Monday, May 23, 2011

DDS Hearing Update


Dear Advocates,

The Oakland DDS hearing with Terri Delgadillo, Executive Director, was attended by over 300 parents, self-advocates and advocates from the Bay Area, especially The Arcs of San Francisco, Alameda and Contra Costa. After a 2 1/2 hour wait in line in the cold wind just to get into the Federal Building for the hearing, we made our testimony. Terri Delgadillo responded to my concern that there were no details to the DDS Headquarter and Developmental Center budget cut proposed savings of 55 million dollars. She will send out a chart with the details per our request.

The Arc has supported AB171, the Autism Insurance Bill, which was not in the budget proposals but we recommend. The Arc has reserved our support for many of the proposed recommendations by DDS until they actually publish the implementation details in Trailer Bills that will be part of the Governor’s budget. The devil is indeed in the details, which hurt us in last year’s budget.

Please keep advocating. Disability Capitol Action Day will be on May 25, Wednesday, 10 AM – 2 PM. A March to the Capitol, Educational Rally, and Resource Fair will take place in front of the Capitol Building with over 3,000 advocates expected. Please contact me if you are interested in attending.

Thank you,
Timothy Hornbecker, CEO

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