Our vision statement: People with disabilities enjoy equality, dignity, power, freedom of choice, independence

Board of Directors biographies

Public member biographies

 

Dianne MilnerDianne Millner, President

Oakland
2nd Term: 3/12/05-3/11/11
Contact: board@disabilityrightsca.org or
Disability Rights California
Attn: Diane Millner
100 Howe Ave., Suite 185N
Sacramento, CA 95825

Dianne Millner is the mother of a young woman with visual impairment and developmental delay. Since her daughter was an infant, Dianne actively advocated for educational and social inclusion for children with disabilities. Dianne believes that society should provide appropriate training, financial support and, most importantly, opportunities for people with disabilities so they can live life in the manner of their own choosing.

Dianne's priorities include advocating for inclusive work and careers, recreational, social and educational opportunities for people with disabilities. Dianne is especially interested in seeing that youth with disabilities in the foster care and juvenile justice system receive appropriate attention and support.

Dianne served as President of the Parents and Friends Association of the California School for the Blind; Library Commission Chair of the National Organization of Parents of Blind Children; and board member of Youth for Service. She mentors African-American high school students to help them prepare and apply for college. Dianne also helps organize toy and food drives in Latino neighborhoods. 

Dianne received her bachelor's degree from the University of California at Berkeley and her law degree from Stanford Law School. She serves as a supervising attorney in the Oakland City Attorney's office. For recreation, Dianne plays the djembe drum with Isis Rising Women's African Drumming Group.

Diana Pastora CarsonDiana Pastora Carson, Chair

Jamul
2nd Term: 10/30/04-10/29/10
Contact: board@disabilityrightsca.org or
Disability Rights California
Attn: Diana Pastora Carson
100 Howe Ave., Suite 185N
Sacramento, CA 95825

Diana Pastora Carson has been a teacher in San Diego County for the past eleven years. She has taught both special education and general education and teaches a Disability Studies course through San Diego State University Foundation. As the founder of Ability Awareness in Action, Diana is a consultant and trainer in the field of diversity as it relates to disability. She is also the author of All the Muchos in the World, a bilingual picture book for children.

Diana’s passion for issues affecting the lives of people who have disabilities helped to earn her the title of Teacher of the Year at her elementary school in 2006, and the 9th District Council PTA Honorary Service Award in 2007. Recently, her school was honored by the California State PTA in the areas of Outreach and Advocacy for their implementation of Ability Awareness in Action. Diana recently received the NBC 7/39 Heroes Award for San Diego County. Finally, she is also a featured speaker in the documentary film, The Sandwich Kid. Although Diana appreciates and values these recognitions, her greatest honor is being the sister of an extraordinary man who experiences autism, and whose experiences in life have taught her to embrace diversity in its truest form.

Orie MedicinebullAmy Kalivas, Chief Financial Officer

San Diego
1st Term: 3/15/08-3/14/11
Contact: board@disabilityrightsca.org or
Disability Rights California
Attn: Amy Kalivas
100 Howe Ave., Suite 185N
Sacramento, CA 95825

Amy Kalivas works as an advocate for people with disabilities at
Access to Independence in San Diego. She is passionate about disability rights as she is also a person with a vision impairment.

Russell RankinRussell Rankin, Secretary

Lake Arrowhead
2nd Term: 3/12/05-3/11/11
Contact: board@disabilityrightsca.org or
Disability Rights California
Attn: Russell Rankin
100 Howe Avenue, Suite 185N
Sacramento, CA 95825

After serving as a Public Member on PAI’s Legislative Committee, Russell Rankin was appointed to the PAI Board as a person with a physical disability.

For most of the past 30 years, Russ has been active in the area of social services and advocacy working with people with disabilities.  As a young man, he worked as Psychiatric Technician at California’s state hospitals and later as a real estate broker rehabilitating homes for resale.

In 1994, Russ was involved in auto accident.  As a result, he now experiences the world of disability from a much more personal perspective.  Following multiple back surgeries, and years of therapy and chronic pain, he continues to experience chronic pain while advocating for himself and others in the pursuit of appropriate pain management and treatment.

Allison Brightman Allison Brightman

Oak Park
1st Term: 9/29/07-9/28/10
Contact: board@disabilityrightsca.org or
Disability Rights California
Attn: Allison Brightman
100 Howe Ave., Suite 185N
Sacramento, CA 95825

Allison Brightman is the mother of three children: Mike, 17; Erica, 14; and Mia, 7. Erica has cerebral palsy, Mia has autism, and both girls have seizure disorders and developmental disabilities. In her quest to help her kids to be as independent as possible, Allison believes that there is strength in numbers when it comes to advocating for people with disabilities. Further, while physical accessibility is a formidable challenge, she's concerned that people with developmental disabilities also face invisible barriers such as low expectations and ridicule - which can be just as daunting.

Allison's priorities are increasing support for special education, therapies and training for children and adults with special needs. Based on her own experience, she's convinced that the earlier an individual can be taught to be independent, the better.

Allison is an entertainment attorney and a community activist. While Erica was the first student with a developmental disability to attend their local school, Allison has used her legal expertise, advocacy skills, and passion for hard work in an effort to continue to improve the lives of adults and kids with special needs in her neighborhood and beyond.

Leticia EscaleraLeticia Escalera

Oakland
2nd Term: 09/18/04-09/17/10
Contact: board@disabilityrightsca.org or
Disability Rights California
Attn: Leticia Escalera
100 Howe Ave., Suite 185N
Sacramento, CA 95825

Leticia Escalera is an independent living specialist with the Fruitvale Independent Living Center in Oakland and a TBI survivor. A bilingual outreach provider, she is also an advocate in the Hispanic community and promotes disability rights education.

Jose FloresJose Flores

Commerce
1st Term: 3/15/08-3/14/11
Contact: board@disabilityrightsca.org or
Disability Rights California
Attn: Jose Flores
100 Howe Ave., Suite 185N
Sacramento, CA 95825

Jose Flores, is a Peer Specialist with Project Return Peer
Support Network in Los Angeles County for mental health peers as an advocate and has a certificate from USC in psychosocial behaviour.

Billy HallBilly Hall

Glendale
1st Term: 3/15/08-3/14/11
Contact: board@disabilityrightsca.org or
Disability Rights California
Attn: Billy Hall
100 Howe Ave., Suite 185N
Sacramento, CA 95825

Billy Hall is an advocate and is passionate about educating others about disabilities and advocating for themselves. He is a person with cerebral palsy.

Victor Hernandez

1st Term: 9/12/09–9/12/12
Contact: board@disabilityrightsca.org or
Disability Rights California
Attn: Victor Hernandez
100 Howe Avenue, Suite 185N
Sacramento, CA 95825

Izetta Jackson

1st Term:  3/6/10-3/5/13
Contact: board@disabilityrightsca.org or
Disability Rights California
Attn: Izetta Jackson
100 Howe Avenue, Suite 185N
Sacramento, CA 95825

Kathryn TrevinoKathryn Janet Trevino

Sacramento
2nd Term: 09/15/09 - 09/19/12
Contact: board@disabilityrightsca.org or
Disability Rights California
Attn: Kathryn Janet Trevino
100 Howe Avenue, Suite 185N
Sacramento, CA 95825

Kathryn Janet Trevino served as an administrator and program specialist for the California Network of Mental Health Clients. She has worked as a quality improvement coordinator for the Human Resources Center and has an MA in social work from California State University.

Guy WallaceGuy Wallace

San Francisco
2nd Term: 09/15/09 - 09/19/12
Contact: board@disabilityrightsca.org or
Disability Rights California
Attn: Guy Wallace
100 Howe Avenue, Suite 185N
Sacramento, CA 95825

Guy Wallace, a graduate of Harvard Law School, has extensive
experience in class action litigation on behalf of people with disabilities. He is a writer and lecturer on disability law, and has used a wheelchair for mobility since age 16.

Eric YbarraEric Ybarra

Stockton
2nd Term: 09/15/09 – 09/19/12
Contact: board@disabilityrightsca.org or
Disability Rights California
Attn: Eric Ybarra
100 Howe Avenue, Suite 185N
Sacramento, CA 95825

Eric Ybarra is an advocate from Stockton and sits on lot of committees that help him learn about his role as a Disability Rights California Board member. He feels that everything has been great because of the knowledge that he has achieved being part of Disability Rights California Board.

Public Member Roster

Angela Van Ostran

Chula Vista
3rd Term – 12/01/07 - 11/30/10
Legislation Committee

Laura Rasey Miller

1st Term – 9/11/09 – 9/11/10
Legislation Committee

Ben Jauregui

Colton
1st Term - 03/07/09-03/06/10
Diversity and Program Committee

Wayland Wong

Hayward
2nd Term – 09/20/08 – 09/19/10
Diversity and Program Committee

Ofelia DeLa Rosa

1st Term – 09/11/09 – 09/11/10
Diversity and Program Committee

Gail L. Green

San Dimas
2nd Term – 09/28/06 – 09/28/12
PAIMI Council

Robin Thomas

Redding
1st Term – 09/29/07 – 09/29/10
PAIMI Council

Linda F. Drattell

1st Term - 12/11/09-12/10/12
PAIMI Council

Ted Cottini

Dunsmuir
Extended 1st Term – 3/1/08-3/1/10
OCRA Advisory Committee

Spencer McClay

Grass Valley
Extended 1st Term – 2/1/08-3/1/11
OCRA Advisory Committee

Dan Owen

Bishop
Extended 1st Term - 2/1/06-3/1/11
OCRA Advisory Committee

Diana Nelson

1st Term – 9/11/09 – 9/11/12
Finance Committee