Welcome to C.A.R.’s Differently Abled Affinity Group. A statewide community committed to elevating the experiences and leadership of differently abled REALTORS® and clients.

Our Mission

DAAG brings together REALTORS® across California to advance inclusion, expand access, and ensure the real estate industry reflects and supports the full diversity of our communities. We advocate for the needs of differently abled professionals and clients while promoting fair housing practices that open doors for all.

In the U.S., more than 1 in 4 adults have a disability. C.A.R.’s Differently Abled Affinity Group is to advocate and provide awareness to the needs of differently abled REALTORS® and clients.

Purpose of DAAG

• Advocating for and raising awareness of the needs of aging individuals and those who are differently abled, while advancing policies that strengthen accessibility, expand homeownership opportunities, and protect marginalized communities.

• Empowering and supporting differently abled REALTORS® through quarterly virtual meetings that provide resources, accommodations, tools, technology, and best practices to better serve clients.

• Providing timely education and resources on housing issues, fair housing developments, and accessibility strategies, including ways to incorporate accessibility features in homes not originally designed for them.

• Fostering collaboration through statewide partnerships and the exchange of ideas and best practices to strengthen the community and drive systemic change in the real estate profession.

Meet Your DAAG Founding Co-Moderators

How DAAG Started at C.A.R

Diversity and Fair housing are foundational priorities for C.A.R. Yet for many years, the differently abled community remained underrepresented within organized real estate, highlighting a need for greater awareness, education, and advocacy.

This began to change when REALTOR® Karen Trolan, through her involvement with the High Fives Foundation, brought attention to the importance of supporting individuals with physical and mental disabilities within the real estate profession. Around the same time, REALTOR® Stephen Beard was invited to speak at C.A.R.’s first in-person Fair Housing Day, where he shared insights from his work helping clients with disabilities identify and secure housing that meets their accessibility needs. His perspective highlighted both the challenges many consumers face in finding accessible homes and the critical role REALTORS® can play in expanding housing opportunities.

The Fair Housing Day discussion sparked meaningful conversations among members and leaders about the need for greater awareness of accessibility issues affecting differently abled REALTORS®, their families, and their clients. Supported by member feedback and data demonstrating the growing demand for accessible housing, C.A.R. leadership, the Board of Directors, and staff worked with Karen and Stephen to continue the conversation.

These efforts led to the creation of the Differently Abled Affinity Group (DAAG), which held its first meeting in June 2024. Co-founded by Karen Trolan and Stephen Beard, DAAG was established to provide education, resources, networking, and advocacy while promoting a more inclusive real estate industry for all.

The Ableism Iceberg

For many differently abled professionals, the experience of navigating the REALTOR® community can feel very different behind the scenes. There are challenges that aren’t always visible in everyday conversations or policies, yet they shape opportunities, access, and belonging in meaningful ways. The “Ableism Iceberg” invites us to take a closer, more honest look recognizing both what we can easily see and what often goes unspoken, so that together, we can create a more supportive, equitable, and empowering space for everyone.

Disability Pride History

The current disability pride flag was created by Ann Magill in 2021, who is also a member of the disability community. With thoughtful care, she handpicked specific colors to represent different groups within the DAAG community.

The charcoal gray background symbolizes honoring disabled lives lost. Each color represents a different segment of the disability community:

Few Facts about Disability Pride Month (July)

• It commemorates the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
  Disability Pride Month takes place every July to mark the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) on July 26, 1990, a landmark civil rights law protecting disabled people from discrimination. 

• It began as a U.S. movement but is now global. The celebration originated in the U.S. but is now recognized worldwide, including in the U.K. and South Africa (though sometimes in different months).
• The first Disability Pride events date back to 1990. Boston held the first disability pride events in 1990, the same year the ADA passed. Chicago held its first parade in 2004, and the first official Disability Pride Month was celebrated in 2015 during the ADA’s 25th anniversary.

Join Us! DAAG is open to all who believe in building a more inclusive real estate industry and advocating for accessible, equitable housing for every Californian.

For questions on how to get involved, please contact Ryan Jay McElhose!