Elizabeth Barrios Gomez is a passionate parent, seasoned advocate, and respected leader in California’s disability rights movement. As Executive Director and Co-Founder of the Integrated Community Collaborative (ICC), Elizabeth brings more than a decade of tireless advocacy on behalf of underserved families navigating the state’s complex developmental disability systems. Her work is grounded in cultural humility, lived experience, and a deep commitment to equity and justice .Elizabeth is a graduate of the California Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (CA-LEND) program through USC’s University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD) at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA). She is also a graduate of the Partners in Policymaking training through Westside Regional Center, where she strengthened her foundation as a family leader and policy advocate.
1.She currently serves on the Local Advisory Committee (LAC) for the Self-Determination Program at Westside Regional Center and is an Ambassador for Disability Voices United. Her recent efforts include founding the Community Outreach Integradoras Program, a culturally rooted initiative addressing disparities in access and services within the California Regional Center system. Through this model, Elizabeth has helped build pathways for peer-to-peer navigation and empowerment in Latino and monolingual communities.
2.Elizabeth co-founded ICC alongside other parent and self-advocate leaders to unite grassroots advocacy efforts under a shared mission of cultural relevance, community capacity-building, and systemic change. Under her leadership, ICC has become a trusted statewide voice in the ID/DD space, influencing policy, expanding access, and mentoring a new generation of leaders.
3.Elizabeth earned her B.S. from Woodbury University. She lives in West Los Angeles with her husband and advocacy partner, Fernando Gomez, and their two sons—Oscar Antonio, a dynamic young man with Down Syndrome, and Diego Antonio. Her greatest inspiration comes from her family, and her vision is clear: to ensure that every family—regardless of language, culture, or zip code—has the tools, support, and respect they deserve.
Fernando is a senior executive with over 30 years of experience in business development, multicultural marketing, and emerging technologies. His leadership spans roles as a network executive and in strategic marketing, global distribution, and affiliate relations across major corporations such as Univision/Galavisión, Bravo Networks, Microsoft (MSN Latino), France Telecom (Starmedia), impreMedia, and Maya Entertainment, where he served as Vice President of Emerging Markets. A nationally recognized expert in the Hispanic market and multi-channel media, Mr. Gomez has been a frequent speaker at both national and international conferences on media, diversity, and market inclusion. He brings this same commitment to equity and inclusion into the disability rights movement.His advocacy includes appointments to the DDS Advisory Committee to the California Master Plan, to the OAH Lanterman Act Hearing Advisory Committee and appointed by Governor Brown to the Interagency Coordinating Council on Early Intervention. He has also served as Board Chair of Westside Regional Center, President of the Board of ARCA, and as a board member for the Special Olympics of Southern California.
Maria Lopez is a seasoned community advocate with over a decade of experience supporting families of individuals with disabilities. As a Latina mother of three, including two with autism, Maria leads ICC’s San Fernando Valley efforts with cultural insight and compassion. She is deeply committed to guiding monolingual Spanish-speaking families through the Regional Center system, offering trusted support, practical tools, and a strong sense of community. Her leadership empowers others to navigate with confidence and raise their voices for equity.
Rubi Saldana is a dedicated advocate and proud mother of three, including two children on the autism spectrum. With over 14 years of experience, she co-founded ICC to help families—especially Spanish-speaking and underserved communities—navigate California’s complex disability service systems. Rubi leads with empathy, cultural humility, and lived experience, providing hands-on support, mentorship, and advocacy rooted in trust. Her work continues to drive equity and systemic change, ensuring no family is left behind.
Josefina Romo de Sharp joined ICC in 2019 and brings both personal and professional experience to her role. As a mother of a young man with disabilities and an attorney by training, she combines legal insight with grassroots organizing to serve families with compassion and clarity. Josefina currently leads the Integradora team in the Antelope Valley, where she is dedicated to helping families navigate complex systems with dignity and culturally rooted support. Empowering others is not just her work—it’s her passion.
After a career in teaching and school administration, Dora Contreras found renewed purpose in 2018 as an ICC Integradora. Now serving as the Regional Manager for the Stockton area, Dora leads her team in supporting families across the Valley Mountain Regional Center (VMRC) catchment area. Her passion and dedication are rooted in community service, ensuring individuals with IDD and their families receive the guidance, advocacy, and culturally responsive support they need. Dora is a proud Grandmother to a young man served by the regional center system.
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