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Monday, March 31, 2003
Note to our Northern California Readers:
This April is a key Action Month for Autism in California.
The first two weeks are top loaded with political and grass roots events,
all which happen to be focused here in Sacramento, and all of which are
important and are deserving of your participation. Here is a listing of the
key items. If your child and family is dependent on Regional Center
services, then the first item, the April 7th rally and march to the Capitol
is the most accute. Participation extends to the entire California
disabilities community.
April 7th Monday
"The Whole World Is Watching"
Rally And March To The Capitol
April 5th Saturday
One Voice for Autism Rally!
April 6th
Sunday
Autism Community 'Convention' to Form California Coalition
April 12
Saturday
M.I.N.D. Institute's 3rd Annual Run/Walk for Hope
April 26
Saturday
Families for Early Autism Treatment (FEAT)
Annual Night of Caring Dinner and Auction
Action Needed April 7th
The Whole World Is Watching - Come April 7th Monday
For Rally And March To The Capitol
CA UCP/California Community Advocacy Network ALERT #14
MARCH 30, 2003 Monday
"Whole World Is Watching" Rally/meeting at the convention
center, followed by a walk (march) to the State Capitol to fight for the
civil rights of people with developmental disabilities (sometimes referred
to as the "Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services Act") and the
critical funding needed to support those rights.
April 7, 2003, Monday morning at 10:00
AM
Where: Sacramento Convention Center - Exhibit Hall E (between J
and K Street Mall off of 13th Street, just two blocks from the State
Capitol), downtown Sacramento [see UCP/CCAN Alert #15 for specific info on
bus drop-off location, parking, and other logistics, travel directions, etc.
That Alert will be released later today, March 30]
Why Should You Come? Both the Senate and Assembly budget
subcommittee that deal with health and human service budget issues have
scheduled hearings (at different times Monday afternoon) on the Governor's
proposed cuts to developmental services for April 7th, Monday afternoon.
Note: the Assembly Human Services Committee will meet jointly
with the Assembly Budget Subcommittee to hear these budget issues. The rally
and march was organized in a direct response to those hearings, as part of
our larger organizing efforts. While no action by either house is expected
at either hearing - this may be the last time public comment on a large
scale will be taken. And it is critical that policy makers see the faces of
people who will be impacted by the proposed cuts and suspension of the civil
rights act for people with developmental disabilities.
Who: Organized by a broad network of self-advocates, other
people with developmental disabilities, families, community-based
organizations, providers, direct care workers,other organizations and other
advocates from across the state linked through the California Community
Advocacy Network. No one is excluded.
What: The walk/march route is:
- (from the Convention Center on 13th and K Street Mall, down K Street
Mall
- cross 12th Street, make a left on 11th Street (which is pedestrian
walkway)
- cross L Street, to the North Steps area of the State Capitol,
march/walk around the State Capitol (map will be provided at the rally) to
lawn area bordering N Steet and between 12th and 13th Streets (referred to
as "Area 26").
Who Should Come? Everyone. People who receive services,
families, providers, direct care staff, regional centers and other advocates
and organizations.
Details: Please note: please see UCP/CCAN Alert #15 for details
on logistics. Free bottled water, and single serving of free pizza will be
served once people reach the State Capitol grounds. People should still plan
on bringing up bag lunches just in case however. There will be volunteer
"monitors" during the rally, along the walk/march route, on the Capitol
grounds, and inside the Capitol to help and assist people.
What Should You Bring To Sacramento? You don't have to testify,
but numbers of people matter on APRIL 7th (Monday). Be SURE to bring a photo
(8 by 11 inches is the right size though any size is fine) of a friend, son
or daughter, brother or sister or other family member, or other person who
has developmental disabilities and receiving services and supports.
Important: (in addition to other efforts, like letter writing,
phone calling, office visits) that large numbers of people who are concerned
and impacted by the serious proposed cuts to community based services and
supports to people with developmental disabilities - and proposed actions
that would all but suspend the civil rights act for people with
developmental disabilities (Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services
Act), come to the meeting before the hearings, march and attend the hearings
and if possible, to testify.
What Else Can You Do? Autism Rally - A coalition of autism
related groups are holding a meeting and rally on April 5th (Saturday) at
the State Capitol that people should go to that will raise awareness and
help energize people to attend the April 7th rally and march and budget
hearings. See details of Saturday rally below. (The previously scheduled
April 9th grassroots rally day sponsored by the Association of Regional
Center Agencies was postponed.)
Letter Writing & Phone Calling - see UCP/California Community
Advocacy Network Alert #16 for details on letter writing regarding
Governor's proposed cuts to Medi-Cal, developmental services, SSI/SSP and
more.
On-going Lobby Dates - lobby days are being organized for EVERY
week. Teams are
being formed - if you can come up (there are specific days per week),
please let us
know.
Sign Up To Join Calif-Can Legislative Team - Sign up to be a
part of the non-partisan California Community Advocacy Network - and be a
part of one of the 120 network Legislative District Teams with a focus on
linking and uniting advocacy efforts of thousands of people with
developmental disabilities, organizations across the state.
Don't give up and DON'T panic. We are all in this together.
NOTE: This is an ALERT for Californians with developmental (&
other disabilities), families, providers and other advocates from the
California Coalition of United Cerebral Palsy Associations and from the
California Community Advocacy Network. If you would like to get on this
distribution (and conversely, get off of it) please send an email with that
request to:
martyomoto@rcip.com. Please allow some time to be removed from
the list (it takes time to delete names from distribution listing).
Additions can be added immediately. Sharing information is part of our
organizing effort. Please feel free to forward/copy this (attribution is
nice). Thanks! Remember - we are all in this together.
For More Information
Marty Omoto, Legislative Director
CA Coalition of United Cerebral Palsy Associations
1225 8th Street Suite 480 Sacramento, CA 95814
916/446-3204 FAX: 916/446-3206 email:
martyomoto@rcip.com
Coalition Chair: Michael Williams (UCP of the Golden Gate)
Immediate Past Chair: Ron Cohen (UCP LA and Ventura Counties)
* * *
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LEGAL ADVICE. THE DECISION WHETHER OR NOT TO VACCINATE IS AN IMPORTANT AND
COMPLEX ISSUE AND SHOULD BE MADE BY YOU, AND YOU ALONE, IN CONSULTATION WITH
YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER.
"A foolish faith in authority is the worst enemy of truth."
-- Albert Einstein, letter to a friend, 1901
"I know of no safe depository of the ultimate powers of the society but the people themselves, and if we think them not enlightened enough to exercise control with a wholesome discretion, the remedy is not to take it from them, but to inform their discretion by education."
-- Thomas Jefferson, letter to William C. Jarvis, September 28, 1820
"What's the point of vaccination if it doesn't protect you from the unvaccinated?"
-- Sandy Gottstein
"Who gets to decide what the greater good is and how many will be sacrificed to it?"
