As we move through the fall, I want to provide a clear picture of where Options For All (OFA) stands, the challenges ahead, and the progress we are making.
Policy Landscape
The federal debate over H.R. 1, the “Big Beautiful Bill,” presents a direct threat to Medicaid, the cornerstone of funding for our industry. California’s legislature will soon face the difficult task of reshaping the budget. While the Lanterman Act guarantees services for adults with disabilities, “required” services must be funded first, which places pressure on programs like those we deliver. The Department of Rehabilitation has already reduced programming, impacting our budgeted revenue and reminding us how quickly policy shifts affect providers like OFA.
Our Response
Despite these headwinds, our leadership team has acted quickly. We’ve implemented a plan designed to strengthen both top and bottom lines, and I remain confident we will outperform our budgeted net operating income. Most importantly, we are putting people first: no roles are being eliminated. Instead, we’ve reallocated resources to support growth while maintaining our commitment to employees.
Growth and Expansion
This strategy is already producing results. We have:
• Signed an MOU with a third Project SEARCH site.
• Secured vendorization to expand employment programs into Coachella Valley.
• Entered final stages of vendorization for Film and Media and Employment Services in Los Angeles.
Culture and Recognition
While external uncertainty grows, our culture continues to thrive. OFA has been named a Best Place to Work two years in a row, earned multiple Top Workplace awards, and most recently received Aetna’s Gold Rating for Employee Wellbeing. These recognitions affirm that when we invest in our people, they deliver extraordinary care and outcomes.
Looking Ahead
The full impact of policy changes is unknown, but OFA remains strong, adaptive, and guided by its values. We will continue to innovate and create opportunities for adults with disabilities to live without limits.
Thank you for your continued trust and support.
Brian
PILLAR UPDATES
Best Place to Work
Celebrating Our People: OFA Named a Top 10 Best Place to Work in San Diego
I’m thrilled to share that Options For All has been named one of the Top 10 Best Places to Work in San Diego by the San Diego Business Journal!
This recognition reflects the extraordinary people who make up OFA. Our team shows up each day with empathy, creativity, and collaboration creating a workplace where people feel respected, supported, and inspired.
What makes us most proud is that this honor belongs to our employees. Their dedication and heart make OFA a place where people thrive, and when we invest in our people, we multiply our impact in the community.
As we celebrate this milestone, it’s both a marker of how far we’ve come and a call to keep building with your partnership, we’ll continue creating inclusive communities and a workplace we can all be proud of.
More Honors for OFA!
I’m also proud to share that Options For All has earned the Aetna GOLD Workplace WellBeing Award along with Top Workplaces recognition in San Diego, Inland Empire, Employee Well-Being, Appreciation, and Professional Development.
These awards celebrate the culture our employees create every day— one rooted in care, growth, and community.
DSP Week Highlight: Honoring Our Everyday Heroes
We recently joined organizations across the nation in celebrating Direct Support Professionals (DSP) Week a time dedicated to recognizing the incredible people who stand at the heart of Options For All’s mission.
Our DSPs are more than staff members; they are mentors, advocates, and companions who walk alongside the individuals we serve every single day. During DSP Week, we reflected on the countless ways they provide not only support, but also encouragement, dignity, and empowerment. They are the ones helping someone gain confidence in a new job, cheering them on as they reach a personal milestone, or simply being there with compassion in life’s everyday moments.
The impact of our DSPs is profound. They make it possible for people with disabilities to live with greater independence, connect to their communities, and achieve goals that once seemed out of reach. Each small act of care builds a brighter future, and each relationship strengthens the foundation of inclusion we are working toward.
We are grateful to our Direct Support Professionals. Their dedication, patience, creativity, and heart embody the very best of Options For All and show us all what it means to truly serve with compassion and purpose. We were proud to celebrate them during DSP Week. Their work changes lives, and their commitment to our mission continues to inspire us all.
Timeless: 40 Years of Excellence
Options For All continued celebrating our 40th birthday with a beautiful event in our NorCal region. It was a night filled with joy, gratitude, and inspiration honoring not only how far we’ve come, but also the timeless spirit that has guided us for four decades.
For 40 years, we’ve carried forward a bold vision: that everyone, regardless of ability, deserves to live a life without limits. At our NorCal celebration, that vision came to life in the stories shared, the connections made, and the incredible energy of our community coming together.
We celebrated our employees, who are the heart of our mission, and recognized the partners and supporters who make our impact possible. Most of all, we reflected on the lasting excellence that has defined Options For All and will continue to propel us forward into the next 40 years.
The night was truly timeless, and a reminder that our mission is as relevant and inspiring today as it was when we began. Here’s to 40 years of excellence — and many more to come.
Deliver Exceptional Services Employment Services
Amazon Web Services (AWS)
What’s Been Done:
• Designed the full application process, including tools to identify and select candidates who are the best fit for the program.
• Established outreach goals and recruitment targets.
• Held a productive in-person strategy session with AWS Cloud Institute and DOR leadership to align on program design, roles, and next steps.
• Officially launched recruitment and began accepting applications last week.
• Started hosting info sessions for prospective candidates and partner organizations.
• Created outreach materials such as brochures and flyers.
• Worked with our marketing team to develop a campaign strategy to raise awareness about the program.
What’s Next:
• Continue recruiting candidates through December, with the goal of selecting the final 15 participants by the end of the year.
• Host info sessions twice per week for interested candidates and partners.
• Attend career and resource fairs to increase recruitment reach.
• Expand outreach to local organizations to build awareness and referrals.
Program Start Date:
• Recruitment is underway now. The official start of the program, when the 15 selected candidates begin AWS Cloud Institute training, will be in early January 2026.
Project SEARCH Update
Our Project SEARCH programs are off to a strong start! The LEGOLAND site launched on August 4th, and the San Diego Zoo site followed on August 25th.
We’re also excited to announce a brand-new partnership in Imperial Valley. We’ve officially signed an MOU with Forever Green Farms to establish a new Project SEARCH site, with an anticipated launch in June 2026.
Introduction
SMARTech Pilot
The SMARTech pilot was launched to explore how smart technologies like digital calendars, smart toothbrushes, and AI-powered mirrors can empower individuals in our Independent Living Skills (ILS) programs. By integrating these tools, our goal is to boost independence, improve daily routines, and help clients achieve higher success in reaching their personal goals.
Key Takeaways
• Smart Tech Boosts Independence: The pilot study demonstrated that smart devices like digital calendars, smart toothbrushes, and AIpowered mirrors meaningfully supported participants in daily living, improving independence and quality of life.
• Strong Measured Impact: After implementation, participants achieved a 92.5% overall success rate with a 25% median increase in goal outcomes, particularly in challenging areas like personal hygiene and household management.
• Client-Centered Implementation: The rollout emphasized stakeholder engagement, clear client education, and voluntary participation, ensuring buy-in and alignment with individual goals.
• Success Stories Validate Adoption: Individual case studies highlight tangible improvements Julian using digital calendars for chores, Nasreen maintaining oral hygiene with a smart toothbrush, and David improving health management through chore and meal planning tech.
Recommendation for Scale
The pilot has been officially approved for a second phase, expanding SMARTech to 10 additional clients. In this next stage, we will also explore grant opportunities and potential sponsorships from technology partners to help fund the acquisition of smart devices. Our ultimate goal is to develop a comprehensive proposal for Regional Centers that demonstrates how these technologies enhance client experiences and significantly increase goal achievement supporting a request to adjust rates to accommodate the integration of smart technology into our programs.
August Financials
Have a Thriving Business Model
OFA continues the fiscal year strong by recording $862K in operating income comp. to $135K budgeted. The budget incorporated potential Medicaid headwinds and increased competition in Employment Services.
Key drivers of outperformance:
• Contract revenue: +$191K vs. budget
• DOR revenue: +$231K vs. budget
• Wages & salaries: $38K above the plan, driven by higher participant volume and corresponding DSP wage increases in Employment Services, aligned with the month's revenue growth.
• Non-wage costs: $219K favorable (equipment, occupancy, and depreciation) as the LA studio related expenses will start occurring in the 2nd quarter.
AUGUST FINANCIALS:
• Revenue: $3,542,582
• Expenses: $2,680,188
• Net Operating Income (operating profit): $862K vs. Budget of $135K
YEAR-TO-DATE FINANCIALS:
• Revenue: $6,976,613
• Expenses: $5,293,938
• Net Operating Income (operating profit): $1.68M vs. Budget of $242K
OFA Budget Update
Recent changes to DOR budget allocations have created a significant gap in our revenue. Our team has developed and implemented a bridge plan to address this shortfall, and the plan is now actively in effect.
INDUSTRY UPDATES (STATE)
Jason Sisney's Substack, “Big revenue gains may offset big deficit projections”
Key Takeaways
• August revenue boost: California collected $1.7 billion more than expected in August 2025, mainly because of higher personal income tax withholding likely from stock-based compensation in the tech sector. Corporate taxes also came in higher, and disaster-related federal reimbursements added to the gains.
• Upcoming tax payments: October will be an important test for revenue trends since Los Angeles County residents have until October 15 (due to wildfire-related extensions) to file their taxes.
Why Revenues Are Rising
• Much of the gain is tied to the “AI boom.” The stock market surge driven by excitement around artificial intelligence has increased tech worker pay and stock-based compensation, boosting state income tax collections.
• Analysts believe this AI-fueled spike could generate over $20 billion in extra revenue across 2024–27.
• At the same time, the broader economy is described as “fragile,” meaning the gains may not be sustainable.
Implications for the Budget
• These short-term gains will mostly go toward reserves and K–12 schools, as required by law.
• They could help soften California’s big projected deficits of $17–24 billion per year through 2028–29.
• However, new federal tax law (H.R. 1), passed in July 2025, complicates the picture. While it provides some economic stimulus, it also:
• Reduces federal funding to California.
• Threatens state health care financing tools like the MCO tax.
• Could cut safety net benefits for millions of Californians.
What’s Next
• The Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO) will release its fiscal outlook in November, followed by the Governor’s January budget.
• Forecasts may vary widely between LAO and the administration due to:
• Uncertainty about federal law impacts.
• Different assumptions about how long the AI-driven boom will last. Bottom line: California’s finances are highly uncertain—short-term gains are clear, but long-term risks remain large.
INDUSTRY UPDATES (FEDERAL)
Federal Medicaid/CHIP Reductions
Executive Summary
A new federal budget reconciliation law includes nearly $1.1 trillion in cuts to Medicaid, CHIP, and Marketplace programs over 10 years. The Congressional Budget Office projects 10 million more uninsured by 2034, with the majority of losses tied to Medicaid.
Key Impacts for California
• Provider Tax Restrictions: California may lose tens of billions used to finance Medi-Cal.
• Eligibility Changes: Work reporting, frequent renewals, and cost-sharing will increase coverage loss, even among eligible individuals.
• Enrollment Barriers: Streamlined eligibility processes are blocked until 2034, leading to more procedural disenrollments.
• Payment Reductions: Caps on supplemental Medicaid payments will destabilize hospitals, nursing homes, and community providers.
• Immigrant Coverage Restrictions: Several lawfully present groups, including refugees, will lose eligibility, shifting emergency care costs to the state.
• Other Adjustments: Retroactive eligibility shortened, LTSS access narrowed, and uptake of new HCBS waiver options limited by budget pressures.
Implications for Disability Service Providers
• Financial Pressure: Reduced Medi-Cal revenues threaten program sustainability.
• Access Challenges: Adults with disabilities face greater risk of losing coverage or affording care.
• System Strain: More uncompensated care, staff reductions, and potential program closures.
• Equity Impacts: Low-income and immigrant populations disproportionately affected.
• Lanterman Act Context: California’s Lanterman Act guarantees services for individuals with developmental disabilities, but statutory “required” services must be funded first. Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) may be underfunded if federal cuts reduce available resources.
In Other News… Gratitude for a Shared Journey
I’m honored to share that I was named a finalist for the San Diego Business Journal’s 2025 Nonprofit Executive of the Year award. While the recognition has my name on it, I see it as a reflection of the incredible team at Options For All and the meaningful work we get to do together every day.
To be considered among so many inspiring leaders in San Diego is humbling. This recognition reminded me that our mission empowering people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to live life without limits—is as vital as ever. Every milestone we celebrate, every barrier broken, and every story of independence gained comes from the collective passion and dedication of our staff, board, partners, and community.
What makes this work meaningful is not the titles or awards, but the lives changed. Being a finalist is an honor, but the true reward is seeing the people we serve find their voice, their purpose, and their place in the community. That is the measure of our success, and that is what inspires me each day to keep moving our mission forward.
August's Operational Results
• We brought on 15 new clients
• Client Retention Rate remained strong at 93%, exceeding goal
• Film & Media at 100% capacity and a 92% attendance rate, exceeding both goals
