A LIFE'S MISSION
LIVES ON
Throughout her life's work, Barbara Maizie was renowned as an iconic leader: an "advocate's advocate", an innovative force and a caring mentor. Her career, spanning forty-two years of service at VistAbility (formerly Contra Costa ARC), was instrumental in the creation, preservation, and evolution of life-enhancing supports for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families.
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We are honoring her legacy with the Barbara Maizie Memorial Fund, which will provide financial assistance to anyone receiving services from VistAbility to support them in affording assistive devices, extracurricular activities, and opportunities instrumental in reaching their personal goals. The awards are for needs not typically funded by other entities. For people receiving our services, limits in available personal and state-provided financial resources can mean beneficial and valued supports may be out of reach.
Camp scholarships to attend specialized summer camps
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College tuition and textbooks
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Work attire to wear to a new job
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Assistive equipment like communication devices, ergonomic supports, mobility aids
Emergency funds to be available to participants in crisis (i.e. encountering homelessness, emergency travel).
SMALL GRANTS
MAKE BIG IMPACTS
The Barbara Maizie Memorial Fund helps people afford:
A LIFETIME
OF ADVOCACY
came to VistAbility, formerly Contra Costa ARC, in 1974 inspired to make a meaningful contribution to the lives of the people being served through the Lanterman Act. Her steadfast commitment never wavered. She was an insightful, talented leader as she moved through VistAbility’s service system from Floor Supervisor to Program Coordinator to Program Director, simultaneously completing a Master's degree in Rehabilitation Administration from the University of San Francisco.
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When Barbara became Executive Director in 1986 she was already a seasoned, well respected professional. She built VistAbility into the largest provider of services in Contra Costa County, with a staff of over 300, serving over 900 infants through senior adults each day.
Passionate in everything she did, Barbara was revered in the East Bay as a fierce advocate for people with developmental disabilities and their rights. She was the embodiment of a life committed to purpose. Barbara demonstrated this commitment by working "eight days a week", burning the midnight oil until late into the night. She went far beyond her responsibilities as an Executive Director of a large agency to become involved in broader efforts which affected programs and policy locally and throughout California.
Barbara was a Founder and promoter of Keeping the Lanterman Promise (KTLP), dedicated to educating the developmental disabilities public regarding their rights as guaranteed in the Lanterman Act. She always viewed this piece of legislation as the foundation of people’s choices, and believed the IPP (Individual Program Plan) process must be protected and preserved at all costs. Her efforts in serving this ideal included membership in numerous committees and boards of local, East Bay, and statewide organizations. She took particular interest in legislative advocacy and received wide recognition from members of the state legislature, as well as being honored by many local organizations.
Barbara was beloved among staff and families in her home agency. She imbued the culture at VistAbility with her kind, nurturing sensibility -- mentoring, guiding, supporting and praising individual efforts and accomplishments.
Barbara passed away after a short illness on August 13, 2016.
Upon hearing the news, Arc California issued the following statement:
"She was the most person-centered advocate, who stayed true and steadfast to the principles of the Lanterman Act. This is not only a loss for those of us who knew her and worked with her, but also for the thousands of people with disabilities and their families who benefitted from her good work as an advocate throughout her career."
BARBARA MAIZIE