April, 2004
Our recent Spring-like weather has really improved my outlook. The sunshine seems to make things more positive. Advocacy work is never boring, and when there are promising activities on the horizon, it just makes it that much more fulfilling. Recently, the Central Coast Center for Independent Living was involved in a forum for non-profit organizations to assist them with the creation of advocacy plans on the Governor's proposed budget cuts. It was clear from this event, that several non-profits saw the benefit in working together to demonstrate to the Legislature and the Governor that our services are vital to our community and without the safety net that we provide, the lives of the people we serve would be drastically changed.
During this event, I had the privilege of co-facilitating an advocacy planning session with Teresa Favuzzi, a Community Organizer from our statewide association, the California Foundation for Independent Living Centers, (CFILC) which I have mentioned to you before. Teresa is a woman, who I am convinced, can organize rallies and other major events in her sleep. So, needless to say, I felt some pressure to launch into a monologue on the large number of cuts that will impact people with disabilities. But, it soon became clear that I would learn more from doing less talking and more listening.
Two of the participants in our group were from Hope Services, an organization that has been working with people with developmental disabilities in Monterey County for almost ten years. Originally, based in Santa Clara County, they recently celebrated their 50th anniversary of providing services. Their services include employment training, and placement, as well as independent living skills, and day activity programs. Despite the fact that Hope has been providing services in Monterey County for many years, I did not know how much we have in common.
They share the concerns that I have expressed to you in previous columns with regard to the elimination of the In Home Supportive Services (IHSS) Residual Program because it would deny necessary services to many people with developmental disabilities and would lead to more institutionalization.
Advocates for people with developmental disabilities, like those at Hope Services are very concerned about the proposed cuts to facilities called Regional Centers. Regional Centers are non-profit corporations created by the Lanterman Act to serve people that fall within the state definition of being developmentally disabled. These Centers, which are State funded, would have to pick up the cost of IHSS services for the people they serve so, theoretically, the State would not end up saving anything with regard to those individuals.
The Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Act, called the "Lanterman Act" is a civil rights law that gives people with developmental disabilities in California the right to services and supports that will allow them to live more independently. Regional Center advocates had a great victory recently when more than a thousand people rallied at the Capitol Building in Sacramento to oppose the Governor's proposal to suspend the Lanterman Act. As a result of this advocacy effort, the Governor agreed to withdraw his proposal that would have eliminated, or drastically reduced some services and capped enrollment for others.
Victories like that are rare, we must continue to strive to educate our elected officials about the impact that their decisions have on us. Balancing the budget is their job, but teaching them what we need is our job. It is my "hope" that people with disabilities will benefit from a productive collaboration with Hope Services and CCCIL in the future. Who knows? Maybe one day we'll host a rally with over a thousand people....
CCCIL, the CFILC, and other organizations would like to give you a chance to teach your legislators what you need. They have scheduled an event called Disability Capitol Action Day that will take place on May 20th at the Capitol Building in Sacramento. There will be legislative visits and a rally for individuals to participate in. For details log onto http://www.cfilc.org and do a search for Disability Capitol Action Day, or give me a call at (831) 757-2968.