The CCDA Commission Members

The California Commission on Disability Access (CCDA) is a 17-member independent commission consisting of 11 public members and six (6) ex-officio non-voting members. The CCDA was established through legislation (Senate Bill 1608 – Chapter 549, Statutes of 2008) enacted during the 2007/2008 legislative session.

Appointees to the CCDA were selected as specified by the provisions of Government Code section 14985.1 and the CCDA is comprised of appointees as follows:

  • Two (2) public members appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules, with one appointee from the business community and one appointee from the disability community.
  • Two (2) public members appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly, with one appointee from the business community and one appointee from the disability community.
  • Seven (7) public members appointed by the Governor, with the consent of the Senate.
  • Four (4) of the appointees must be from the disability community and three (3) of the appointees must be from the business community.
  • The State Architect, or his or her representative, as a nonvoting ex-officio member.
  • The Attorney General, or his or her representative, as a nonvoting ex-officio member.
  • Two members of the Senate, appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules as nonvoting ex-officio members. One member shall be from the majority party and one member shall be from the minority party.
  • Two members of the Assembly, appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly, as nonvoting ex-officio members. One member shall be from the majority party, and one member shall be from the minority party.

The CCDA is required by law to annually elect from its membership a Chairperson who must, as required by GC Section 14985.2 (b), be a representative from the disability community; a Vice-Chairperson who also must be elected from the membership, however, the law requires that this member represent the business community.


Public members are appointed for three-year terms, except that, with respect to the initial appointees, the Governor appoints three members for a one-year term, two members for a two-year term, and two members for a three-year term. The Senate Committee on Rules and the Speaker of the Assembly each initially appoint one member for a two-year term and one member for a three-year term. Public members may be reappointed for additional terms. The organizational chart located above identifies the appointees and provides information at a glance as to who the appointee represents, the appointment date and the appointment expiration.

Executive Committee

    • Christopher Downey, Chair – Commission Member
    • Brian Holloway, Vice Chair – Commission Member
    • Dr. Souraya Sue ElHessen– Commission Member
    • Drake Dillard – Commission Member
    • Scott Lillibridge – Commission Member
    • Guy Leemhuis, Immediate Past Chair– Commission Member

Education and Outreach Committee

    • Dr. Souraya Sue ElHessen, Chair – Commission Member
    • Héctor Manuel Ramírez – Commission Member
    • Ashely Leon-Vazquez - Commission Member
    • Ben Conway - Commission Member
    • Arnie Lerner – Public Member
    • Stephen Simon – Public Member
    • Zeenat Hassan – Public Member

Legislative Committee

    • Scott Lillibridge, Chair – Commission Member 
    • Jacqueline Jackson - Commission Member
    • Ben Conway - Commission Member
    • Dan Okenfuss – Public Member

Checklist Committee

    • Drake Dillard, Chair – Commission Member
    • Brian Holloway - Commission Member
    • Beth Maynard – Public Member
    • Richard Halloran – Public Member
    • Brandon Estes - Public Member
    • Ike Nnaji - Public Member
    • Mehdi Shadyab - Public Member
    • Bill Zellmer – Public Member

CBPA Appointee

  • Sarahann Shapiro - Commission Member