This is a picture of the ACSED logo. It consists of two concentric circles. The inner circle contains an image of the State of California. Around the larger circle are the words “ACSED: Action and Equality for Employees with Disabilities since 1976.

Highlights in the History of ACSED

The Association of California State Employees with Disabilities [ACSED] is a genuine success story. Organized in 1976 as Disabled In State Service [DISS], its creation paralleled the emerging disability civil rights movement that was gaining momentum across the nation. Its development was further supported in 1977 by demonstrations at various federal offices that led to adoption of federal regulations implementing Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. It is a story of disability advocacy, action and accomplishment.

The organization was created and is still guided by employees with disabilities in the California State Service. Its mission is “To ensure action on disability issues in State Government.” This includes promoting an increase in the employment and fair treatment of persons with disabilities in State government, promoting awareness of disabled people as a valued employee resource and moving State Government toward becoming a model employer of individuals with disabilities. .

Embodying the best of volunteerism and self-determination, ACSED has been instrumental in helping to define a vision of equitable employment for people with disabilities and move the State toward that vision. Now, 50 years later, that success continues.

Significant Milestones

1970 to 1980

In 1976, a small group of state employees with disabilities founded Disabled in State Service (DISS) to advocate for increased hiring of individuals with disabilities and improvements in reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities. Many of the founding members worked at the State Personnel Board (SPB) which had staff devoted to promoting the hiring of employees with disabilities and other underrepresented groups.

DISS worked with SPB to successfully sponsor Assembly Bill 1309 (ch. 1196, Statutes of 1977) which required each state agency or department to analyze their workforce and establish goals and timetables to address any identified underrepresentation of persons with disabilities. The bill also directed each state agency to establish a Disability Advisory Committee to advise the department director on matters related to implementation of its plans for hiring individuals with disabilities.

1980 to 1990

In 1982, DISS was incorporated as a California nonprofit public benefit corporation and granted tax exempt status by the California Franchise Tax Board and the Internal Revenue Service.

In 1987-88, DISS worked with SPB to successfully advocate for enactment of SB 2667 (ch. 738, Statutes of 1988) which created the Limited Examination and Appointment Program (LEAP). LEAP established a streamlined examination process for individuals with disabilities who can demonstrate that they meet minimum qualifications through completion of a paid, limited term Job Evaluation Period.

1990 to 2000

In 1992, DISS was actively involved, along with other disability rights organizations, in supporting enactment of AB 1077 (ch. 913, statutes of 1992) which incorporated the Americans with Disabilities Act into state law, while ensuring that state law was preserved in areas where it provided greater protection for persons with disabilities.

In 1993, DISS was one of the primary sponsors of the California Disability Leadership Summit-a statewide conference attended by approximately 1,400 state and local officials, educators, service providers, advocates and individuals with disabilities.

Also, beginning in 1993, DISS participated in the California Coalition of Minorities, Women and Persons with Disabilities (CCMWPD), promoting cooperation on behalf of various groups underrepresented in state employment.

During the 1990’s, DISS began presenting training conferences, and later, biennial training symposiums for its members and other state employees regarding issues of importance for employment of persons with disabilities in State Civil Service.
DISS worked with the California Governor’s Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities (now the California Committee on Employment of Persons with Disabilities) to develop and support the California Youth Leadership Forum for Students with Disabilities (YLF).

In 1995, DISS advocated and SPB agreed to establish the Statewide Disability Advisory Council (SDAC) to support departmental Disability Advisory Committees (DACs), providing a forum for information sharing and input to SPB and, more recently, the California Department of Human Resources (CalHR).

2000 to 2010

In 2004, DISS worked with SPB to increase the parity goal for hiring of individuals with disabilities by state agencies to the current 16.6% level.

DISS successfully sponsored Assembly Bill 1643 (ch. 724, Statutes of 2006) which required a study of ways to open up the CalPERS Long Term Care insurance program to individuals with disabilities excluded from the program.

Beginning in 2006, we began an annual awards program recognizing state departments which have made proactive efforts to hire and promote individuals with disabilities and Disability Advisory Committees that have done an outstanding job in assisting their departments in addressing disability-related issues. Later, awards were established to recognize individuals who have made significant contributions to the employment of persons with disabilities or to ACSED as an organization.

In 2007, the name of the organization was changed to the Association of California State Employees with Disabilities (ACSED), additional membership categories were added, and the Board of Directors was enlarged.

ACSED worked with the California Health Incentives Improvement Project, a Medicaid infrastructure grant project, to support and promote the Medi-Cal Working Disabled Program.

2010 to 2020

ACSED actively participated in a workgroup convened by CalHR, SPB and the Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) which resulted in the development of the “2015 Joint Project Report” containing a number of recommendations for improving recruitment, hiring and promotion of individuals with disabilities and streamlining and expediting provision of reasonable accommodations.

Beginning in about 2017, ACSED began cooperating with the Asian Pacific State Employees Association (APSEA) to offer Career Development Program training workshops.

2020 to Present

Along with Disability Rights California (DRC), ACSED successfully co-sponsored Assembly Bill 313 (ch. 515 Statutes of 2021) which required CalHR to take active steps to ensure that departments are making appropriate efforts too improve the hiring of individuals with disabilities. The bill also required CalHR to issue a statewide model reasonable accommodation policy.

In 2022, ACSED and DRC co-sponsored AB 1195 (ch. Statutes of 2022) which made clear that departments may use LEAP-only hiring to fill any position for which a LEAP classification has been established.

In 2024, ACSED participated in the stakeholder engagement process required under Executive Order N 12-23 which initiated efforts to incorporate generative artificial intelligence into the State’s regular business practices. A number of ACSED members reviewed and provided extensive comments and recommendations to CalHR the Office of Data and Innovation, and the Government Operations Agency (Gov. Ops.) regarding the initial role-out methodology, early employee training, and the testing and evaluation processes.

In 2025, ACSED participated in a workgroup established by CalHR and the Government Operations Agency to make recommendations for inclusion in a report to the Legislature required by AB 313 concerning future actions to improve hiring, retention and promotion of individuals with disabilities.