Dayle Mcintosh Center For The Disabled

The mission of the Dayle McIntosh Center is access and equity by, and for, people with disabilities and older adults.

The Dayle McIntosh Center is a nonprofit organization that has been serving individuals with disabilities, families, professionals, and the general public in Orange County since 1977. The Center continues to be a community resource with many new programs and initiatives and has assisted thousands of people with disabilities to achieve goals related to greater independence and self-sufficiency.

The Center offers a wide array of services including advocacy/benefits counseling, Aging with Vision Loss, assistive technology, deaf services, housing referral, independent living skills training, disability-related information and referral, mobility training, peer mentoring and support, employment assistance, caregiver referral, youth transition, and relocation from institutional settings.

We support people from all walks of life without regard to age, race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, income, or type of disability. DMC does not charge individuals a fee to receive services. The Dayle McIntosh Center is unique because the staff and governing board are composed primarily of individuals who are disabled and committed to helping others become self-sufficient.

The center is named in memory of Dayle McIntosh, one of its founders. Ms. McIntosh had quadriplegia and was committed to being independent and fully managing her own life. She worked tirelessly to lay the foundation for an independent living center in Orange County. Ms. McIntosh died at the age of 26 before the center could open its doors. The fierce independence that Dayle McIntosh displayed exemplifies the spirit of the center that bears her name.

DMC continues to meet the needs of people with disabilities and the aging community in Orange County.

A county-wide food distribution program was implemented during the initial weeks of the pandemic to address food security for older adults and individuals with disabilities who could not access other resources. Staff delivered hundreds of meals while DMC launched a partnership with Meals on Wheels of Orange County to enhance and expand the program.

DMC also obtained funding allowing us to purchase and distribute technology to individuals who were otherwise facing isolation because of the pandemic. This allowed individuals to access healthcare, grocery delivery services, and opportunities to connect with support groups, friends, and family members.

Finally, DMC has distributed PPE to the community. We continue to work with individuals and families to address other needs and challenges resulting from COVID.

The Center has enhanced and expanded services that support individuals transitioning from skilled nursing facilities and hospital settings back to the community and launched a new program that will provide advocacy and leadership training for people with disabilities.

DMC relies on support from the community to help address specific needs in the lives of people with disabilities and to develop, deliver, and expand services. The following are current issues that the organization needs financial support to address:

The average cost of helping a person move from a nursing home back into the community is $7,500. Expenses incurred include modifications like installing grab bars and ramps, purchasing furniture and household items, utility and rent deposits, and expenses related to personal attendant services. DMC has staff to coordinate relocation, but the center does not have access to funds for these direct costs.

Additionally, due to the current inflation many older adults and people with disabilities are not able to make ends meet on a fixed income. Funding from community partners and donors will allow us to offer supports which help people to remain independent in the community.

The Dayle McIntosh Center serves Orange County, CA, and the surrounding areas.

I have been around the organization and people of The Dayle McIntosh Center for 40 years and my experience is that this organiza1on has been a valuable resource to the disabled community in Orange County providing services, training and equipment by caring and compassionate people who understand the varied needs of our community. The Dayle McIntosh Center is staffed by many who also have disabilities who show empathy for their clients whom they serve.