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On Tuesday August 7, 2018 the California Assembly Select Committee on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities held the first of several informational hearings that will be held throughout the state to identify issues of importance to the I/DD community. The first hearing was focused on providing an overview and introduction of the various services and supports provided for through the Department of Developmental Services (DDS) to members of the Select Committee. It is important to note the difference between a select committee and a standing committee – select committees don’t hold hearings on pending legislation, the hearings are intended to inform legislators (thus the legislature) about issues of importance specific to the purpose of the committee. During the hearing the Chair of the Select Committee on I/DD, Assemblymember Jim Frazier, said the hearings are important to the members because once issues have been identified through this process members can introduce legislation with input from stakeholders to address a variety of issues.
The informational hearing provided members of the committee with a comprehensive overview of the system beginning with DDS Director Nancy Bargman’s presentation about the developmental services system, the role of the regional centers as well as safety net services. Sonja Petek, Senior Fiscal and Policy Analyst for the Legislative Analyst Office (LAO) and Mark Newton, Deputy Legislative Analyst for Health and Human Services for the LAO, provided an account of historical developmental service trends, the impact on the systems and a brief summary on the pending rate study and what it means for the system. The last formal agenda item focused in policy issues and program challenges in which stakeholders shared their perspectives. Sandra Smith, Chair of the State Council on Developmental Disabilities, provided members of the select committee with a thorough account about the state demographics of people with I/DD. Amy Westling, Executive Director of Association of Regional Center Agencies, shared the gratitude of the community with the Chair and Members for beginning an important dialogue between the legislature and community about how the system can move forward to preserve the rights of people with I/DD and recognize that California has made a commitment to all individuals with I/DD through the Lanterman Act. Will Sanford, Executive Director, Futures Explored and his team (Lindsey Dyba, Tony Vickers, Alex White and Dugan Irish) provided the committee with a strong message about the need and importance of employment and opportunities for people with I/DD. Closing the stakeholder panel Evelyn Abouhassan, Senior Legislative Advocate for Disability Rights CA (DRC), discussed the role of DRC, safety net services and crisis services for people with I/DD in CA.
“The whole point of this is to make sure we hear the community”, this is a direct quote from the Chair, Assemblymember Fraizer and public comment is such an important part of hearing from the community. Several people gave public comment which is very helpful for helping the legislators to frame the issues. Among those that gave public comment were a couple self-advocates who really gave it their all to help inform the committee members. Mohamed Rashid, Board Representative for Valley Mountain Regional Center, felt that this hearing was so important he got up at 4:00 am and traveled to Sacramento to express his personal challenges with transportation and ask that the committee make every effort to address the transportation challenges that so many people in similar situations deal with. One of the most poignant statements made throughout the hearing was made by Mohamed – he said “transportation is so limited he can’t just go have fun” which struck me as something so many of us take for granted and don’t need to plan for days in advance. Audrua Sysum, President of the Consumer Action Committee for Futures Explored also talked about her challenges with transportation as she recounted waiting for and extra 2 hours to return to her home because no drivers were available. She too feels it is horrible when she wants to go have fun and has to wait for transportation. Her ask of the committee was “please help with the transportation issue”.
I encourage EVERYONE who can be at the hearings to be there and tell your story…what is missing, what is working, what will happen if… if you don’t have staff, if you don’t have transportation, if you don’t have work, if you don’t have access to services of all types! This is the time, we have an entire select committee of the Assembly ready to listen and willing to act so let’s take them up on it.
Watch the August 7, 2018 hearing.
Teresa Anderson, Policy Director, The Arc & UCP Collaboration