Teresa Anderson is the Public Policy Director for The Arc and United Cerebral Palsy California Collaboration. Over the last 18 years and prior to becoming the Public Policy Director, Teresa worked on a variety of special projects for The Arc of California including; staffing the Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Statewide Taskforce and Prevention Committee for the Board of Directors, Research on Poverty Issues among People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD), Increasing Advocacy and Awareness of Sexual Assault and Abuse of People with IDD, Health Advocacy and Criminal Justice Issues. In the earlier years of her career, Teresa worked as a direct support professional providing services in day programs, supported employment, residential, education and behavioral crisis settings.
In addition to her work for The Arc of California, Teresa provided legislative and regulatory advocacy in the health care arena with much of her efforts focused on increasing access to care, vulnerable populations and the need to expand the health workforce. She earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Child Development from Sacramento State University, a Masters Degree in Public Health from Drexel University, and her Juris Doctorate from Lincoln Law School Sacramento. Her graduate work, research and thesis centered on Health Advocacy for People with IDD.