California Association for Postsecondary Education and Disability
About CAPED
Building stronger support for students across California colleges and universities.
For more than 50 years, CAPED has brought together professionals, educators, administrators, students, and partners who are working to strengthen disability access across postsecondary education.
There is more than one way to contribute.
CAPED is a statewide professional community for people who want to improve access, participation, and opportunity for students with disabilities in postsecondary education.
Our community includes disability services professionals, faculty, administrators, counselors, classified professionals, accessibility specialists, instructional designers, students, advocates, and partners.
CAPED values the knowledge, experience, and perspective that people bring from across higher education. Meaningful progress happens when people in different roles learn from one another and work toward shared goals.
Why CAPED exists
Stronger support for students grows through informed decisions, shared responsibility, practical knowledge, and people who are willing to learn from one another.
CAPED connects professionals, develops campus-ready knowledge, supports statewide collaboration, and creates opportunities that strengthen both professional practice and student success.
Professional Growth
Learn about current issues, emerging practices, legal and policy developments, and strategies that can be applied across campuses.
Statewide Collaboration
Connect with people from colleges, universities, agencies, and professional roles across California to exchange ideas and strengthen campus practice.
Advocacy
Stay informed about legislation, policy, and funding decisions that affect students with disabilities and postsecondary education.
Student Opportunity
Support scholarships, student participation, and opportunities that help students continue their education and pursue their goals.
Our mission
CAPED works to increase the full and effective participation of people with disabilities throughout California postsecondary education.
We support equitable educational opportunity by strengthening services, instruction, policy, funding, professional practice, and campus responsibility.
CAPED’s official mission statement
CAPED promotes the full and effective participation of individuals with disabilities in all aspects of California postsecondary education. We advocate and facilitate equal educational opportunity through appropriate support services, curricula, instruction, policies and funding allocations. We work to eliminate discrimination against people with disabilities, and to promote their independence, growth, productivity, and equality.
More than 50 years of impact
CAPED was founded on October 8, 1974, following several years of federally funded workshops that helped California Community College personnel strengthen their work with students with disabilities.
In April 1975, CAPED was incorporated by the State of California as a nonprofit professional organization. At the time, it became the first organization of its kind in the nation dedicated to postsecondary educators serving students with disabilities.
CAPED has continued to evolve alongside California higher education. Over time, the organization has expanded its professional development, Interest Groups, advocacy, scholarship support, statewide partnerships, and leadership opportunities.
The name has changed, the field has grown, and new challenges continue to emerge. CAPED’s core purpose remains the same: advancing educational opportunity and strengthening the people and systems that support students with disabilities.
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1974
CAPED is founded
The organization adopts its bylaws and begins advancing professional development and postsecondary educational opportunity for students with disabilities.
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1975
CAPED becomes a nonprofit
CAPED is incorporated by the State of California as a nonprofit professional organization.
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Today
A statewide professional community
CAPED continues to connect professionals, develop leadership, support students, and advance disability access throughout California postsecondary education.
Ways to learn, connect, and contribute
CAPED offers opportunities to build knowledge, strengthen professional relationships, support students, and bring useful ideas back to campus.
Annual Convention
Learn from current sessions, statewide colleagues, and practical examples that can be brought back to campus.
Explore CAPED 2026Interest Groups
Connect with people who share professional roles, areas of practice, and priorities across California.
Explore Interest GroupsAdvocacy
Stay informed about legislation, policy, funding, and statewide issues affecting students with disabilities and higher education.
Explore CAPED AdvocacyStudent Scholarships
Support educational opportunity for students with disabilities across California.
Learn About ScholarshipsLeadership, governance, and accountability
CAPED is guided by elected and appointed leaders, CAPED Interest Group representatives, committee leaders, and higher education system liaisons.
The organization’s bylaws, leadership structure, annual reports, and meeting records help members understand how CAPED is governed and how its work develops over time.
Meet CAPED Leadership View Governance and Bylaws View Annual Reports
See what CAPED can add to your work.
Explore professional learning, statewide connections, advocacy, and opportunities to strengthen disability access across California postsecondary education.