Today we’d like to introduce you to John Rodriguez
Hi John, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I bring a unique perspective to this interview, having worked in the Mayor’s Office under Mayor Tom Bradley in 1982 and now with the Department on Disability in 2024. This spans a significant period, even predating the ADA, and encompasses various developments within the disabled community and disability issues.
I was recruited from Washington, DC, where I was working with the National Restaurant Association and the California Restaurant Association. I helped develop a training program aimed at creating opportunities for people with disabilities in restaurant management and entry-level food service. We worked with 1,800 restaurants in California, including Los Angeles, to place people with disabilities.
I consider myself fortunate to be a beneficiary of the War on Poverty initiatives from 1964, around the time the Civil Rights Act was passed. Programs were in place to hire kids from various neighborhoods for summer jobs, allowing them to earn money and gain experience. This was my introduction to social programs and working with community groups.
From there, I continued working with War on Poverty programs and community initiatives. I supervised a summer program for about 300 kids, which provided swimming activities and helped parents by giving children a fun and enriching experience. This led me into community organizing while I was in college, during a time of heavy civil activism aimed at increasing minority access to colleges and various industries.
I was hired as a community worker for the employment office, where I became one of the few Latinos working there at the time. After passing a civil service test, I became a trainer for the state employment office. I also worked on a program aimed at getting fathers receiving temporary assistance back to work, which involved providing support for education, childcare, and transportation while still receiving government benefits.
After working on this program in Los Angeles, I was recruited to Washington, DC, to train nationwide on similar initiatives. This led me to work with the Department of Labor and other federal programs. I returned to Los Angeles and directed manpower programs until those funds ran out. I then worked as a consultant with the Department of Labor before being hired by Mayor Bradley’s office due to my background in training and community programs.
After leaving the Mayor’s Office, I took a job at UCLA as an academic credentials evaluator, which I found unsatisfying. I then transitioned to a role as a personnel manager at a small company in the valley, which grew into a major manufacturing company. I served as their director of personnel until corporate changes led me to leave.
I took some time off, joined a family business, and then worked on a secondhand smoke program with the California Health Department. I conducted the largest high school survey on secondhand smoke in the country and began volunteering as a mediator through the Los Angeles County Bar Association. This began a nearly 20-year relationship with mediation, where I taught mediation, worked with the Department of Justice, and helped set up a national mediation program model.
Eventually, I became a senior mediator at the Center for Conflict Resolution at Loyola Law School. After a period of burnout, I transitioned to doing mediation work as a contractor with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) in various locations.
I also served on the Commission on Disability twice before applying for and securing my current role as an ADA Coordinator, a position I’ve held for 14 years.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The journey for the Department on Disability has not been smooth. The department has faced challenges due to shifts in priorities and funding threats. It has survived due to the tenacity of its staff, strong community relationships, and advocacy for the rights of people with disabilities but the fight for disability rights continues.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
As an ADA Coordinator, I assist city employees who face challenges at work due to disabilities. I address both work-related issues and those arising from the nature of their disabilities. My role involves working with various departments to resolve issues and ensure employees can be successful in their roles. I provide coaching and suggestions to city staff and help individuals outside the city navigate employment-related issues.
When I started with the department, we focused on building positive relationships with other city departments and providing training on ADA policies and procedures. This included training a wide range of city employees, from truck drivers to crossing guards.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
I’m most proud of helping individuals overcome significant challenges and stabilize their lives, allowing them to make decisions and regain control. Providing tools and support to those who feel overwhelmed or at risk of losing their jobs is deeply fulfilling.
Mediation has been life-changing for me. Growing up, I was uncomfortable with conflict and didn’t know how to manage anger or stressful situations. Mediation training, which was open to non-lawyers, provided me with the skills to handle conflict from a win-win perspective rather than a win-lose one. It allowed me to help people navigate personal, professional, and social conflicts, and I received awards for my work in mediation. The experience gave me a different perspective and helped me contribute positively to individuals’ lives.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://disability.lacity.gov/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lacdod/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LACITYDOD
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/lacdod
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@lacdod
- Other: https://www.threads.net/@lacdod
