Important Upcoming Hearings in the Capitol for I/DD Community

The end of this month two hearings will take place in the state Capitol building which will impact California’s I/DD community. Please share this information within your network and attend if you can.

9:00AM, January 22, 2020

State Capitol, Room 4203
Senate Budget Sub 3 Informational Hearing: DDS Rate Study and Reform in the Developmental Services System
The Senate Budget Subcommittee on Health and Human Services will be holding an informational hearing on January 22 at 9:00am. There will be a discussion on the next steps concerning the DDS rate study, as well as the rate study-related provisions of Senate Bill 81.

1:30PM – 4:30PM, January 28, 2020

California State Capitol, Room 127
CA State Assembly Select Committee on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Statewide Summary: Hearing on Living with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
This statewide summary is the culmination of 8 Select Committee hearings conducted across the state over the past year. Families, providers and legislators are invited to attend and hear results from the Select Committee on how different regions of the state service the needs of those with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Assembly Budget Hearing on Developmental Disabilities

This Wednesday the Assembly budget hearing on developmental disabilities will take place. Several key issues will be discussed including:
Provider Rate Study and Associated Investment Proposals; Proposals to Restore Reductions Made in Prior Budgets: Uniform Holiday Schedule, Half-Day Billing, and Social Recreation and Camp; and many others

Wednesday March 6 Assembly Budget Hearing on Developmental Disabilities 2:30 - 6:30 PM State Capitol Room 437This Wednesday the Assembly budget hearing on developmental disabilities will take place. Several key issues will be discussed including:

  • Provider Rate Study and Associated Investment Proposals;
  • Proposals to Restore Reductions Made in Prior Budgets: Uniform Holiday Schedule, Half-Day Billing, and Social Recreation and Camp;
  • and many others

The hearing will take place between 2:30 PM – 6:30 PM in room 437. The hearing is open to the public so please come and show your support for the I/DD community.

The full agenda can be viewed here.

To learn more about ongoing budget advocacy efforts in California’s I/DD community – including a schedule of upcoming events – visit: www.thelantermancoalition.org

March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month

Each year in March many groups come together to raise awareness about the inclusion of people with developmental disabilities in all areas of community life, as well as awareness to the barriers that people with disabilities still sometimes face in connecting to the communities in which they live.

"Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month"Each year in March many groups come together to raise awareness about the inclusion of people with developmental disabilities in all areas of community life, as well as awareness to the barriers that people with disabilities still sometimes face in connecting to the communities in which they live. What does it mean to be included? The basic definition in the dictionary is “being part of the whole” but what does it really mean for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to be included or to be “part of the whole”? In the public policy arena, at least, it should be taken to mean that people with I/DD are considered at the time of the policy development, not after! People with I/DD should not have to “ask” to be included in affordable housing discussions, after all, isn’t housing a basic human right? What about accessible transportation? Do other people have to “ask” to go to work, school, shopping, doctor’s appointment or even on a date? When you really begin to think about how many federal, state, county and local level policies are created without the inclusion of people with I/DD it becomes quite obvious why there are still barriers to connecting in the community. If people with I/DD are truly to be “part of the whole” then they need to be there for the whole discussion, not as a carve-out or a carve-in or an amendment or anything else that represents an after-thought.

This year The Arc and United Cerebral Palsy California Collaboration Public Policy Conference theme is INTERSECTIONS – WHERE DISABILITY AND LIFE MEET. People with I/DD experience many intersections throughout their lives and must make decisions about their health, education, housing, employment, transportation, family and personal relationships, and interactions with the criminal justice system. This conference will explore those intersections and the implications for public policy as well the importance of being included in all of those discussions from the beginning. To find more information about the conference visit the conference website.

Visit Our Redesigned Website

We are thrilled to announce that we have completely redesigned our website!

Visit Our Redesigned WebsiteWe are thrilled to announce that we have completely redesigned our website, www.thearcca.org! Visitors can now:

  • Keep up with our advocacy efforts in the Capitol and beyond
  • Access resources for people with I/DD and their families and friends
  • Find their local chapter of The Arc
  • and find our Monday Morning Memo articles individually and by topic – complete with links for sharing – on the blog

We hope that the updated site will be a valuable tool for members of the I/DD community seeking information for themselves as well as those who wish to engage in advocacy.