Beth
Gallagher
Founder & CEO of Life Works
Co-Creator of the Liberty Plan | Author | Parent Advocate
“My hope is that we can team with people to achieve unique, customized, and fully realized lives.”
-Â Beth Gallagher
About Beth
Beth Gallagher has spent over three decades advocating for the dignity and potential of people with developmental disabilities. As the founder and CEO of Life Works in San Diego, she has led countless efforts to design individualized, person-centered supports for those often overlooked by traditional systems.
Her journey began shortly after graduating from California State University, Chico, with degrees in Child Development and Psychology. Since then, she has worked at the intersection of creativity, advocacy, and deep human connection—never settling for the status quo.
Beth is a co-creator of the Liberty Plan, a powerful facilitation tool used to design meaningful lives, and co-author of Intentional Teaming: Shifting Organizational Culture, a book that explores how to recognize and honor the unique gifts of direct support professionals.
Beth’s Philosophy
Beth believes that support must be as unique as the person receiving it.
She’s committed to asking better questions, such as:
“How can this person contribute their gifts?”
“What does the community gain by knowing them?”
“How can we co-create supports that actually make sense?”
For Beth, collaboration isn’t just a method—it’s a way of life.
The work of inclusion starts with listening, honoring individuality, and building a
culture of belonging one person at a time.
Leadership in Action
At Life Works, Beth leads with curiosity and compassion, bringing vision and energy to every corner of the organization. Her work has supported hundreds of individuals and teams in building customized lives rooted in inclusion, purpose, and real community presence.
She’s recognized nationally as a leader in person-centered planning, often speaking and facilitating workshops that challenge outdated practices and inspire new ways of thinking.
Beth is also a parent of two adult children with developmental disabilities, giving her a lived understanding of the challenges and triumphs families face.
