The Dayle McIntosh Center for the Disabled, also referred to as DMC, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides services to people with disabilities and facilitates equal access and inclusion within the community. Founded in 1977, DMC is a non-residential, cross-disability agency and meets the standards and indicators established for the operation of independent living centers in the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended. Currently, 28 such centers exist in California and approximately 500 are in operation nationally.
Based in Orange County, California, the Dayle McIntosh Center partners with people with disabilities to address current concerns and achieve personal goals toward maximum independence. DMC does not “do for”, but rather, “works with” consumers to bring about desired outcomes. Assistance is provided without regard for age, race, income, or type of disability.
DMC is a peer-based organization. This means that most of the staff is composed of individuals, who have disabilities themselves and have met the challenge of becoming self-sufficient. Such firsthand experience enables staff to provide relevant support and resources.
The Dayle McIntosh Center acquires revenues from public and private sources, as well as through fees for service received from third party payees. The primary funders of the organization include: the Administration on Community Living, the State Department of Rehabilitation, and the Orange County Transportation Authority.
History
The Center is named in memory of Dayle McIntosh, who worked tirelessly to lay the foundation for an independent living center in Orange County. Ms. McIntosh had a congenital condition that limited her physical capacity to the use of her thumbs and forefingers. She fully managed her own life including obtaining a college education and employment. Regretfully, Ms. McIntosh died at the age of 26, shortly before the Center opened. The fierce independence that Dayle McIntosh displayed exemplifies the philosophy and spirit of the Center that is part of her legacy.
