Advocacy Director’s Report

June 25, 2010 Report

This report represents a summary of the work Disability Rights California advocacy programs and projects reported through April 30, 2010; some activities on the legislative and press front may be more current. I’d like to thank those who provided the material to make this report possible.

communications

Media work has concentrated on: 1) obtaining coverage of positive developments in class action cases; 2) supporting investigative journalists’ interest in our issues; 3) responding to negative coverage of mental health issues; 4) advancing the right to community-based services; and, 5) launching groundwork for a YouTube video about our activities.

Adult Day Health Care and IHSS Class Actions

Regarding class action cases, in February the media covered the injunction granted in response to our motion challenging the Administration’s restrictive criteria for receiving Adult Day Health Care. In March, The Sacramento Bee and others recognized the significance of the addition of the U.S. Department of Justice to the lineup of amicus curiae for our case, asserting that it would be discrimination to use the functional index categories to cut people from the In Home Supportive Services (IHSS) program.

Communications Goals: Goal 2
Disability Rights California Staff: Barbara Duncan
Grant/Funding Source(s): Trust Fund

Investigative Journalists Take Notice

Two investigative journalists for California Watch pursued information provided by Disability Rights California to look into nursing homes that received increased state funds while decreasing care. The investigation, released April 17 and covered by several TV stations and papers, reviewed 645 homes that served the largest number of low-income residents needing 24-hour care and found patterns of staff reduction and patient neglect. On May 17, the Administration responded, announcing what advocates consider inadequate plans to curtail nursing home bonuses if standards are not met

Communications Goals: Goal 2
Disability Rights California Staff: Deborah Doctor, Barbara Duncan
Grant/Funding Source(s): Equal Access, Trust Fund

Attack on Privacy Averted … for now

In March, April and May, because of efforts by the IHSS coalition, of which Disability Rights California is a member, there was much media coverage questioning the value of the MorphoTrak cameras that the Administration’s anti-fraud program proposed to use to photograph every IHSS provider and recipient. See below under legislative activities for more information about this proposal. A March 20 Sacramento Bee editorial stated that the cameras would not reduce fraud and cited an IHSS coalition point that $5000 would buy 500 hours of in-home supportive services. This advocacy campaign culminated in May with budget subcommittee hearings that took bipartisan stands against using the cameras on recipients.

Communications Goals: Goal 2
Public Policy Goals: Goal 3
Disability Rights California Staff: Deborah Doctor, Barbara Duncan
Grant/Funding Source(s): Equal Access, Trust Fund

Laura’s Law (AB 1421)

In response to several fatal incidents involving people with psychiatric disabilities, the Treatment Advocacy Center (TAC) used the media this spring to encourage implementation of Laura’s Law (AB 1421). AB 1421 is a California state law that allows for court-ordered outpatient commitment of mental health clients. The TAC began on March 14 with an op-ed in the LA Times, “Untreated mentally ill pose deadly risk,” and then on April 13 with a similar op-ed in The Sacramento Bee. Working with the CARES Coalition, we responded on April 18 with an op-ed in The Sacramento Bee, “Treatment by force won’t save lives of the mentally ill,” co-authored by Michael Stortz of our staff and Delphine Brody of the California Network of Mental Health Clients. On May 14, a KQED radio forum on the issue had a representative of the California Psychiatric Association, a judge from one of the two counties that have court-ordered outpatient commitment programs, and a member of the CARES coalition. We continue our work to develop strategies to counter their arguments in support of outpatient commitment programs and the public’s fears about mental health disabilities.

Communications Goals: Goal 1
Disability Rights California Staff: Barbara Duncan, Mike Stortz
Grant/Funding Source(s): PAIMI, Trust Fund

Saving Community-Based Mental Health Services

During this same period, we worked with the communications staff at Cooley, LLP and were successful in getting media support for our class action case filed on May 6 against Sacramento County’s plan to abruptly close its network of community-based mental health services. Wide TV, radio and press coverage culminated in a May 14 editorial by The Sacramento Bee in favor of our requested injunction against the County. Several staff and co-counsel worked hard on media support, which included interviews with one of the named plaintiffs to explain how closing critical services could endanger the health of at least 5000 people with disabilities. Immediately following the press on the issue, county officials expressed interest in discussing the issues further.

Communications Goals: Goal 2
Disability Rights California Staff: Barbara Duncan, Stuart Seaborn
Grant/Funding Source(s): Trust Fund, PAIMI

Lanterman Developmental Center Closes

Our testimony at legislative hearings in May in support of closure of the Lanterman Developmental Center was covered on May 10 by a southern California public radio station, KPCV. During the KPCV interview we stressed that closing developmental centers was the right move for society, and a family member of an individual who had successfully left a state institution to live in smaller supported housing discussed how satisfied the person was with living in the community. See below under legislative activities for more information about our testimony at legislative hearings on this issue.

Communications Goals: Goal 2
Public Policy Goals: Goal 3
Disability Rights California Staff: Evelyn Abouhassan, Will Leiner, Barbara Duncan
Grant/Funding Source(s): Trust Fund, PADD

Website trends this quarter

We had the usual jump in website visits for the first quarter of the calendar year: 109,797 visits compared to 64,946 for last quarter for the English site, and a doubling of visitors to the Spanish site to 2683. Some other positive indicators: a 10% increase in new visitors and a doubling of readers coming directly to our site, meaning they knew how to find us. The top five publications visited were: Special Education Rights and Responsibilities, IHSS Nuts and Bolts, Restraint and Seclusion, Fact Sheets on cuts and the Advocacy Plan. Top search terms used were IHSS, conservatorship and service animal rights.

Communications Goals: Goal 3
Disability Rights California Staff: Barbara Duncan
Grant/Funding Source(s): Trust Fund

LEGISLATIVE ACTIVITIES

NOTE: Legislative activities are current at the time this report is prepared, however, the legislature moves quickly and things can change overnight. For the most current information about legislative activities reported here, check our home page and legislative website: http://www.disabilityrightsca.org/ and http://www.disabilityrightsca.org/legislature/index.htm

California Budget:

In January the governor proposed a budget which targeted low-income Californians by reducing or eliminating crucial health and human services programs. Some of the proposals approved by the legislature last year have been stopped by federal courts, yet the governor brought them forward again.

We have updated our analysis of the governor’s proposals, which can be found here: http://www.disabilityrightsca.org/legislature/Budget/2010/2010-1-12-prelim-analysis.htm

Our advocates have fought many of the cuts since the budget’s release. We analyzed the proposals and wrote position statements on all of the pertinent sections of the governor’s budget that impact persons with disabilities. We testified at numerous hearings regarding the harm the proposals will cause and encouraged the legislature to find new revenues to fill the budget gap. We worked with other organizations such as California Foundation of Independent Living Centers (CFILC), the Western Center on Law and Poverty, The Arc, California Alliance of Child and Family Services, California Mental Health Directors, California Network of Mental Health Clients, and the California Immigrant Policy Center to coordinate hearing testimony and visits to legislator’s offices.

The Assembly and Senate Budget subcommittees considered the budget proposals, rejecting some but holding most items of importance open until the budget’s May Revision (usually referred to as the May Revise), which the Governor released on May 14th. The May Revise incorporates updated lower revenue estimates and proposes some new cuts. After analyzing the May Revise proposals, we continue to fight the cuts during the May Revise budget hearings.

Public Policy Goals: 3, 4, 6
Disability Rights California Staff: Evelyn Abouhassan, Deborah Doctor, Brandon Tartaglia, Margaret Johnson, Catherine Blakemore
Grant/Funding Source(s): Equal Access, Trust Fund

Ensuring Notice is Given to Regional Center Clients about Exceptions and Exemptions to Budget Reductions in Services

We worked to ensure that people with developmental disabilities receive appropriate notice of exemptions and exceptions that were adopted as part of the $334 million in reductions and budget changes approved in the 2009-2010 Department of Developmental Disabilities (DDS) budget.

Among other things, the changes to the Lanterman Act made as part of the FY 09-10 Budget reduced services such as respite and supported living services; suspended services (like camping and social recreation); and, required the use of private insurance and least costly vendors. We found that regional centers do not always tell people with developmental disabilities and their families about exceptions and exemptions to the service limits or the process for requesting exceptions/exemptions. We worked with stakeholders to develop legislation that required notice about the exceptions and exemptions. Other stakeholders involved in developing the notice included The Arc of California and the Association of Regional Center Agencies (ACRA). The notice language we helped develop was adopted by the budget committees.

Public Policy Goals: 3, 4, 6
Disability Rights California Staff: Evelyn Abouhassan, Catherine Blakemore
Grant/Funding Source(s): Trust Fund

Integration of People with Developmental Disabilities into the Community: Support of the Lanterman Developmental Center Closure Plan

DDS developed a plan for the closure of Lanterman Developmental Center in Southern California. For the plan to move forward, the legislature must review and approve the plan as part of the budget process. DDS provided an overview of the plan to the legislature as part of budget hearings. We drafted testimony, attended the hearings and testified in support of closure. In our testimony, we explained that as the state moves forward to close the developmental center, it must:

1. Collaboratively develop resources and planning activities to avoid delays in transition and closure;

2. Adequately plan for the future and ensure that peers share understandable information with residents;

3. Dedicate funding for community resource development and transition;

4. Ensure access to community based health and medical services;

5. Have strong quality management systems as outlined in the Closure Plan;

6. Have advisory groups which include active participation by consumers; and

7. Find ways to have genuine participation in the process for every person who moves from Lanterman Developmental Center to the community.

Our testimony garnered positive media coverage – an interview with a parent of a client who moved successfully from Agnews Developmental Center into the community. The interview was aired by a public radio station in southern California. See above under communications for information about the media coverage.

Public Policy Goals: 3, 4, 6
Communication Goals: 1, 2
Disability Rights California Staff: Evelyn Abouhassan, Catherine Blakemore, William Leiner
Grant/Funding Source(s): Equal Access, Trust Fund

LAO Proposal to Eliminate State Funds for Behavioral Intervention Plans

In response to the Governors budget proposal to suspend most Kindergarten through twelfth grade mandates, the Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO) put forward alternative proposals for overall reform of state mandates. One of these proposals is to eliminate the state mandate funding for behavioral intervention plans (BIPs), while keeping the services available by tying them to federal requirements. The LAO’s proposal attempts to reconcile state and federal law requirements and looks at ways to use federal money to implement behavioral intervention plans.

The LAO’s proposal would require a working group of special education experts and others to make recommendations for changes to state laws and regulations. We plan to be involved in the working group. Our advocates met with representatives from the LAO and budget committee staff to help them understand the importance of BIPs, and how careful examination of the law before any changes are made is imperative to protect the best interests of children with disabilities. We also testified at the Assembly Education Budget hearing to express our concerns to the legislature. We are currently looking at state and federal laws and regulations to prepare for the possible stakeholder process.

Public Policy Goals: 3, 5
Disability Rights California Staff: Evelyn Abouhassan, Brandon Tartaglia, Maggie Roberts, Lauren Giardina, Stephen Rosenbaum
Grant/Funding Source(s): Equal Access, Trust Fund

Shift in Mental Health Realignment Funds Rejected by Assembly and Senate, but Proposal to Suspend AB 3632 Mandate goes to Conference Committee

The governor proposed to shift mental health realignment trust funds to county social services programs, resulting in General Fund savings but resulting in the same loss in funding in mental health programs at the local level. Mental health services would be scaled back under Medi-Cal to only in-patient treatment and medications for adults and Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment Program (EPSDT) for children identified as seriously emotionally disturbed. The proposal was flawed for a number of reasons including possible violations of the Mental Health Services Act maintenance of effort requirement, the integration mandate of the Americans with Disabilities Act and federal and state mental health parity laws. This proposal was rejected by both the Senate and the Assembly during their budget hearings.

He also proposed suspending the AB 3632 mandate. AB 3632 mandates that counties provide mental health services to children who need them pursuant to an Individualized Education Plan (IEP). The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requires funding for a free and appropriate public education, including related services (such as mental health services) necessary for a child to benefit from his or her special education. While local educational entities would ultimately be responsible for providing the mental health services identified in a child’s IEP, suspension of AB 3632 would most likely result in complete disarray and gaps in services for children as shifts in responsibility for and funding of the services occur. This proposal will go to Conference Committee because the Legislative Analyst Office plans to put forth an alternative proposal for consideration.

Public Policy Goals: 3, 5
Disability Rights California Staff: Margaret Johnson
Grant/Funding Source(s): Trust Fund

IHSS program changes

Last year, with minimal public debate and little supporting evidence, the legislature passed several “anti-fraud” measures, which were rolled out over the winter and spring. Most recently, the administration revealed its intention to spend at least $41.5 million over several years to purchase and maintain high-tech camera and fingerprinting devices called Morpho-Trak, whose vendor describes them as suitable for military and refugee control uses. These devices, at $5,000 each, would be used to fingerprint IHSS consumers (which were included in last year's final budget) and photograph consumers (which was not approved.) We generated some media attention - print, radio and TV – and testified against this unjustified expense. Budget subcommittees in the Senate and Assembly have voted to halt the plan to buy these devices, with bipartisan support, but the administration seems to be moving ahead with its plan to purchase hundreds of these devices, whose utility in preventing or prosecuting fraud has not been demonstrated.

Public Policy Goals: Goal 3
Communications Goals: Goal 2
Disability Rights California Staff: Deborah Doctor, Barbara Duncan
Grant/Funding Source(s): Equal Access, Trust Fund

Successfully Opposing SB 1129 (Wiggins) Use of Sonoma Developmental Center to Provide Behavioral Support Services

SB 1129 proposed to use Sonoma Developmental Center to provide intensive behavioral supports for individuals with developmental disabilities. To receive these services, a client had to be considered a danger to him or herself or have a pending commitment hearing; and be admitted as resident of Sonoma Developmental Center.

We opposed the bill for several reasons. It violated the constitutional rights of persons with disabilities by ignoring the legal process and procedures that must happen before someone is committed to a developmental center. The bill also violates the Olmstead decision and many provisions of the Lanterman Act including: the IPP and deflection requirements and the right to live in the least restrictive environment.

We stopped the bill by pointing out these violations and providing specific data to the Senate Appropriations Committee to show that behavioral services can be provided in the community for significantly less cost and that it was fiscally irresponsible to continue with this bill.

Public Policy Goals: 3, 6
Disability Rights California Staff: Evelyn Abouhassan, Catherine Blakemore, Jonathan Elson
Grant/Funding Source(s): Equal Access, Trust Fund

Disability Capitol Action Day

Each year the Disability Action Coalition holds an event at the Capitol to draw attention to current disability issues. As a partner in the coalition, we help choose the legislative and budget priorities, and organize legislative visits by people with disabilities and their advocates. We help plan the event’s program, legislative and consumer speakers, and the logistics. The theme of this year’s action focused on the 2010-11 governor’s budget proposal and how it disproportionately affects people with disabilities and the 20th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Public Policy Goals: 3, 4, and 6
Disability Rights California Staff: Brandon Tartaglia, Deborah Doctor
Grant/Funding Source(s): Equal Access

Secretary of State’s Voting Accessibility Advisory Committee Works on Poll Site Accessibility Guidelines

The Secretary of State contracted with the Department of Rehabilitation to develop poll site accessibility guidelines, a checklist, training curriculum and train counties on the guidelines and use of the checklist. We provided comments and participated in every stage of development of the various parts of the Poll Site Accessibility Guidelines and related materials and activities. As a result of our involvement, counties have good guidance for ensuring poll locations are accessible to and useable by people with all types of disabilities. The guidelines and checklist are located at the Secretary of State’s web site here: http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/polling-place-accessibility/

Public Policy Goals: 5
Discrimination Goals and Objectives: Goal 4, Objective B
Disability Rights California Staff: Margaret Johnson
Grant/Funding Source(s): PAVA

Collaborative Projects

Collaborative Projects and General Voting Work

We testified at the future of Voting in California at the Secretary of State’s Public Hearing. We focused on the importance of accessible polling places and training poll workers to be knowledgeable about assisting voters with disabilities.

Collaborative Projects Goal: 1
Discrimination Goals and Objectives: Goal 4, Objective B
Disability Rights California Staff: Lori Shepherd
Grant/Funding Source: PAVA

Collaborative Projects and disability organizations in El Dorado County work on voting and civic participation issues

We continued our work with El Dorado County Elections staff (EDC) to ensure recommendations for improving polling site access we made as a result of the Poll Site Monitoring Project May 2009 are implemented for the June 2010 Primary Election. The county received a grant to create a computer based poll worker training with an emphasis on assisting voters with disabilities. We are advising the county on this grant and helping them set up a local Voting Accessibility Advisory Committee.

Our work with people with physical, developmental, visual, and psychiatric disabilities is focused on a poll monitoring project for the June Primary Election. This project will be expanded to include monitoring of polling places in South Lake Tahoe.

Voting forums have been held in both South Lake Tahoe and the Placerville Area to discuss the importance of voting, ways to cast a private and independent ballot and to provide information on poll monitoring projects.

El Dorado County Human Services Department in South Lake Tahoe asked us to develop a flyer for County residents with disabilities, residents who have low incomes, and residents who are older adults about the importance of registering to vote and to vote in the next election. They mailed our flyer to 400-500 people who are eligible for subsidized bus passes.

Training on voting and civic involvement was given to members of People First, people with psychiatric disabilities attending our Leadership Academy who live in the Placerville and South Lake Tahoe areas, South Lake Tahoe disability service providers and the Spinal Cord Injury Support Group. As a result of the training people are interested in having monthly disability roundtables to discuss issues County residents with disabilities have in common.

A roundtable on housing and self advocacy will be held on July 26, 2010, the 20^th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The focus will be on developing strategies to work with elected officials to get needed changes in the housing area.

We have started a Leadership Academy for County residents with psychiatric disabilities. Twenty people from Placerville and South Lake Tahoe are learning self advocacy skills so they can take a leadership role in deciding how mental health services are provided and take leadership roles in community issues impacting other disability communities in the area. Interest in the Leadership Academy by other disability communities is being explored through the disability roundtables.

Collaborative Projects Goal: 1, Objective A
Discrimination Goals and Objectives: Goal 4, Objective B; Goal 5, Objective B
Disability Rights California Staff: Lori Shepherd and Nakida Gooden
Grant/Funding Source: PAVA

SELF ADVOCACY ACTIVITIES

Peer Self Advocacy

Providing Peer/Self-Advocacy Services to the Asian/Pacific Islander Community

We began outreach activities in Orange County to provide peer self advocacy services to the Asian Pacific Islander communities. We conducted 4 workshops on self advocacy to the following: the Orange County Patients’ Rights Program; the Mental Health Service Act (MHSA) Diversity Coordinator; an acute-care hospital; and a long-term facility that provides mental health services and treatment to Vietnamese and Korean mental health clients.

In April this year, we provided voter training workshops at the University of California-Irvine, the Irvine Neuropsychiatric Center, Royale Health Center, and the Garden Grove Peer Center to approximately 18 Asian Pacific Islander participants, providing them with voter publications and training on voting rights.

Through outreach and training we are educating these traditionally underserved communities by teaching self-advocacy knowledge and skills to help participants learn to advocate for themselves.

Peer-Self-Advocacy: Goal 1, Objective B (Outreach and Training)
Disability Rights California Staff: Garnet Magnus
Grant/Funding Source(s): PAVA, PAIMI

New Beginnings for Self-Advocacy Group at Sierra Vista IMD

As a result of our efforts we successfully re-engaged Sierra Vista IMD in San Bernardino County to provide a weekly peer self-advocacy group for residents on the facility’s mental health unit. Since February of 2009, the self-advocacy group had been on hold while our access rights to the facility were resolved. As a result, residents now have the opportunity to participate again in the self-advocacy group.

Peer-Self-Advocacy Goals: Goal 1, Objective A (Self-Advocacy Groups)
Disability Rights California Staff: Garnet Magnus
Grant/Funding Source(s): PAIMI

The Importance of Awareness and Assertiveness for Self-Advocacy

By teaching residents at View Heights IMD in Los Angeles about communication skills and assertiveness, we helped 3 self-advocacy group members take the necessary steps toward their discharge from the facility. Thus far, one has been discharged, and another resident has a specific date for discharge. The third resident, supported by other self-advocacy group members, learned how to develop an assertiveness plan to address patients’ rights issues so he can resolve them and make the necessary progress toward being discharged.

Los Angeles self-advocacy group members at “La Hora del Café” learned about their rights as immigrants and persons with HIV living in the United States. We helped them locate information from the US Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division about the Americans with Disabilities Act so that participants could understand the differences between Mexico and the United States regarding concepts of disability discrimination and mental health services. As a result, group members learned about the rights they have to access and receive services in the US.

Peer-Self-Advocacy Goals: Goal 1, Objective A (Self-Advocacy Groups)
Disability Rights California Staff: Senobia Pichardo
Grant/Funding Source(s): PAIMI

Two New Self-Advocacy Groups for Veterans with Traumatic Brain Injury

With the assistance of volunteers, two new self-advocacy groups for veterans with traumatic brain injury issues have begun in the San Diego area. One group is specifically for female veterans and their families to help them with issues that are unique to their experiences. These groups are designed to provide participants with information and resources so they can overcome barriers, such as homelessness and substance abuse, and develop strategies for achieving their self-advocacy goals. Self-advocacy group members will also be participating in the development of our curriculum for a Veteran’s Peer Specialist training program.

Peer-Self-Advocacy Goals: Goal 1, Objective A (Self-Advocacy Groups)
Disability Rights California Staff: Michael McPherson
Grant/Funding Source(s): PAIMI

Outreach and Education about Peer Support and Employment

Conducting an outreach at the West Side Center for Independent Living in the Los Angeles area, we gave an overview of services and resources provided by Disability Rights California and our Peer Self-Advocacy program. We were invited back and presented a self-advocacy workshop for the Peer Support and Employment Program, “Listos Para Trabajar,” (“Ready to Work”) for monolingual Spanish speaking peers. Attendees who were not familiar with Disability Rights California’s services learned to identify the types of issues that we can assist with. We also provided information on mental health advocacy and resources that are provided by other local organizations. From this outreach and workshop, Spanish speaking monolingual peers were more informed and empowered because of the education, skills and techniques they acquired by participating in this event.

Peer-Self-Advocacy Goals: Goal 1, Objective B (Outreach, Education and Training)
Disability Rights California Staff: Rosy Tellez
Grant/Funding Source(s): PAIMI

New Self-Advocacy Services Provided at “Our Way” Client Run Center

Upon request from “Our Way” clients and staff, we began facilitating a self-advocacy group for members of the client run center, one in English and one in Spanish. The center located in the Los Angeles area specializes in helping people who are “dually diagnosed” with a psychiatric disability and a history of substance or alcohol abuse. As a result of the group member’s new self-advocacy skills, they developed a mental health resource bulletin board that provides information about local mental health services and resources. They also developed a brochure to advertise self-help services that are available in Spanish; as a result, the self-advocacy group continues to grow with increased numbers of participants. In addition other workshops have taken place. For example, an “Ask-a-Lawyer” day was arranged so that participants could learn more about topics that concern them, such as expungement of court records, public benefits, housing rights, law enforcement and issues related to stigma and discrimination. Spanish translation was provided for attendees.

Peer-Self-Advocacy Goals: Goal 1, Objective A (Self-Advocacy Groups)
Disability Rights California Staff: Rosy Tellez
Grant/Funding Source(s): PAIMI

PSA Groups at the NVCSS Second Home and the Crestwood Treatment Center in Redding

The main focus of the subjects covered during this quarter was housing options and rights. Clients have been interested in getting ready for their release and are preparing by obtaining information on resources and options.

PSA Goals: Goal 1, Objective B
Disability Rights California Staff: Mark Olberg
Grant/Funding Source(s): PAIMI

Sonoma County Contract Groups

Outreach at Drop-In Center
We are meeting weekly with homeless consumers and underserved people at the Morgan Street Drop-In Center. We offer information on Disability Rights California, self-advocacy and identify the needs of people there in order to provide self advocacy services.

Law Enforcement Training
We participated in the Wellness and Advocacy Center’s training for the sheriff’s department and met with over 250 officers. We provided information about Disability Rights California, the Peer Self Advocacy Program, and gave information about concerns mental health clients have with law enforcement. We discussed how to work together more effectively and improve relations.

Individual Success Stories
Three group participants denied Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), used information obtained through participation in the group, gathered the necessary information and documentation to resolve their denials. The individuals were from the Peer Self Advocacy Family Services group, Interlink, and the Wellness and Advocacy Center. All were successful in becoming eligible for Social Security benefits and expect that their benefits will be received within the next few months.

A group member in the Conditional Release program (ConRep) was living at a board and care facility where he was denied access on weekends. He reported this as a rights violation and was able to obtain an independent living arrangements. He has worked over the past year to be released from the ConRep program and recently found out that he may be released without going to trial.

During a voting training, a group member stated because of his criminal background he could not vote. We explored it by calling the voter registration office and found that he could register to vote. He has since completed his voter registration form.

Sonoma Contract Goal
Disability Rights California Staff: Linda Kehoe
Grant/Funding Source: Sonoma Contract

Workshop for Community Members in Eureka on Reducing Stigma and Discrimination in Humboldt County

We conducted a training for community members in Eureka. A panel of consumers discussed their own experiences and led a discussion with participants to help change attitudes of the public about people diagnosed with a psychiatric disability. The film “The Soloist” was shown and another discussion followed. More than 150 people attended this workshop.

Peer-Self-Advocacy Goals: Goal 1 Objective B
Disability Rights California Staff: Rob Chittenden
Grant/Funding Source: PAIMI

DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES
PEER SELF ADVOCACY

Training and Outreach Activities

Over this quarter we provided 25 trainings, presentations and outreaches on a variety of topics such as: Abuse Prevention, Ticket to Work services, Supported Employment Services, Independent Living Services, Emergency Preparedness, Rights of People who Live in Facilities, Individual Program Plan (IPP) Rights, Rights to Choice in Service Delivery Options and while Receiving Services, Effective Strategies for IPP Rights in Tight Budget Times, Changes to the Lanterman Act, Appeal Rights, Voting Rights and Civic Participation. We also provided outreaches regarding Disability Rights California, Office of Clients Rights Advocacy and Developmental Disabilities Peer Self Advocacy program services to approximately 717 people at groups such as: The Almansor Center, Easter Seals in Whittier and West Covina, The Bridges Program in Whittier, The Chinese Parent Association on Developmental Disabilities, Abilities First in Pasadena, The Self Advocacy Board of Los Angeles County, Innovative Rehab Services, North Los Angeles Regional Center and Lanterman Regional Center, Placerville People First, The Westside Center for Independent Living, Cal –TASH, UCP of San Diego, Imperial County People First, The ARC of Bakersfield, The Supported Life Institute in Sacramento, Porterville Developmental Center, Lanterman Developmental Center and Canyon Springs ICFDD.

Developmental Disabilities Peer-Self Advocacy Goals: Goal 1 Objectives A-C
Disability Rights California Staff: Daniel Meadows, Maria Marquez, Marinda Reed and Scott Barron
Grant/Funding Source(s): PADD, PAVA

MM was Provided with Peer Advocacy Services to Move Back to the Community from the Developmental Center

After experiencing a series of rights violations in her group home, MM was abruptly placed back in the developmental center by her regional center with very little notice to her or her family. MM wanted our help to move back to the community from the developmental center. We assisted MM and her family at an individual program plan (IPP) meeting to help her advocate for a plan of support to move back to the community with her family. We helped MM with her self advocacy skills and to develop a plan to be successful when she returned home. MM moved back home in February and is working towards her goals of completing her GED and transitioning into supported living and employment services.

Developmental Disabilities Peer-Self Advocacy Goals: Goal 1 Objective A
Disability Rights California Staff: Marinda Reed, Daniel Meadows, Scott Barron and Maria Marquez
Grant/Funding Source: PADD

Lanterman Act Changes and Appeal Rights Continue to be a Hot Topic

The difficult economic climate continues to have significant impact on people served by the regional center system. Many groups request training on the changes to the Lanterman Act and how to ensure they get the services they need to be safely supported in the community. An example of one such training was one given at the March Cal-TASH Conference in Burlingame. We trained 38 people on changes to the Lanterman Act as a result of the California budget and how the changes will affect their service delivery rights. Participants were provided with information and materials regarding what had and had not changed in the Lanterman Act, the appeal process and strategies for using generic resources. Participants were also given information and tools for IPP meeting preparation and tips on how to maintain the greatest scope of choice in their service delivery so they can stay in the community.

Developmental Disabilities Peer-Self Advocacy Goals: Goal 1 Objectives A-C
Disability Rights California Staff: Daniel Meadows, Maria Marquez, Marinda Reed and Scott Barron
Grant/Funding Source(s): PADD

High School Students Get Fired Up About Employment Possibilities in Their Future

In February we gave high energy training on Supported Employment Services to 93 students and teachers from the Bridges program at Whittier Union High School. Students learned about the educational and employment opportunities available to them when they leave high school. Participants learned about supported employment and their right to receive services and supports so they can seek and obtain competitive employment. The training included strategies on how to get supported employment included in transition plans and IPPs, user friendly materials and information about how to get help if barriers are encountered in obtaining supported employment.

Developmental Disabilities Peer-Self Advocacy Goals: Goal 1 Objective B
Disability Rights California Staff: Marinda Reed, Maria Marquez, Daniel Meadows and Scott Barron
Grant/Funding Source: PADD

The Consumer Advocate Network Launches the Consumer Advocate Handbook

The Consumer Advocate Network (CAN) has worked for several years to develop a cross organizational handbook on the basic principles and best practices of peer advocacy. The CAN is made up of Disability Rights California staff, peer advocates from many of the regional centers and representatives from self advocacy groups. The handbook was completed recently and is ready for distribution. The handbook provides basic information and guidelines on the role of peer advocacy, advice on best practices when providing peer advocacy, basics of the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Lanterman Act and information about supported employment and job coaches.

Developmental Disabilities Peer Self Advocacy Goals: Goal 1, Objectives C
Disability Rights California Staff: Scott Barron, Marinda Reed, Maria Marquez, Jenny Olson, Daniel Meadows and members of the Consumer Advocate Network
Grant/Funding Source: PADD

Networking Efforts with Self Advocacy and other Community Partners

We are working with the Self Advocacy Board of Los Angeles County to develop a generic services guide for the greater Los Angeles area. In collaboration with members of University of California – Los Angeles University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD) we are creating an outreach project to several groups representing communities traditionally underrepresented in the self advocacy movement, such as Asian Pacific Islander community.

Developmental Disabilities Peer Self Advocacy Goals: Goal 2, Objective A
Disability Rights California Staff: Marinda Reed, Maria Marquez, Daniel Meadows, Scott Barron, Jenny Olson, Alicia Mendoza
Grant/Funding Source(s): PADD

CALIFORNIA MEMORIAL PROJECT

California Memorial Project Presentation at LA Advocacy Conference

On April 15, 2010, we did a presentation about the California Memorial Project’s history, goals and progress for community members and leaders at the Los Angeles Advocacy Conference Awards Banquet at the Wilshire Grand Hotel in downtown Los Angeles. Among the approximately 100 attendees were Assembly Member Wesley Chesbro, Los Angeles Department of Mental Health Director Marvin Southard, Mental Health America’s Richard van Horn, Los Angeles County Office of Empowerment’s Eduardo Vega and Disability Rights California’s Executive Director Catherine Blakemore. We also staffed a booth that provided informational materials about the project for attendees at the conference.

By raising awareness and interest in the California Memorial Project, we seek the support of volunteers and funders to accomplish the project’s goals, including restoring cemeteries, collecting oral histories from people who lived in the institutions, documenting the history of the client/survivor movement and holding annual Remembrance Ceremonies to honor and acknowledge people with disabilities who lived and died in state institutions. Proceeds from the Awards Banquet benefited the California Memorial Project and its efforts to restore cemeteries and place memorials at various State institutions throughout California.

Peer-Self-Advocacy Goals: Goal 1, Objective B (California Memorial Project)
Disability Rights California Staff: Alicia Mendoza, Robyn Gantsweg, Senobia Pichardo and Rosy Tellez
Grant/Funding Source(s): PAIMI