Our Vision Statement: Disability Rights California will create individual and family supports, chosen and directed by the person with a disability

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 14, 2011

September 19: All welcome to join Remembrance Day ceremonies at 9 sites around California, in honor of thousands who died in state institutions

Disability advocates throughout California have lined up speakers, story tellers, musicians and poets to participate in 9 ceremonies next Monday in: Ukiah, Stockton, Porterville, Manteca, Santa Clara, Napa, Sonoma, Camarillo, and Norwalk. Light refreshments will be served at most of the sites and a statewide moment of silence will be held at 1:55 p.m.

The ceremonies, which last from 1 to 3 hours, are held at local cemeteries or on the site of the institutions. Highlights of the 2011 event: remembrances from residents of Metropolitan Hospital in Sonoma; music by the Heart Beats, a drumming group in Napa; remarks by former Stockton state hospital resident; dedication of a memorial plaque in Camarillo; speaker from People First in Ukiah, program followed by reception hosted by Manzanita Services; and a tour of a newly opened museum of historic photos and furniture from the Agnews facility in Santa Clara.

Remembrance Day is held every third Monday of September. It is recognized by the California legislature as a way to honor the memory and preserve the history of approximately 45,000 people with psychiatric or developmental disabilities who died, mostly anonymously, in state hospitals or developmental centers.

Since California’s first institution opened in 1852, many children, adolescents and adults were forced, to live in the large residential compounds in these 9 towns, apart from their families and usually, far from their home communities. Until late in the 20th century, there were few legal protections of the individual against commitment and often, few ways to leave without outside help.

Media exposure of extensive abuse in these institutions across the country in the early 1970s led to the establishment of the national Protection and Advocacy system, and to the rise of the disability-led client and consumer movement. Disability Rights California, the state’s protection and advocacy system, organizes Remembrance Day together with two other disability rights groups: People First of California and the California Network of Mental Health Clients.

Margaret Johnson, DRC advocacy director, said, “It’s great that every year, more people from the community turn out to join us on Remembrance Day. We have come a long way toward meeting our California Memorial Project goals to raise awareness and place memorial boulders or plaques at all sites.” List of 9 events with local details follow.

CALIFORNIA MEMORIAL PROJECT

SAVE THE DATE

At 1:55 pm there will be a statewide moment of silence to honor those who died unrecognized at State Hospitals and Developmental Centers. By giving respect to people with developmental and mental disabilities who have died unrecognized we are honoring all of us.

CEREMONY OF REMEMBRANCE

September 19th, 2011

NORTH
12:15 -1:15 PM
Ukiah Cemetery
Russian River Cemetery District
940 Low Gap Road, Ukiah, CA 94582
Contact: Martha Cook (707) 443-2706

CENTRAL VALLEY
10:00 – 11:00 AM
Stockton Rural Cemetery
2350 Cemetery Lane, Stockton, CA 95204
Contact: Jenny Olson (916) 488-7787

11:30 – 12:30 PM
Porterville Cemetery
1013 East Olive Avenue, Porterville, CA
Contact: David Solis (916) 488-7787

11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Park View Cemetery (Front circle)
3661 East French Camp Rd., Manteca, CA 95336
Contact: Jenny Olson (916) 488-7787

BAY AREA
1:00 – 2:00 PM
Agnews Historic Cemetery
1250 Hope Drive, Santa Clara, CA 95054
Contact: Yvonne McGough (510) 267-1258

1:30 - 2:30 PM
Napa State Hospital (McGrath Auditorium)
2100 Napa Vallejo Hwy, Napa, CA 94558
Contact: Jenny Olson (916) 488-7787

1:00 – 2:00 PM
Sonoma Developmental Center Gazebo
15000 Arnold Drive, Eldridge, CA 95431
Contact: Leonard Alfaro (323) 346-5279

 

SOUTH
5:30 – 6:30 PM
California State University- Channel Islands
1878 S. Lewis Rd., Camarillo, CA 93012
Contact: Robyn Gantsweg (213) 355-3634

10:00 AM -11:30 PM
Metropolitan State Hospital Auditorium
11401 South Bloomfield Ave., Norwalk, CA 90650
Contact: Brenda Calderon (213) 355-3633

All are welcome. If you have questions, please contact:


Disability Rights California
(916) 488-7787 or toll free (800) 776-5746

California Network of Mental Health Clients
(916) 443-3232 or toll free (800) 626-7447

People First of California
916-552-6625