take great pleasure in empowering both consumers and their families to advocate for their rights.  

Phone: (909) 595-4755

South Central Regional Center, Los Angeles

Anastasia Bacigalupo, CRA

I graduated from Whittier Law School in 2002.  Prior to coming to OCRA, I worked as a legal advocate at the Los Angeles Center for Law Justice where I assisted victims of domestic violence.  I have been an activist in the domestic violence movement for over 10 years.

 Prior to law school, I served in the Peace Corps in Nicaragua.  I worked in a small community assisting the health ministry with vaccine campaigns and maternal and natal health programs and concerns.

 I am very honored to serve the diverse community of the South Central Los Angeles Regional Center and to work with such talented individuals at OCRA.  Anastasia Bacigalupo

Phone: (323) 292-9907

Tri-Counties Regional Center, Santa Barbara

Katherine Mottarella, CRA

I have been working as a CRA at Tri-Counties since August 1998. For more than 20 years, I have enjoyed working with people of all ages who have developmental disabilities. My work has included many settings-public schools, state hospitals, group homes, family homes, and a residential treatment center.

I decided to become a legal advocate after working with families whose children had developmental disabilities and who needed help advocating for their rights. I graduated from Southern California Institute of Law in 1994 and am licensed to practice law in California.

Phone: 805-884-7218 or 1-800-322-6994, ext. 218.

Valley Mountain RC, Stockton

Leinani Neves, CRA

I have a law degree from the University of Connecticut and a B.A in Philosophy from California State University Long Beach. In law school, I clerked for the Federal Public Defender and worked as a legal intern for the UCONN Disability Law Clinic - both experiences proved to be awe-inspiring. I provided Independent Living Skills training to consumers when in college and recognized then that with high quality support services, consumers can meet any of life's challenges. Prior to working for Protection & Advocacy, Inc., I worked as a VMRC Service Coordinator.

My brother Fred continues to inspire me to do good things for people. Through him, I have learned to appreciate the simple things in life. I hope that my personal and professional experience will help me to provide excellent advocacy services for consumers. Valley Mountain Regional Center

Phone: (209) 955-3329.

Westside Regional Center, Los Angeles

Katie Meyer, CRA

Phone: (310) 258-4205

OCRA Administration

It is a privilege to serve as the director of OCRA and to help establish an office that I passionately believe will make a significant difference in the lives of people we serve. To this end, I bring more than 15 years of experience as a public service lawyer helping people with developmental disabilities and people living in poverty obtain their legal rights.

I have a never-ending belief in the ability of people with developmental disabilities to chart their own paths, advocate for themselves, and to teach me the proper spirit in which to work with all.

Phone: (916) 575-1615 or (800) 390-7032.

My personal and professional motivation for taking on the position of administrative assistant for OCRA comes from my background and my personal goals. I enjoy organizing, public relations, and working with people to help them get what they need.

Knowing that our clients are getting what they're entitled to is rewarding in itself. People can depend on me for their needs. Although the start-up phase can be full of ups and downs, I like the challenge.

I have worked in the legal services sector for many years in both Sacramento and Santa Cruz counties. For the last five years, I worked with the Disability & Employment Rights Advocacy program. There I developed a genuine enthusiasm and dedication to providing assistance in protecting the rights of persons with disabilities. Hence, I decided to work for a more powerful organization-PAI.

Phone: (916) 575-1615

I have been working in the private sector for over 22 years, in a secretarial/office manager capacity. I always felt a need to do something more fulfilling with my work experience. So, when the bilingual secretary/receptionist position opened at PAI, I felt that I could make a small contribution, and be part of an organization that helps people and families get past tough hurdles.

Phone: (213) 427-8761

I came to PAI after four and a half years as supervising attorney at Patients' Rights Advocacy Services in San Francisco. In 1998, the California Association of Mental Health Patients' Rights Advocates selected me as Advocate of the Year. I teach a course in mental health law at the University of California, where I am an assistant professor. I would like everyone to know that I love PAI!

Phone: (916) 575-1615

Phone: (213) 427-8761, ext. 3178; (800) 390-7032.

I have been working for PAI as a temporary, part-time advocate at the Regional Center of Orange County since December 1996. Before that, I was a staff attorney at a legal aid office representing people from poor and underserved communities. I have worked in civil litigation, family law and immigration.

After a detour as in-house counsel for an insurance carrier, I realized that my true ambition in life was public interest law. Because I have two sisters with severe disabilities, I have a special interest in advocating for people with disabilities.

Phone: (213) 427-8761

Tom DiVerde, Supervising CRA