No Limits!

I was really inspired today at the 20th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) at City Hall.
Two decades ago, barriers such as high sidewalks, inaccessible busses, unreadable signage and ramp-less buildings barred millions from leading fuller, more productive lives.
Then came the lawsuits.
As Mayor Newsom said at today's celebration, it took legal action to ensure that all San Franciscan's have equal access to transportation, public services, employment and telecommunications.
The Arc of San Francisco, along with a coalition of other activists, worked hard to make sure we keep Golden Gate Park accessible.
Today, I stood with Supervisor Bevan Dufty who acknowledged the many battles won, but also the work ahead as LGBTQ people with disabilities challenge everyone to look at our assumptions about inclusion and equal access.
Viewing the Disability Pride quilt with all of our clients attending this event, I was proud to be a part of a movement that has transformed the lives of so many.
Let's see what the next 20 years will bring! No limits!
Tim
Tim Hornbecker
CEO

Photo: John at City Hall with the Disability Pride quilt.

Tony's Hookups and Karaoke

One of our more successful microenterprises is packing the house these days: Tony's Hookups.

Tony hosted a social and karaoke party last week--within minutes of opening doors to the event, there was standing room only for all the clients who came to sing, dance and hang out with friends.

Tony put a business plan together with help from his instructor months ago, and all his hard work is paying off. He charges $2/month to be a member of the social club; parties are another $2.oo and include refreshments and snacks.

Impresario Tony runs the show from his 'chair, surrounded by his assistants, "Tony's Angels."

Stay tuned for more news from our growing client microenterprises!

Tim

Tim Hornbecker, CEO

Big Healthy Salad

Hi. I'm Helen and I want to share my recipe for a big healthy salad. You can make it for you and your friends like I did.

HEALTHY SALAD
2 avocados
2 head of lettuce
1 cabbage
2 carrots
2 cucumbers
2 cloves garlic
1 cup rice vinegar
1 cup olive oil
1 teaspoon salt
1 lb. chicken breasts
2 teaspoons hot and spicy bake mix
2 eggs

Boil eggs and slice afterwards. Wash and drain lettuce. Shred. Slice avocados, cucumbers, garlic and carrots. Wash garlic and chicken breasts then cut into small pieces. Heat 1 teaspoon of olive oil and wait for it to get hot. Add garlic, chicken, hot and spicy bake mix and salt. Heat rest of olive oil and wait for it to get hot. Then turn off heat and wait for cool down. Combine with rice vingar, beat well or mix well. Serve and smile!

Budget Justice Now!

The Arc of San Francisco sent nine advocates to the Disability Capitol Action Day in Sacramento recently. Along with celebrating 20 years of the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act), over 2,000 people from around the state asked for "No More Cuts" to people with disabilities. The Governor's budget proposes a cut in services for people with developmental disabilities of 25 million dollars (this is actually a 50 million cut in services due to the loss of Federal matching funds) on top of the 500 million dollar cut last year.

The Arc of California was just one of the 11 organizations sponsoring the event. Our own Senator Leland Yee emphatically told the crowd, "We do not balance the budget on the backs of people with disabilities. I will not vote for the cuts. These services are a lifeline. All of you have dignity--don't ever let any one of us tell you different. No more cuts!"

I urge you all to contact Senator Mark Leno who, contrary to his staunch stand on no cuts to our services, just voted in favor of the 1.25% (25 million dollar) cuts in the Senate Budget Conference Commitee. Please call him now: (415) 557-1300 or (916) 651-4003.

Thank you for speaking up!

Tim

Tim Hornbecker, CEO, The Arc of San Francisco

Photo: State Capitol, Sacramento-(back) Jackie Kenley, Michelle Giacopazzi, Rob Repke, Tim Hornbecker, Kiyoko Shiosaki; (front) Laura Kenley, Spencer De Bella, Tatyana Boyko, Joe Flanagan.

Budget Battle Update

Last week, I was in Washington D.C. with other advocates at The Arc's National Disability Policy Conference where we reviewed the President's 2011 budget request to Congress. The budget level-funds most disability related programs, provides small increases for some priorities and cuts or consolidates others. Members of The Arc, UCP and other leading advocacy organizations have responded with our own recommendations affecting housing, health care and education for our constituency.
The attached FACT SHEET provides our summary. Work on the FY 2011 Budget Resolution begins in mid-April, so we'll keep you posted.

On the state front, the Schwarzenegger administration asked the Legislature on 4/26 to cut another 1.25% from the amount the state pays to community service providers, and the same percentage from the regional centers' operating budgets. That's on top of the 3% cuts last year.

Together with the loss of adult education and other funds, that would cut some service providers by 10%.

Please take this opportunity to let legislators know cuts to services for people with developmental disabilities is not the fix that's needed. Our Legislator, Senator Mark Leno, needs to hear from clients, service providers and family members regarding the impact further cuts to services will have on people with developmental disabilities, from the continued erosion of basic services and supports to the possible closure of some service resources. Contact Senator Leno today.

Keep advocating!
Tim
CEO, The Arc of San Francisco

CEO Advocacy Update

Over 500 advocates attended The Arc's National Disability Policy Conference last week, including our own self-advocate Mark Marshall, parents Pat Napoliello and Jackie Kenley, and myself. We heard presentations and national budget recommendations on Health Care Reform, Employment, Housing, Education and Legislation in need of reauthorization. We then visited our legislators on Capitol Hill, urging their support. We were able to personally meet with Senator Feinstein, Senator Boxer, and Congresswoman Jackie Speier (who worked with our clients earlier in her career). We were even able to get into the offices of Senator Pelosi and speak with two of her top aides on Education and Health Care.
Our Governor has requested more funding and an extension of the enhanced federal share of MediCaid spending (FMAP) for California, or he will eliminate our In Home Support Services, CalWorks, and Healthy Families. These services severely impact our clients, including current cuts in MediCal. We asked for their support. We advocated for the passage of the Direct Support Professional Training Act, which would offer increased training and salaries to Direct Support Professionals. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) needs adequate funding for programs like the former No Child Left Behind. Over 40,000 uncertified teachers are currently teaching in Special Education throughout the country.
We gave examples of the serious housing needs in the Bay Area, and informed legislators of the new 53,000 Section 8 Housing Vouchers for which our state should be applying! Mark Marshall shared how important his job coach is to him, and that both the Vocational Rehab Act and Work Initiative Act (WIA) should be reauthorized. Finally, the CLASS Act (Community Living Asistance Services and Supports) is currently part of the new Health Care Reform. It creates a new national long-term care insurance program for people to pay into; so that they can remain independent, employed, and engaged in their community if they develop a functional impairment, thus not having to declare bankruptcy, which is the current situation. We asked our representatives not to vote this out of the new Health Care Reform Act.
I will sharing more on the issues that we emphasized, and I hope that you too will take this opportunity to contact our legislators.

Keep advocating!
Tim
Tim Hornbecker, CEO

Dish It Up!

This week we have an entry from Helen Yu who loves to cook and share good food with her friends.

Seredipity's Recipes

Hi everyone, I'm Helen. This is my first recipe for The Arc's BlogTalk with many more to come!
When I first tasted this recipe from my instructor Howard, I asked him, "Can you give this recipe to me please?" After I tried it, I felt like this is my favorite recipe and I really love it. It is also very easy to make and healthy to eat. When it was my birthday, I made this recipe and at the same time Howard left me a message saying 'Happy Birthday' and it was serendipity.

Howard's Recipe
7 1/2 lb. salmon, skin removed (or 4 pre-packaged salmon patties)
1/4 cup plain dry bread crumbs
1 teaspoon dill
1 egg lightly beaten
1 teaspoon reduced fat mayonaisse
2 teaspoons corn starch
1 onion
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon salt
Vegetable oil cooking spray

Mix all ingredients except the cooking spray in a medium size bowl. Form into 4 equal-size patties. Coat a medium nonstick pan with the cooking spray, heat over medium high heat. Cook the salmon patties on both sides until golden brown. Serve. Serendipity!