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2026 National APSE Board of Directors At-Large

Please describe your history/nature of involvement/interest in promoting competitive integrated employment in your state. Additionally, explain why you are passionate about competitive, integrated employment for people with disabilities:

Utilizing person-centered principles, I have led teams at Tierra del Sol for over 20 years, creating opportunities for the individuals we support to find their unique paths to employment. My passion for competitive, integrated employment stems from the belief that everyone deserves to find a place where they feel valued for their individual strengths and contributions in their chosen career. Additionally, I believe that every work industry is enriched when it includes people with disabilities in its workforce. Lastly, I have seen firsthand how the power of a paycheck can change lives, and I am committed to making that a reality for as many people as I can.

What best represents your position/lived experience?

Family Member of a Person with a Disability; Service Provider or Manager

What skills, knowledge, or lived experience do you have that will contribute to strengthening and growing the financial health of APSE and promoting its mission to advance employment and self-sufficiency for all people with disabilities?

I have worked with the Tierra del Sol Foundation for over 20 years in a variety of leadership roles within our Workforce Development, College to Career, and Individualized Services. In each of the positions I have held, the common goal has been to advance vocational opportunities for the individuals we support. As a result, I am knowledgeable about various employment pathways. For example, various state internship programs, traditional individual employment, as well as customized employment. Additionally, as a parent to a young adult with Autism, I have learned to navigate various disability services through the school district, regional center, and department of rehabilitation. Lastly, I have served on the CaAPSE Board for nearly 5 years, 3 of which have been as Board Secretary.

How do you think serving on the National APSE Board will help you grow as a leader in the Employment First Movement?

Participation on the National APSE Board will help me grow as a leader by allowing me the opportunity to learn about employment initiatives on a national level. I intend to contribute to the board by sharing my experience and learning from the experiences of other board members. I enjoy working in a collaborative environment where different perspectives can be shared and explored. Specifically, I would love to learn how to broaden the types of vocational opportunities available to individuals with disabilities, as these are often limited to specific industries that do not always align with the varied interests and skills of the individuals we support.

Biography

Gabriela has been leading programs at Tierrra del Sol that support the independence and inclusion of adults with developmental disabilities for over 20 years. Utilizing person-centered principles, she has served in a variety of positions, creating opportunities for individuals to find their unique path to employment. Currently, she serves as Chief Program Officer at the Tierra Del Sol Foundation. As the leader of Tierra del Sol’s College to Career, Workforce Development, and Individualized Services, Gabriela guides her team to support over 360 men and women with disabilities to lead productive and personally meaningful lives. Gabriela also leads Tierra del Sol’s Employment Initiatives Team and the Learning & Development department. Gabriela holds a B.A. in Psychology from California State University, Los Angeles, and a drive to continually challenge our larger community to recognize the value of each individual she supports. Gabriela has also served on the North Los Angeles County Regional Center’s Advisory Board, the Lanterman Regional Center’s Advisory Board, and the CaAPSE Board as Secretary for the past 4 years. Gabriela enjoys traveling, taking photos, crocheting, all things Disney, and spending time with her husband, 28-year-old daughter, and her 21-year-old son, who has Autism.