Dayle McIntosh Center and OCTA Partner to Revive Mobility Management Program in Orange County for People with Disabilities and Older Adults

POSTED ON: Thursday, February 6th, 2025 | POSTED BY: Miguel Escarzaga

Pictured: DMC’s Lead Home Access Specialist and MMPP Trainer with DMC’s ILS Instructor for the Blind and OC Access user, Danyelle Cerillo at Bus Stop each standing in front of the bench smiling and each holding an OC Bus Day pass.

Anaheim, CA — When Duke Ellington released the song “Don’t Get Around Much Anymore” in 1949, he probably thought his classic love song only had one context. For the over 500,000 people in Orange County who are people with disabilities and/or older adults aging facing mobility issues – that lyric can be a challenging part of having quality of life. The Dayle McIntosh Center for the Disabled  and OCTA are partnering up once again to create impactful change in Orange County with the revival of the Mobility Management Professionals Program (MMPP) for people with disabilities and older adults to inform, educate and train the community on how to have equity accessing the transportation system for a better quality of life. In addition to access, additional benefits in training include customized goal-setting, planning and additional support for travel safety. DMC’s MMPP is set to launch in Spring of 2025, with the official launch date to be announced soon! The MMPP Team aim to educate a total of ninety consumers throughout the fiscal year 2025 and 125 consumers through the fiscal year of 2026.  The organization is rejoicing in being able to revive the program after both the impacts of COVID-19 at the start of the pandemic and funding ended in 2022.

“Having been a Mobility Program Coordinator early on in my career with DMC, I am thrilled to see these much-needed services return to both our organization and the community we serve. After our original program ended two years ago, we are excited to be reintroducing this program under a new name – The Mobility Management Professionals Program (MMPP). This rebranding reflects the professionalism, dedication, and hands-on expertise of our team. Many of us bring not only years of experience as Travel Trainers, but also personal insights as people with disabilities who have successfully navigated public transportation independently,” states DMC’s Executive Director, Brittany Zazueta. “Since the start of the pandemic, much has changed in how people with disabilities and older adults—the most at-risk and vulnerable populations—navigate public spaces. Recognizing these challenges, we have expanded our bus safety education to include crucial guidance on preventing the spread of COVID-19 and other airborne illnesses. This updated training also offers support in accessing essential resources to ensure safer, more informed travel.”

The rebrand that Zazueta is referring to is about taking the original Mobility Management Program (MMP) – (History can be found HERE) to the next level of MMPP and what is relaunching now with essential training which has evolved for the changed world individuals must now navigate in access and independence.  DMC partnered with the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) for thirteen years working the original Mobility Management Program from 2009 through June 30, 2022.

DMC staff posing in front of an OCTA ACCESS bus in 2017 during a collaborative photoshoot with OCTA for the OC ACCESS Riders Guide.

Beyond the rebrand, what will be new, according to Ivan Cortez, DMC’s Lead Home and Community Access Coordinator is the leveling up of “Consumer Driven” the training experience itself – more options, more connectivity and more customization. “DMC had to stop bus training sessions due to COVID-19 , now we have more resources and have PPE that we can provide to our consumers when travel training. Travel Trainers also have the option to do trip planning via Zoom or Microsoft Teams. This will save time when arriving to the consumer’s home. Trip Planning will already be completed by the time you arrive for the bus training session. DMC will continue to use our tools like a tablet or work cell phone to help the consumers obtain bus schedules and do trip planning while on the field. MMPP is consumer driven where the consumer can inform us what their goal is and how we can help them meet it,” he explains.

Cortez elaborates, “I am personally am excited that the Mobility Management Program is back. With eight years of experience of being a Travel Trainer and having the opportunity to lead the program (when it was originally MMP), I will once again be able to assist seniors and individuals with disabilities to navigate the bus system safely and independently throughout Orange County. The Mobility Program gives independence to individuals with transportation needs. This can encourage consumers to explore new experiences and make positive changes in their lives.  Having the support of the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) and our Travel Trainers, the consumers will build confidence riding the bus to their daily activities, such as school, doctor visits, and even grocery shopping. Thank you, OCTA, for having DMC be part of this incredible opportunity.”

This opportunity is not lost on the consumers DMC reaches with this vital program servicing the needs that are most important: travel commuting to work and living life.

Ivan and Danyelle at the bus stop. Ivan is explaining the bus stop information sign and how it use the information to Danyelle.

“In 2022, I was a consumer in the (original) Mobility Management program. My goal for being in this program was to increase knowledge of where bus stops were in my neighborhood and using apps to plan trips. As a result of being a consumer in this program, I have gained an awareness of diverse ways to travel across Orange County in my neighborhood. This program is important for individuals with disabilities because it will increase confidence with daily living travel skills,” shares DMC’s own Danyelle Cerillo, who is the organization’s ILS Instructor for the Blind, as well as, an OC ACCESS user.

Celebrating 48 years as Orange County’s only Independent Living Center for people with disabilities and older adults, the organization whose roots are founded in activism and advocacy as a State of California 501(c)(3) non-profit, DMC pushed forth access and mobility independence in the advocacy ramps paved by Founder Dayle McIntosh, first Executive Director Brenda Premo and original Board Member At-Large and second DMC Board President, Mick Spencer.  In 1976 before becoming DMC’s Original Treasurer, Tad Tanaka served as Board Member on the Citizens Advisory Council on Accessible Transportation. He was introduced to the advocacy that Greg Winterbottom was doing working as an assistant to the Orange County Board of Supervisors.  When Greg became DMC’s first Board President, he was instrumental in cultivating the relationship between DMC and OCTA, where Winterbottom went onto creating a lifelong legacy of historical milestones for OCTA and his advocacy for access, independence and mobility through transportation remained a constant until his passing in 2020.  His memory lives on in new leadership at OCTA in this revived partnership where access and independence was Winterbottom’s fierce mission.

Pictured: From left to right: OCTA CEO Darrell E. Johnson, Director Tam T. Nguyen, immediate past Chair of OCTA’s Board of Directors, newly named OCTA Chair Doug Chaffee (also the county’s Fourth District Supervisor) and OCTA Vice Chair Jamey Federico (also the Mayor of Dana Point.)

“Public transportation is vital for so many individuals to gain their independence and OCTA is happy to support the Dayle McIntosh Center with a grant to train people on using transit,” said OCTA Chair Doug Chaffee, also Orange County’s Fourth District Supervisor. “I’m proud to share that these funds are part of more than $8.6 million awarded by OCTA in the last year to organizations serving seniors and those with disabilities. We greatly appreciate the work our community partners do to help ensure everyone has access to transit.” 

DMC’s plan is to keep people moving forward and onward to their destinations with the proper tools, training and ultimately premium support, resources and education. With every milestone created in successfully doing so, people with disabilities and older adults will be able to return to singing Duke Ellington’s song only for its original context, as DMC helps to ensure community members “get around much more” and wherever they wish to go!

“At DMC, we believe independence is about choice and access to transportation is a cornerstone of that independence. Whether someone lives in a group home, facility or their own home, the ability to ride the bus offers an empowering sense of freedom from deciding where to sit on the bus to choosing where to go. With the right services and supports, everyone can achieve independence, and we are excited to be able to add another service at our Center where we make this a reality for the people we serve every day,” states Zazueta.

If you’d like to donate to the Dayle McIntosh Center you can do so by clicking HERE.

For more information on the Mobility Management Professionals Program go to their web page HERE call directly at 714-621-3300 or contact online

For media inquiries only, please contact Publicist, Stacey Kumagai, Media Monster Communications, Inc. at 818.506.8675.       

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