Disability Rights California - Hot Topics & Disability News

Help design a more accessible LA County election experience

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 06:56:28 -0800

The public at large is invited to participate in a challenge to find ideas, concepts, and voting experience to "design an accessible election experience for everyone." The challenge takes place in stages. The first stage "Inspiration" is open for 2 more weeks. There are 4 stages total which will end in March 2012. The Registrar is also looking for Advisory members to help w/ outreach. Visit www.openideo.com and read the flyer for more information.

DRC and other advocates attend San Gabriel city council meeting to discuss proposed group home

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 06:57:48 -0800

Following a demonstration earlier in January against a proposed group home, the January 17 meeting of the San Gabriel city council heard comments from 26 community members and advocates, including Disability Rights California. The proposed home for 4 adults with developmental disabilities is intended for current residents of the Lanterman Developmental Center who have decided they want to move to more integrated settings.

The DRC representatives drew attention to some "Myths and Realities" about supported housing. For example, although there are no studies showing that realty around supported housing loses value or that the surrounding neighborhood deteriorates in any way, these are commonly held beliefs. In this case, some of the individuals in opposition were considering the group home as a business being wrongly sited in a residential zone.

Speakers representing DRC, Area Board 10 and other disability advocates emphasized that the individuals who would be moving into the group home had the same rights as anyone else to live in any neighborhood they chose.

Read the materials DRC provided to the meeting and a newspaper report from the Pasadena Star News (1/19/12) of the meeting.

Video of the Week: Disability Access Tips for the Small Business

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 06:55:53 -0800

Here is a helpful little gem--spend 11 minutes and come away with solid information about the most common obstacles keeping people with disabilities from entering and using a small business. Helps business owners decide if they need a California Access Specialist (CASP) to advise about compliance with accessibility laws. Produced by Consumer Attorneys of California: www.caoc.com/CA/

Judge calls settlement of Adult Day Health Care case "fair, reasonable and win-win for both sides"

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 06:55:38 -0800

On January 24 Judge Saundra Brown Armstrong approved settlement of our lawsuit to preserve ADHC services for tens of thousands of Californians who need them to avoid being institutionalized. Read details of the settlement and about the new center-based services, similar to ADHC services, that the State will offer to those eligible.

Sterilized by North Carolina, she felt raped once more (Recommended Reading, 1/25/11)

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 06:54:19 -0800

Read the Los Angeles Times article here, 1/25/12

Fair Housing Tip of the Month: Breaking a Lease as a Reasonable Accommodation (Recommended Reading, 1/26/11)

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 06:54:27 -0800

Read them here, 1/26/12

Autism roundtable, Part I: Angry parents, disability rights, and living in a neurotypical world (Recommended Reading, 1/25/11)

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 06:54:34 -0800

Read the Plos Blog article here, 1/25/12

The Battle Against IHSS Budget Cuts (Recommended Reading, 1/25/11)

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 06:54:43 -0800

Read the San Diego Entertainer Magazine article here, 1/25/12

Community celebrates Ed Roberts Day (Recommended Reading, 1/24/11)

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 06:54:49 -0800

Read the UC Berkeley article here, 1/24/12

Officials oppose extended federal oversight of 2 mental hospitals (Recommended Reading, 1/24/11)

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 06:54:57 -0800

Read the Los Angeles Times article here, 1/24/12

Case settles: Sacramento County mental health clients will continue receiving support from their service providers

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 21:40:17 -0800

Approximately 5000 people receiving critical mental health services from Sacramento County will receive "continuity of care" from their regional support teams, thanks to a case settled January 23 by Disability Rights California, the Western Center on Law and Poverty and Cooley LLP. The case, Napper et al v. Sacramento County, was filed in 2010 in response to a County plan to abruptly close successful outpatient services and offer alternative services by County employees. See press release for full details.

Read related story from the Sacramento Bee: Mental health advocates reach court settlement with Sacramento County, 1/23/12

Court gives preliminary approval to ADHC settlement; sets Fairness Hearing for January 24, 2012

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 21:39:56 -0800

The court has taken the next steps in the settlement of the Adult Day Health Care class action case (Darling et al v. Douglas et al) filed by Disability Rights California and other advocates. Preliminary approval of the settlement terms has been given and you can read the notice explaining your rights, options and deadlines to act. You can also read the court order outlining the terms of the settlement. A Fairness Hearing about the settlement is scheduled for January 24.

ADHC Services Extended to February 29: See press release.

Judge grants preliminary injunction, stopping IHSS across-the-board cuts from going forward

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 21:39:28 -0800

Judge Claudia Wilken today issued a preliminary injunction, barring the State of California from going forward with the 20% cuts in home care hours for hundreds of thousands of seniors and people with disabilities. She had previously issued a Temporary Restraining Order on December 1, stopping the cuts until yesterday’s hearing. Read the complete press release here.

Golden opportunity: California high school juniors and seniors with disabilities can apply to be part of 5-day Youth Leadership Forum, July in Sacramento

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 21:38:10 -0800

See application materials to apply by February 10 or go directly to www.dor.ca.gov/YLF

Dual Eligibles: read all about it

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 21:37:53 -0800

Enrollment process for dual eligibles: people eligible for both Medicare and Medi-Cal. This is the topic of the January 12 roundtable, organized by California Healthline. Deborah Doctor, DRC legislative advocate, is one of 6 participants who contributed.

DRC legislative advocates summarize disability-related components of Governor's budget

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 21:37:36 -0800

DRC's legislative advocates prepared this quick summary of how the Governor's 2012-2013 budget, released on January 5, will negatively impact Californians with disabilities. In short, we are disappointed by the severe undercutting of the services and supports Californians with disabilities need to remain independent in the community.

People with Disabilities: Law Reform Needed (Recommended Reading, 1/22/11)

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 21:35:40 -0800

Read the Human Rights Watch article here, 1/22/12

Former Monroe teen writes, illustrates book (Recommended Reading, 1/19/11)

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 21:35:48 -0800

Read the Monroe News Star article here, 1/19/12

Community voices opinions on group home for the disabled in San Gabriel (Recommended Reading, 1/19/11)

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 21:35:59 -0800

Read the Pasadena Star News article here, 1/19/12

My So-Called Bipolar Life (Recommended Reading, 1/17/11)

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 21:36:12 -0800

Read the NY Times article here, 1/17/12

Calif. Clinic Brings Free Dental Care to Developmentally Disabled (Recommended Reading, 1/18/11)

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 21:36:21 -0800

Read the ABC News article here, 1/18/12

Court settlement makes more vets with PTSD eligible for health benefits (Recommended Reading, 1/17/11)

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 21:36:25 -0800

Read the Sacramento Bee article here, 1/17/12

In-Home Supportive Services helps Tulare County's elderly, disabled stay in homes and faces more cuts (Recommended Reading, 1/13/11)

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 21:36:33 -0800

Read the Visalia Times-Delta article here, 1/13/12

Disabled inmates denied crucial access, judge says (Recommended Reading, 1/14/11)

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 21:36:42 -0800

Read the www.sfgate.com article here, 1/14/12

Experts Call 'Scream Rooms' Untherapeutic, Harmful To Children And Others At School (Recommended Reading, 1/14/11)

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 21:36:52 -0800

Read the www.courant.com article here, 1/14/12

Deaf sign language users pick up faster on body language (Recommended Reading, 1/12/11)

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 21:36:58 -0800

Read the UC Davis article here, 1/12/12

Cliff Allenby: Called out of retirement to help restructure Dept of Mental Health (Recommended Reading, 1/15/11)

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 21:37:05 -0800

Read the Sacramento Bee article here, 1/15/12

U.S. Report Criticizes New York on Monitoring Care of Developmentally Disabled (Recommended Reading, 1/10/11)

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 21:37:13 -0800

Read the N.Y. Times article here, 1/10/12