Our vision statement: We will create individual and family supports, chosen and directed by the person with a disability

OCRA success stories

Most names have been changed to protect our clients' privacy

2011

OCRA solves fraud committed by furniture store against people with developmental disabilities

a man and a woman smiling in their homeIt started with one complaint about no service from a local furniture store, and was followed by complaints by others who had ordered products but never received them. Ultimately, OCRA realized there was a pattern of the store processing orders and taking payment from customers with developmental disabilities and then doing nothing to fulfill the orders.

In July 2010, OCRA was contacted by a regional center service coordinator , who encountered difficulties in getting a local furniture store to fulfill a contract for household furnishings. The furniture store was a vendor with the regional center and was used by many people with developmental disabilities, with the assistance of their service coordinator or group home staff.

After investigating, the Clients’ Rights Advocate (CRA) learned there were several adversely affected consumers: Damon Rose, Donna Sartorius, Karu Thoma and Monty Wagner. They all had unfulfilled contracts with the same store. Requests for delivery of furniture or refunds went unanswered.

First, the CRA wrote letters of inquiry on behalf of the customers. No response. Next, he sent demand letters asking for reimbursement and putting the store on notice of intent to sue or litigate. The store still failed to respond. The CRA then consulted with the trust department of the regional center because it was the representative payee of the consumers.

The regional center removed the store from its approved vendors list and also formally intervened so the case could be litigated. The CRA provided technical backup so that small claims cases for each consumer could be filed.

Successful judgments (ranging from $804 to $1104) were awarded for each of the four consumers involved, plus court costs. This case involved Andy Holcombe, CRA, Lorie Atamian, Assistant CRA and the Far Northern Regional Center.

Worker with disability returns to job following negotiated agreement

a man adjusting his uniform at workJose Montana worked for a large grocery store with the assistance of a job coach through supported employment. Despite many interventions by his job coach, Jose continued to lose his temper and sometimes curse at other employees and customers. The store wanted to terminate his employment. He had been on leave for several months when OCRA was contacted.

OCRA worked with involved staff at the store and with the regional center’s social worker. An agreement was negotiated which allowed Jose to return to work, but also receive counseling and additional support as needed.

This case involved Katy Lusson, CRA, Trina Saldana, Assistant CRA and the Golden Gate Regional Center.

28 year old parent retains larger apartment and subsidy for her family

Candice Beceri is a 28-year-old with a developmental disability, who lives independently with her three-year-old son. In November, 2010, she received notices from the City Public Housing Authority (PHA) that proposed changes to her Housing Assistance Payment (HAP). When she brought the notices to OCRA, we saw that the proposed changes would increase her share of the rent to 80% of her monthly SSI payment. This would make Candice’s current apartment unaffordable.

The PHA suggested Candice move to a smaller apartment to obtain a more affordable rent. However, the current apartment had space for her necessary disability related equipment, such as two wheelchairs and walkers. A smaller apartment would not have the needed space for storage of this assistive technology.

The OCRA team working on this case gathered support letters from the regional center, supported living services (SLS) program and the treating physician that clarified Candice’s disability, limited mobility and need for equipment. Their work paid off with the following results.

The PHA approved the requests for accommodation in February, 2011. Candice’s rent was not increased and she and her son are able to remain in the larger apartment. OCRA staff involved were Anastasia Bacigalupo, CRA, Christine Armand, Associate CRA..

Client working towards becoming his own payee, with OCRA’s assistance

two people playing cards at homeSandy Wozniak was referred to OCRA by his supported living agency. The agency suspected that Sandy’s mother might be misusing his SSI and not paying his rent. When OCRA staff spoke to Sandy about the situation, he said although he had asked his mother, as his representative payee, to pay the rent from his SSI check, she refused.

OCRA counseled Sandy about his options. He decided to learn how to become his own payee, but in the meantime, his regional center agreed to take over this responsibility. Sandy’s supported living agency is working with Sandy on budgeting, so that, step by step, he begins to manage his own money.

OCRA staff handled all the required paperwork to help Sandy through this transition to independence. Participants were Wendy Dumlao, CRA; Alba Gomez, Assistant CRA..

Suzana Beitol, 5, is finally assessed according to her individual needs

two little girls playingSuzana is five years old and nonverbal. Her mother contacted OCRA for advocacy assistance after removing Suzana from school due to alleged abuse by her teacher. OCRA agreed to review the records and advised the mother about abuse issues.

OCRA staff determined that the school had failed so far in providing assessment or follow-up services to Suzana. We agreed to provide technical assistance to Suzana’s family in preparation for her IEP—the individualized education program. An IEP is an agreement between the school and family about educational goals for the student and how they will be achieved.

In this case, OCRA requested the school provide a psychological assessment using instruments designed for nonverbal children, as well as assessments for speech therapy, occupational therapy, assistive technology and an inclusion assessment to determine how to place Suzana in the least restrictive environment for her education.

Suzana is now in a new placement and the school district is carrying out the assessments as requested by her family. This case was resolved by

Young man wants to live with people his own age (from the 2010 Annual Report)

Sam Herald is an adult with cerebral palsy who uses a wheelchair for mobility and sign language to communicate. Sam and his mother contacted OCRA to explore how he could leave the nursing facility with older residents and find housing with residents closer to his age. The Clients’ Rights Advocate contacted Sam’s regional center and now, together with Sam’s parents, a discharge plan has been drafted. The plan is first to transition into a less restrictive Intermediate Care Facility and ultimately, to a group home that offers the type of nursing care that Sam needs.

Reasonable accommodations for a future teacher (from the 2010 Annual Report)

Ken Ishida, 43, is a regional center client who has taken the California Basic Educational Skills Test (C-BEST) several times in his quest to become a teacher. His education is being funded through the Social Security PASS program, but time was running out for him to complete his studies.

Because of his disability, Ken uses the adapted computer programs, “Math Talk,” and “Dragon Dictate” in his school work and for taking tests. When the C-Best administrators refused to let him use the software as an accommodation to finish the test on time, he contacted the Office of Clients’ Rights Advocacy (OCRA). OCRA staff challenged the denial and helped Ken to successfully advocate for himself. He was awarded the accommodation and is pursuing his dream to become a teacher.

Training in residential facilities reveals obstacles to independence (from the 2010 Annual Report)

One consumer reported to us: “I was told I can’t move out of here into the community until I lose 25 lbs.” Another resident reported: “I can’t move back in with my husband until he finds a better place for us than the trailer.”

These are just a couple of the misconceptions people with developmental or mental health disabilities revealed during a 2010 training about options to move from their residential facilities into the community. Pilot trainings were organized in Fresno and Stockton by the Office of Clients’ Rights Advocacy (OCRA), as part of the settlement of our class action case to reduce the number of people in institutions. The settlement calls for the OCRA to provide training to residents of large facilities and institutions about their rights to choose where they live. OCRA director Jeanne Molineaux said that, “Although some consumers believed they had few choices, they were happy to learn they could, in fact, get support to move out, even if they or the preferred home weren’t in perfect physical condition! We had help in the trainings from our Developmental Disabilities Peer Self-Advocacy Unit, and several participants have already moved to where they want to be.”

2009

Office of Clients' Rights Advocates works to end discrimmination

Group home resident attends brother's wedding Sue Shui had made plans to attend her brother's wedding. She notified her group home and her conservator of the wedding date and was given approval to attend from both. A week before the wedding Disability Rights California received a frantic call from Shui stating that her conservator had told her and her group home that she could not attend the wedding. The conservator was threatening the group home if they allowed Shui to attend. We worked together with the Regional Center and Shui's sister to ensure that her rights would not be violated. Shui was able to attend her brother's wedding.

OCRA Success Story: Bon Voyage

Diana Montana had found a good deal on a cruise to the Bahamas – under $1000 – and arranged that the cruise line would deduct a set amount each month from her account until the balance was paid. Because of her cerebral palsy, Montana had been clear about her access needs from the beginning, using an electric wheelchair that she could control and no one would have to push throughout the huge ship. So, she was upset when told that she would have to use a folding wheelchair because the cabin doors were not wide enough for her electric one.

Her only alternative, according to the management, was to spend $2000 for an upgrade to a brand new accessible ship.

Next, Montana called an OCRA staff member, who explained accessibility law to the director. The director then offered an upgrade without cost and made it possible for Montana to add two guests to the package for a nominal fee.

Yes, Sonia can write her name

Sonia Paredes was in a special kindergarten day class. Because her family members, who speak only Spanish, were worried that Sonia's placement was not right for her, they asked Celeste Palmer to observe the class in action. Celeste went to Sonia's classroom and watched, but when she started to leave, Sonia began to cry. Learn why Sonia was crying ...

Leon receives independent living skills

Leon Tello is a 14 year old boy who lives with his parents and attends a special day high school class. His mother has terminal cancer and was quite concerned that Leon does not have any independent living skills. She came to OCRA resulting in a request to the regional center to provide him with these services while
his mother was still alive. OCRA successfully demonstrated that Leon would need these skills to enable him to remain at home after his mother died, and the training has already begun.

IPP and employment assistance for Lorraine

About two years ago, after being denied regional center eligibility, Lorraine Clemons came to OCRA for assistance. She was given advice about the paperwork to appeal and the criteria for eligibility. Since she was found eligible, her OCRA rep-resentative has assisted Clemons in her Individual Program Plan (IPP) process and in finding gainful employment.

Li Lei collects owed SSI payments

Because of her disability, Li Lei depends upon her SSI for survival. Multiple attempts had been made by Lei and her sister to collect a $12,000 retro-active payment that had been acknowledged as owed by the Social Security Administration. Each time they were told that payment would be made. A year passed without success before the sister contacted OCRA. The Clients' Rights Advocate brought the situation to the attention of Lei's Congressional representative, who intervened and the payment was made in full.