In Service Close to Home: Dayle McIntosh Center Honors Veterans who have served creating new partnership collaborative with the VA in Long Beach, the VHA and Center for People with Disabilities in Colorado to form the Veterans Independence Program

Anaheim, CA – United States Veterans who serve have helped our country time and time again. Our military service personnel often remain in service through what they do even once retired, and remind us once more that service is an infinite circle, generation after generation and they must not be forgotten, especially when it comes to health and after-care. Celebrating 47 years this year, Dayle McIntosh Center (DMC) for the Disabled in Orange County has been serving Veterans throughout its existence and is proud to announce a new partnership with the VA in Long Beach, Veterans Health Administration (VHA) and the Center for People with Disabilities (CPWD) in Colorado to form the Veterans Independence Program (VIP) reminding all military Veterans that everyone is a VIP and DMC is here in service to serve all those who have served.

California has the 3rd-highest Veteran population. The Census Bureau’s American Community Survey includes annual estimates of Veterans and notes 1,292,737 are in the State of California and According to the California Department of Veteran Affairs there are an estimated 78,822 Veterans in Orange County alone.

“Centers for Independent Living such as CPWD and DMC are experts in delivering consumer-directed services in our local communities. This partnership extends our commitment to promoting independence and improving the quality of life for Veterans with disabilities beyond our local communities, allowing us to serve even more Veterans,” states Maria Stepanyan, Executive Director of Center for People with Disabilities (Boulder, CO).

The program serves all military Veterans who are with the VA. Army, Navy, Airforce, Marines and U.S. Coast Guard. According to the Census Bureau, Veterans are anyone who has previously served (regardless of the duration of service) in active duty in the armed forces and are eligible for DMC’s new program if they are enrolled in the VA. The VA Medical Centers determine eligibility for the Veteran Directed Program, known at DMC as VIP. Veterans must be enrolled with the VA for their health care and meet community care eligibility criteria. For those who are not enrolled or do not qualify, DMC has gathered alternative resources which can be found on the new VIP website page: https://daylemc.org/veterans-independence-program/

The new launch of this program has been a labor of love and service. For Veterans Independence Program Advisor, Marysol A. Cuadrado, it means more than just launching a program, but a meaningful pay-it-forward lifeline.

“My brother served our country as a Marine for 20 years before retiring as Captain. He fought in Afghanistan there is pride and fear that comes with having loved ones fight for our country not knowing if they are going to come home. My brother has dedicated his career to giving back to his community and being able to be part of this program makes me feel that I am giving back to him saying ‘Thank you’ to not only my brother but all his brothers and sisters in arms, explains Cuadrado reflecting on the layers of her work with this new collaborative. “Overall it has been an exciting experience; being able to expand knowledge on the needs of our Vets and (coordinating) everything that is available,” she adds.

To Cuadrado, seeing how VIP can make such a difference in the lives of Veterans has meaning even amid some of the learning curve challenges encountered to put all the information in one place which DMC has now done by announcing the new website page as a ‘one-stop-shop’ walk-through of the process. “We are good to go and ready (to serve)!” she exclaims.

DMC is also expanding service reach to VIP Services in Riverside and San Bernardino Counties in support of the local VA Medical Center’s efforts to launch the program in their areas. For DMC’s Community Living Advocate, Fernando Olivarez this Veterans Independence Program collaborative holds a very special place in his heart be able to serve veterans because his family is comprised of those who have served. “These services allow us to have a more equipped way to assist our military service personnel and the growth that I envision for this program in our veteran’s community is we can create trust in our service, knowing that we are here for them. The experience I have had so far trying to be a part of launching our collaboration is groundbreaking for Veterans who can receive an abundance of supportive services. From having my great grandfather serving in the Vietnam War plus my uncle while also having cousins serving right now. The way I feel about this program is something that I would want my military family to know about while also utilizing these services. To know that I will be serving our Veterans, with this work, I feel like I am continuing the legacy of serving our country,” states Olivarez, who also is a resident in the Inland Empire assisting his own local community Veterans through his work.

DMC first opened its doors to provide services to Veterans in 1977 through various workshops, programs and services from the beginning of the organization’s development.  This was important to the non-profit  501 (c)(3)’s entire leadership from the beginning as most of the team had family members who served, including DMC’s first Executive Director, Brenda Premo who was raised by a single mother and a military father constantly on the move; to DMC’s original Board President, Greg Winterbottom who had served in the Army and DMC’s original Board Member At-Large and second Board President, Marwood “Mick” Norman, Spencer – both of whom removed architectural barriers for their fellow disabled military service personnel  in the work they did for accessibility through public transportation, urban planning ramps and curb cuts. 

Recently retiring after twenty-two years of service as Lead OIB (Older Individuals who are Bling) Advocate, Socorro Arroyo-Merchain says, “I vividly remember the VA outreach in Long Beach and (I’m) sitting here smiling,” as it was the Veterans who were in the forefront of her mind as she spent time reflecting on work she was a part of in 2014 through Long Beach VAMC’s White Cane Resource Fair.

Arroyo-Merchain retires just as this new Veterans Independence Program launches, further proof that work with the VA keeps taking on a new life throughout all of DMC’s years of service and evolution.

DMC’s evolution with those who serve can also be found in present-day staffing. DMC’s new Human Resource Administrator, Michael Susi served in the U.S. Army for twenty years, which also included deployment to Iraq.
“Working at the Dayle McIntosh Center (DMC) as a Veteran fills me with immense pride, especially knowing that we are directly serving our community through the new VIP in collaboration with the VA. It means I can continue to serve those who have served our country, ensuring they receive the support and resources they need to thrive after their military service. This role allows me to carry forward the values I upheld during my time in the Army, making a meaningful difference in the lives of my fellow Veterans. The one thing I want the public to understand about service men and women is that the need for support doesn’t end when their military service does. The transition to civilian life is challenging and requires comprehensive aftercare, including mental health support, job placement, and community integration. It’s essential that we, as a society, provide ongoing care to those who have sacrificed so much, ensuring they have the tools and resources to lead fulfilling lives after their service,” shares Susi.

Long before DMC’s VIP new collaborative service launch, all of DMC’s program and service areas have been of benefit to Veterans and their families covering a wide array of resources and support – including Housing, Home Modification, Advocacy, Community Transitions, Blind/Low-Vision support, Independent Living Skills, Peer Support, Personal Assistant Services, Assistive Technology, Counseling and Deaf Services. Veterans who need other types of program and resource services find DMC beneficial in addition to this newest program.

Army Veteran, Susi shares, “Having my own family benefit from DMC’s Reuse Program was a deeply personal and rewarding experience. It showed me firsthand the value of the services we provide, not just in theory but in practice. The program made a significant difference in our lives, reinforcing my commitment to the mission of DMC. It was a reminder of how vital our work is in supporting the community and how these programs can have a real, positive impact on the lives of those we serve. My mother in-law is very pleased with her new equipment which aligns with our Independent Living Philosophy.”

DMC’s new Veterans Independence Program plans to expand and grow with more community awareness and support from existing Veterans who continue to thrive from joining the program. The mission of the Dayle McIntosh Center is access and equity by, and for, people with disabilities and older adults. DMC believes People with disabilities and older adults should all have equal opportunities to lead their lives as they choose. DMC is a non-profit organization that focuses on core services and serves as hub organization with many referral resources, programs, and partners.

Veterans Independence Program Advisor, Marysol A. Cuadrado understands that information can truly make a difference in educating veterans that they have options, and above all choices.
“The biggest misconception is that VIP will affect the Vet’s income or pension and not fully understanding the program. There is so much available to Veterans but a lot of the time it is just not knowing what is out there. The growth of this Program would mean us being able to serve more Veterans and guiding and helping them be able to stay independent in their homes and in the community,” shares Cuadrado.
Susi is in agreement with Cuadrado, “I would like to see DMC’s community outreach grow with the VIP program by expanding our reach to more Veterans, particularly those who may not be aware of the resources available to them. This program has the potential to be a lifeline for Veterans transitioning to civilian life, providing them with critical support and guidance. By increasing our outreach efforts, we can ensure that more Veterans benefit from these services, helping them navigate the challenges of post-military life and enhancing their quality of life in meaningful ways.”

To download the Veterans Independence Program Flyer (available in both English and Spanish) CLICK HERE or go to the new VIP web page HERE  If you’d like to also learn more about the many other services DMC provides, you can download DMC’s general services flyer HERE

If you’d like to donate to The Dayle McIntosh Center you can do so by clicking HERE.  Find out about the many ways you can support DMC HERE.   

For more information on DMC’s programs and services go to https://daylemc.org or call directly at 714-621-3300.  For media story inquiries, please contact Publicist, Stacey Kumagai, Media Monster Communications, Inc. at 818.506.8675.