The Arc Testifies: No More Cuts

Over 200 advocates, service providers and family members stood in a long line to testify on Friday 2/4 at the California State Assembly.

I was proud to lead our contingent from The Arc of San Francisco and highlight our key concerns:

BUDGET CUTS

The state cannot balance the budget on the backs of people with developmental disabilities. We've already been cut to the bone with rate freezes for the last 10 years and a 4.25% 'discount' that amounts to a loss of over $100,000 each year--just to The Arc of San Francisco alone. Further cuts would essentially dismantle the Lanterman Act which guarantees the supports our clients need to live in the community.

MEANS TESTING

This idea--that the state will assess the income of families and clients and determine who is eligible for services--is discriminatory and stigmatizes lower income families. The Lanterman Act gave all our children with developmental disabilities in California the right to be served, just like all kids have the right to a public education. Will the State also start a 'means test' to determine elegibility for public school?

SETTING STANDARDS BY SURVEY MONKEY

The state has asked for concerned families to provide input using an open-ended questionnaire created on Survey Monkey (!). We cannot set policy using an unscientific, unmeasurable and subjective format. We need changes in our system that are based on what's working and not working efficiently in our state.

WHAT'S NEXT?

On February 17th, Thursday at 9:20am in Sacramento, the Senate Budget Committee, chaired by Senator Mark Leno, will be hearing our concerns. JOIN US! Or email/call your legislator to give your feedback on these issues.

Thanks to eveyone who took time to testify on Friday, and to those of you raising your voices for the services and human rights of people with disabilities so that they can be included in our communities--not segregated.

Tim

Tim Hornbecker, CEO

(Photo: Tim Hornbecker testifying before the California State Assembly)

New Developmental Services Survey

Message from the CA Department of Developmental Services

IMPORTANT SURVEY: www.dds.ca.gov/survey

The Department has posted a survey on its website to get input on statewide service standards covering:

• Behavioral Services
• Day Program, Supported Employment and Work Activity Program Services
• Early Start Services
• Health Care and Therapeutic Services
• Independent Living and Supported Living Services
• Residential Services
• Respite and other Family Supports
• Transportation Services

The survey is anonymous, and will be online until February 15, 2011.

Input is sought from consumers, family members, service providers, regional centers, advocates, policy advisors and the general public.

Thank you for your feedback.

Terri Delgadillo, Director

New Health Survey

Your input is needed. People with intellectual and developmental disabilities are grossly underserved in our current healthcare system. The Arc and other local partners are working to create a new roadmap for better quality care.
At the same time, The University of Illinois at Chicago, in partnership with Special Olympics, is conducting a longitudinal study about health needs for people with I/DD. The study will gather knowledge regarding behavior and outcomes of persons with I/DD over a 5-year period. The results will provide more insight and knowledge to help healthcare providers and policy makers better serve this population.
Family members, caregivers, service workers, and adults with I/DD are invited to enroll. Participants will receive a $5 Subway gift card. To register and learn more, CLICK HERE.

Thank you for your valuable contribution! Together, we can change the healthcare system for the benefit of people with disabilities.

Tim
Tim Hornbecker
CEO

Your Comments are Needed

The Arc of San Francisco, in collaboration with The Arc of the United States and UCP, supports the proposed Social Security Administration Mental Disorders regulations.
SSA has published the proposed regulations and the criteria used to help determine whether an individual with intellectual disability, mental illness, autism, Alzheimer's, traumatic injury or other cognitive or mental disorders is disabled for purposes of the SSI (Social Security Income) program or the Social Security disability programs.

YOUR COMMENTS ARE NEEDED TO SUPPORT THESE PROPOSED REGULATIONS: CLICK HERE.

Thank you for your support!

Tim
Tim Hornbecker
CEO

Senator Yee Honored

What Senator Leland Yee says, he means! He emphatically told us that the State Budget should not be balanced on the backs of people with disabilities. He would not vote for a budget that added another 1.25% cut to the rates of services for people with developmental disabilities, as well as a cut of 3.6% in hours to people receiving In Home Support Services (IHSS).
Because of his unpopular vote that clashed with the majority of the State Senate, Senator Yee lost his Senate leadership position as assistant president pro tempore. For his bold support of people with developmental disabilities, The Arc of California is honoring him with the Profile in Courage Award at their public policy conference in March 2011.

Thank you, Senator Yee, for your integrity and your courage to go against your fellow politicians who told us the same, but voted for the cuts to the elderly and people with disabilities.

Tim

Tim Hornbecker, CEO

Work, Sweat and Dignity

Close to fifty clients of The Arc converged on McKinley Square Park today in response to a call for help to clean, clear, weed and restore the small but beautiful park that sits at the top of Potrero Hill.
Billy was among the group and I was curious to see how he'd respond to this new experience. Billy is a young man with severe autism. His speech is limited and when I see him at The Arc's offices, he's often pacing around the lunchroom or sitting in a corner rocking back and forth. He sometimes hits himself repetitively.
But today was different.
At first, he stood apart from the group studying the other Arc clients who were raking dead branches on the park hillside.
It was clear he wanted to get involved, but didn't know how.
Eventually, one of the park gardeners took him aside and helped him put on some gloves. He then patiently showed Billy how to pick up a few fallen branches and bring them to the big pile of slash at the top of the hill. Billy listened quietly and then started gathering branches for the pile. Not just any branch would do--he was selective. But when he had an armful, up the hill he went, joining the line of other guys as the big slash pile grew and grew.
Over and over again, Billy made the trek up the hill with his small pile of carefully chosen branches. He stayed on task, going up and down in the hot sun without complaint. Occasionally, his friends would give him a shout of encouragement; their spirit of camaraderie and support was infectious.
A small smile crept over his face and stayed there--all morning.
I see Billy every day at The Arc. But I have never seen him as quiet, as focused or involved in anything as he was today.
It's great that the folks at McKinley Park welcomed The Arc volunteers. It's good for our clients, our community and the parks we love.
But what our clients' enthusiasm says to me more than anything is: "We want to work."
People with developmental disabilities don't want handouts or charity. Or pity. Like everyone else, they want a job that makes them feel useful, doing something that really matters and earning a decent wage in the process.
Sure, not everyone on the hillside today was working at the same level of productivity. It was hot; it was heavy lifting. But even those sidelined by limitations had responsibilities; handing out water bottles or watching the backpacks--everyone had a job to do.
Billy and other people with Down syndrome, autism or cerebral palsy can learn--that's clear. And then they need a place to apply their abilities.
When people are denied the opportunity to work, they are denied respect and acknowledgment of their worth. Conversely, people who work have the means to express their individuality and realize their potential as human beings.
Teaching Billy new tasks takes a little more time and effort, but isn't it worth it?
Let's think about how we can put more Arc clients to work. 4 hours a day or 4 hours a week, I can promise you that you'll find no more dedicated, loyal--and grateful--employees than clients from The Arc.
To help someone become a real adult in the real working world--it's giving back at a level that's truly transformational. To change someone's entire life through no more than a simple part-time job is an accomplishment we can all be proud of.
If quality of life in San Francisco really means something to us, we've got to put more people with developmental disabilities where they belong: in our workforce.

Meredith Manning

Community Relations

Bill to Restore Services Passes

At the request of The Arc and Assembly Member Wesley Chesbro, the state has agreed to send notices to all regional centers advising them that people with developmental disabilites still have the right to participate in planning their own services.

This is a huge step for people whose services were reduced, eliminated or changed in any way without Individual Program Plan (IPP) or Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) team meetings, and for anyone who faces that disturbing possibility in the future.

Thank you sincerely to the hundreds of you who responded to The Arc's action alerts this year and sent emails supporting our bill to assure that our community keeps the right to IPP/IFSP meetings. It was Assembly Bill 2702, sponsored by The Arc and introduced for us by Assembly Member Chesbro.

Greg deGiere, The Arc of California