Voices For All: Merced Advocates Promote Communication And Connection

On April 16, 2025, Merced’s Consumer Advocacy Council traveled to Fresno to participate in the Coffee Share event hosted by CVRC in celebration of Deaf History Month.

During the event, individuals from the Merced site spoke with guest speaker Joshua and ex- pressed interest in having him visit the CVTC Merced location to offer an ASL presentation. Their goal was to learn American Sign Language to better communicate with their peers, Carol and Jordan, and to promote a more inclusive environment. Joshua was enthusiastic about the idea and shared his willingness to schedule a session at the Merced site to support ASL learning.

Merced staff view this as a meaningful reflection of the friendships on site and the interest in building communication skills to include everyone. The Consumer Advocacy Council continues to represent their peers by attending events throughout Merced and Fresno Counties, amplify- ing the voices of individuals at the site. Looking ahead, CAC members will be traveling to join the Association of Regional Center Agencies (ARCA) “Keep the Promise” at the State Capitol in Sacramento to advocate for the protection and continuation of services for individuals with in- tellectual and developmental disabilities. Their participation will help reinforce the importance of honoring commitments made to the ID/DD community.

Written by: Desiree Y., Program Manager