The following information is from Marty Omoto of CDCAN, the primary sponsor of the demonstration on Wednesday April 22:

 

CDCAN ACTION ALERT

California Disability Community Action Network

Advocacy Without Borders: One Community

APRIL 17, 2009 - FRIDAY

African Proverb:

“WHEN YOU PRAY – MOVE YOUR FEET!”

MAJOR CUTS COMING TO REGIONAL CENTERS, MENTAL HEALTH, MEDI-CAL OPTIONAL BENEFITS, IN-HOME SUPPORTIVE SERVICES, SSI/SSP, CalWORKS, & OTHER PROGRAMS.  ADDITIONAL MAJOR CUTS SEEM CERTAIN TO BE PROPOSED AFTER MAY 19TH SPECIAL ELECTION

 

APRIL 22nd  WED  11 AM 

MARCH & SIDEWALK DEMONSTRATION FOR RIGHTS OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS & SENIORS, LOW-INCOME WORKERS AND FAMILIES

APRIL 22, 2009 – WEDNESDAY

REGIONAL CENTERS – MENTAL HEALTH CUTS (ASSEMBLY)

11:00 AM to 1:00 PM  (be on time!)

PRIORITY:  VERY HIGH!

WHERE:

Meet at the Sacramento Convention Center sidewalk area on 13th and K Streets (facing rear entrance of Hyatt Regency Hotel and the Esquire Grill restaurant)

WHAT:

·         Meet at 11 AM  in the sidewalk/plaza area in front of the Sacramento Convention Center FACING 13th and K Streets (across from Esquire Grill and the Hyatt Regency Hotel rear entrance)

·         We will march from there, crossing 13th Street (no stoplight), marching on K Street Mall, crossing 12th street (stoplight) to 11th Street (walking mall), turning left marching down the 11th Street walking mall to the State Capitol, crossing L Street (stoplight) to the sidewalk facing the Capitol building (where the sidewalk demonstration will occur). 

·         Sidewalk demonstration until 1:00 PM for rights of children and adults with disabilities, mental health needs, seniors and low income families.

WHY:

·         Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Health and Human Services (agenda will focus on cuts to regional centers and mental health services) meets at 1:00 PM, April 22, 2009 Wednesday afternoon in the State Capitol.  Public testimony will be taken on cuts to regional centers.  These permanent cuts include the details from the Governor (through the Department of Developmental Services) on needed changes in state law to implement cuts of over $100 million in state general fund money to regional center funded services between July 1, 2009 and June 30, 2010 and beyond.  Advocates expect ,more and even larger permanent cuts in late May when the Governor submits his budget revisions – including more cuts to regional centers. 

·         March and sidewalk demonstration will protest the continued cuts made by the Governor and Legislature to regional centers that fund critical services to children and adults with developmental disabilities (including autism, down syndrome, cerebral palsy) AND the prospect of MORE additional permanent cuts coming in late May and January as the State budget shortfall grows worse.  Protest will also focus attention on cuts to mental health services. 

·         March and sidewalk demonstration also continues earlier protests against huge permanent cuts impacting cuts to In-Home Supportive Services, SSI/SSP, CalWORKS, senior services, low income children. 

 

ALSO – SAVE THE DATE!

MAY 7, 2009 – THURSDAY MORNING

REGIONAL CENTER CUTS (SENATE)

09:00 AM (until start of hearing)

PRIORITY: VERY HIGH

WHERE: 

State Capitol – L Street sidewalk

WHAT:

Sidewalk demonstration for rights of people with disabilities, mental health needs, seniors.  Meet on sidewalk on L Street facing the State Capitol (at 11th Street).  More details coming. 

WHY:

·         Senate Budget Subcommittee on Health and Human Services (agenda will focus on cuts to regional centers) meets at 09:30 AM  (or when the Senate floor session adjourns that morning – could be later than 9:30 AM) May 7, 2009, Thursday morning in the State Capitol in Room 4203.  Public testimony will be taken on cuts to regional centers. 

·         This sidewalk demonstration will continue the protests against cuts impacting not only regional centers, but cuts to In-Home Supportive Services, SSI/SSP, CalWORKS, mental health, low income children. 

 

WHAT TO BRING TO APRIL 22 & MAY 7 EVENTS:

·         Pictures of loved ones impacted by all these cuts, including those of workers.

·         Posters and signs (“No More Cuts”  “People with disabilities, mental health c needs and seniors deserve a better California”  “Governor and Legislature: Do the Right Thing: Rescind Cuts to Disabled and Seniors”, etc) . 

·         Make signs as individualized as possible.  This is about an individual’s rights to live in their own home and community and to share in the recovery of California and the nation and not be the ones made to pay for it. 

·         Bring your own lunch or snacks and water for April 22  and May 7  – it will be long a day! 

 

SOME THINGS TO CONSIDER AVOIDING

·         Avoid personal attacks on posters and signs as it takes focus away from the issue of the rights of a child, of an adult (including seniors), with disabilities, who are blind , mental health needs, or a disorder or injury.

·        If coming with a group, consider NOT wearing the same color shirts (not just unions, but also community organizations, regional centers, or associations who sometime like to have their members wear the same outfit  or shirt). This suggestion of not wearing the same type of t-shirt or holding the same exact mass produced sign is not an attack on any group – all groups are welcome. 

·        Wearing the same colored t-shirt (either one promoting a regional center, union, or association or other group) takes away from the focus of an individual – that of a child or adult or senior with disabilities, with autism, with traumatic brain injuries, with Alzheimer’s, with mental health needs.  A person who is deaf or blind. 

·        The cuts are attacking and harming individuals – a child, an adult, a senior, a low income worker. 

·        Dress as an individual – as you would normally – because THAT is the best way to show California – to show the Governor and Legislature and others that this is about how these terrible cuts are harming a child with disabilities and mental health needs, an adult with disabilities and mental health needs, a senior, a low income worker.  We want to make California see us in that way – and to hear the voices of individuals who are being harmed.  Si Se Puede.    

WHO SHOULD COME

·         Cuts impact children and adults with developmental disabilities – including those with autism spectrum disorders, down syndrome; children and adults with other disabilities, children and adults with mental health needs, seniors including those with Alzheimer’s, persons with MS and other disorders, children and adults with traumatic brain and other injuries, children and parents from low income families, community organizations and facilities and low income workers who provide critical supports and services, regional centers, independent living centers, and more.  All should come.

·         These hearings are just three in a series of budget hearings that have been held all this past year – with more to come. There have been hearings on In-Home Supportive Services, mental health – and more will be scheduled likely on those and other issues – and we will organize events also on those dates.

·         For April 22 and May 7, both the Assembly and Senate budget subcommittees will focus on major cuts to regional centers that fund community-based services to children and adults with developmental disabilities.  Cuts include those that will children in Early Start (California’s early intervention program), transportation, supported living and a wide range of other services – in addition to on-going cuts passed last September and in February, which have already been implemented (including 3% cuts in regional center provider payments retroactive to February 1, 2009).  The April 23rd  Senate budget subcommittee hearing will focus on cuts to Medi-Cal, mental health. 

·         Just as important as focusing on cuts already proposed or already passed, is the May 19th special election with several critical ballot initiatives twill have a dramatic impact on health and human services including mental health, early start and more).  With the deficit growing again, MORE permanent cuts of hundreds of millions of dollars in state spending is certain to come in the coming months, if the state’s budget situation continues to grow worse – as most expect it will. 

·         The Governor will propose revisions to the State budget for 2009-2010 that was passed in February four months early.  But the deficit that was closed by that budget (which goes into effect July 1, 2009) has grown by a projected $8 billion, a number that will likely grow even larger in the coming months. 

·         That will almost certainly mean more proposed cuts – including those impacting specifically regional centers – and also other health and human services critical to people with disabilities, mental health needs, seniors and low income families across California.  Unlike in previous years, these cuts will almost certainly be permanent. 

 

For more information about the protest march and demonstration contact Marty Omoto at: martyomoto@rcip.com or go to the CDCAN website at www.cdcan.us