ILRC Newsletter ~ 2nd Quarter 2002
THE INDEPENDENT LIVING RESOURCE CENTER
a non-profit corporation of, by and for persons with disabilities
423 W. Victoria Street•Santa Barbara, CA 93101
(805) 963-0595 V/TTY • (805) 963-1350 Fax
www.ilrc-trico.org
April - June, 2002
Volume 13, No. 2
PUBLISHED FOUR TIMES ANNUALLY
Federal Court Issues Statewide Injunction Against California High School Exit Exam
Landmark Decision Orders Sweeping Protections for Children with Disabilities
In a precedent-setting court decision with national implications, a Federal Court in San Francisco issued a preliminary injunction against the California High School Exit Exam (CAHSEE) on behalf of children with disabilities. Lawyers for disabled students hailed the Court Order as a major victory for children with disabilities across the country. The court decision, the first of its kind in the country, found that the Exit Exam in its current form is likely to violate the rights of students with disabilities by denying them meaningful inclusion in the state’s “standards-based” testing reforms and potentially affecting their opportunity to obtain a diploma. In order to provide immediate relief to protect against these harms when the Exit Exam was administered in early March, the Court ordered the State to institute a number of protections required by federal law. Among other requirements, the State was ordered to develop an alternate form of assessment (different than a standardized test) for students whose disabilities prevent them from being able to demonstrate their knowledge and skill on a standardized test format. The State was also ordered to defer to a student’s individualized testing plan, created by a team of parents and educators for each student, in determining whether a student needs accommodations in order to show his or her knowledge on a standardized test.
“We hope that California will take advantage of the extra time accorded by this injunction to enact the safeguards that should have been developed in concurrence with the development of the Exit Exam,” stated Melissa Kasnitz, an attorney at Disability Rights Advocates (“DRA”). “They should adopt an adequate reasonable accommodations policy, for example, and inform parents about the procedure that will ensure that all students receive the accommodations provided for in their IEP or 504 plans.” In light of the push for increased testing in the schools from President Bush and other politicians throughout the country, it is expected that the preliminary injunction ordered in California will have additional national significance.
The complete test of the Court’s ruling can be found at www.dralegal.org/cases/documents/chapman-pi-order.pdf. The complaint that initiated the original lawsuit (Chapman et al. v. California Department of Education, Case No. C01-1780 CRB) is available on DRA’s website at www.dralegal.org/cases. The lawsuit was certified as a class action including all students, statewide, eligible for IEP/504 plans that have taken or will be required to take the Exit Exam by an order issued on January 16, 2002. Briefs and Court Orders regarding the action can be found at www.ecf.cand.uscourts.gov. Plaintiffs and lawyers are available for further comments and questions. Contact Sid Wolinsky or Melissa Kasnitz, DRA, at (510) 451-8644; or Morris Ratner, Lieff, Cabraser, Heimann & Bernstein LLP, at (415) 956-1000.
From the Desk of the Director:
Quarterly, it challenges me to think of something to write what will communicate the state of Independent Living. This time, I am going to borrow from something I saw in a catalog. It is not attributed, but I found it meaningful for our movement:
“Be the change you wish to see in the world.”
It is often easy from the observer’s perspective to see what is wrong with a system or a structure. It is also not hard to offer criticism. What is hard is to look for possibilities, potential and solutions. Six months ago, we were all frightened and made vulnerable. We – at least I – wondered if this was significant of systemic decay in the human family. But, to toss in another cliché, what doesn’t kill us makes us stronger, and we are. The survivors, and we are all survivors to some extent, are stronger in our commitment to value each other, to be more tolerant and not to judge capacity by appearances. We need to become the change we wish to see happen in our communities and organizations. We need to speak out against injustice and support inclusion.
Another of my favorite quotes: “What would you attempt to do if you knew you could not fail?”
Jo Black
Introducing the Wallace Interpreter Certification Fund
Ruth Jackson of Santa Maria has honored the passing of her mother, Anna Grace Wallace, by establishing the Wallace Interpreter Certification Fund at the ILRC. This fund assists in paying for the certification process for people who know how to sign, but can’t afford to become certified interpreters. For details, or to send a donation, contact Jo Black at the ILRC, 423 West Victoria Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101. Be sure to designate the Wallace Interpreters Certification Fund.
The ILRC joins with Ruth in expressing that Anna will be deeply missed by all who have known and loved her.
Zodos Lines Up for Accessibility
by David Jones
When working with UCP I had a request to go bowling. Thinking Orchid Bowl (now named Zodos) was accessible to all, I agreed on the outing. When we got there I found there was no possible way to bring people who use wheelchairs to the bowling floor. With disappointment I loaded them up and had to bring everyone home. I truly at that moment felt their anguish in a world with steps. In the USA we have a disability law (the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990) that says a public building needs to be accessible to the whole public.
I started working on trying to find someone who knows the rules. I felt the old owners of Zodos had the duty to help move the project forward. When I went to ask why the bowling alley was not made accessible, they told me “finances.” That answer did not satisfy me.
I decided to go next to the ILRC to figure out a way to get them to bring the bowling alley to code. Jo Black and Carol Baizer told me there are two ways: going through the courts, or a trained mediator. I decide the fastest way to get the issue resolve was ADA mediation.
The project went through with flying colors! In the future I now know the process to take legal action without lawsuits or getting courts involved.
Editor’s Note: The ILRC celebrates with Zodos the changes and improvements it has made to be accessible to people with disabilities.
Calendar 2002
April
1 Cesar Chavez Day (Observed) – ILRC closed
7 Daylight Savings Time Begins – Spring Forth!
9 Holocaust Remembrance Day
16 Personal Tax
Returns are due
24 Administrative
Professionals Day
30 ILRC Board Meeting (Ventura)
May
1 May Day
6 Nurses’ Day
12 Mother’s Day
18 Armed Forces Day
27 Memorial Day (Observed)
28 ILRC Board Meeting (Santa Barbara)
30 Memorial Day
June
1 National Rose Month Begins
14 Flag Day
16 Fathers’ Day
21 Summer Solstice
25 ILRC Board Meeting (Ventura)
Consumer Opinion
from Mary Matthews, Consumer
Okay, Santa Barbara! Looks like it’s the two of us, kiddo! Yeah, and the other 89,000 residents. As you can undoubtedly tell from my accent, I come from even farther south in California. Visiting here had already convinced me of your beauty… Now I am a transplant.
Question: Where does a disabled sixty-two year old woman go for information as to what services may be available to her in Santa Barbara?
Answer: The Independent Living Resource Center. There is such a good one here that I was helped both as a senior and as a disabled person. In fact, the people are so helpful at the ILRC it was possible to find a Personal Care Attendant. (With a paralyzed left side and a just-below-the-elbow amputated right arm, I’m strictly a “Look, Ma, no hands” person.) There are still plenty of things I can do. Showering, dressing and fixing my own meals are not among my possibilities.
Marketing is among the “can do’s.” However, supermarket employees definitely pale when they see the shopping cart careening down the aisles behind me, as pulling it, after hooking my hook into the front of the cart is a lot easier than trying to control it while pushing from the back. It’s careen away! Marketing is really a big kick to me. It is nice to be a consumer and be able to make choices, like other adults. Selecting even small things add up to big feelings of independence.
Let me end with this about the ILRC. These people are so sensitive to their customers’ needs that they even seek to fulfill the need all of us have to contribute at some level. Let’s face it: I cannot staple, file or collate, so they let me write this letter to everyone. Happy New Year!
DISASTER PREPAREDNESS WORKSHOP FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
The Santa Maria ILRC will be hosting a FREE workshop put on by American Red Cross, United Way and the Santa Maria Fire Department on disaster preparedness for people with disabilities on May 3, 2002 at 1:00 P.M. at ILRC’s Santa Maria office, 327 E. Plaza Drive. The workshop is open to consumers, family members, personal assistants, staff and board members. For directions and seat reservations, call ILRC at (805) 925-0015. The site is wheelchair accessible and an interpreter will be available for people who are hearing impaired. For further accommodations, please let us know when making your reservations. In order to accommodate those with chemical sensitivity, please refrain from wearing scented products. Hope to see you there
Come to “Pizza Night” in beautiful San Luis Obispo and hand out with the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Community. On the second Tuesday of every month, ILRC, Tri-County GLAD’s Santa Maria Outreach and Pizza Hut will hose “Pizza Night @ Pizza Hut” for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Community from 5-10 p.m. The participating Pizza Hut is located at 2138 Broad Street in San Luis Obispo, (805) 543-9600 (V). The staff has been trained to recognize a CRS call if you wish to call the restaurant. For more information, please call the Santa Maria Outreach at (805) 348-3148 (V/TTY).
Self Help for Hard of Hearing People - Santa Barbara Chapter - a local support group, meets the 4th Monday of the month from 2 to 4 PM at the Louise Lowry Davis Center, De la Vina at Victoria (March 25, April 22, and June 24; no meeting in May). We welcome anyone interested in improving contact with the hearing world. Call (805) 967-5241 for details.
In Memory of Paul A. Fick
Funeral services were held on March 8th for Paul A. Fick, 59, of Santa Maria. Mr. Fick was a 19-year resident of Santa Maria. Paul was a Santa Maria Police Department volunteer, and the Police Department Chaplain. He was very active in the community, service on the Advisory Board of the ILRC, volunteering with the post-polio syndrome support group, and as a precinct worker. He will be deeply missed by his family and friends.
For Sale:
Electric Wheelchair “Jazzy 1100” Series, excellent condition, $1,000; also: Reading Machine, b/w “Optelec,” new condition, $1,000. Contact: Santa Barbara, CA (805) 962-4625
For Sale:
1991 “Handicap-Adapted” Dodge Mini Van, drop floor, power kneeling, power ramp air, easy lock, 61,000 miles, tinted windows, navy blue, $15,000; also, Sabre power wheel chair, 6 years old, one owner, double battery, $1,000. Contact: Goleta, CA (805) 964-3201
ILRC’s Annual Elections Held
ILRC’s annual election of Board Officers was held on Tuesday, March 26, at ILRC’s Santa Barbara office. Officers for the upcoming year will be Michael Blaise, President; Sue Andrews, Vice President; Barbara Lynch, Secretary; and Richard Donchak, Treasurer.
It’s Not “Good-bye,” Just “See You Later”
ILRC’s Board reluctantly must say good-bye to former Board officers Wally Duncan, Bud Girard and Tina Pedotti. According to ILRC’s by-laws, Board members may sit for a maximum of six years, and Wally, Bud and Tina have completed six years of service. We thank them all for the time and energy they have dedicated to ILRC over the past six years, and hope they will rejoin us after the mandatory one-year hiatus.
SBCC’s Adult Ed Offers Training Program for Personal Assistants to Persons with Cognitive Disabilities
Individuals with hidden disabilities such as Attention Deficit Disorder (“ADD”), learning disabilities, mild head injury, medication side effects, chronic disorganization, or any other cognitive impairment that substantially limits one or more life activities, struggle to accomplish basic life tasks. Some common characteristics presenting challenges are: poor time and/or money management; generally disorganized; difficulty with paperwork; problems completing projects; low tolerance for frustration; and/or forgetfulness.
The more a person with a hidden challenge is able to take control of his/her life, the more likely the achievement of self-sufficiency. But successful, responsible living does not necessarily mean doing everything without assistance. It may mean employing others to help with certain tasks that are difficult to complete.
Santa Barbara City College’s Adult Education program is now offering a training program called PerfectAssistance.com, that offers focused training for Perfect Assistance Specialists (“PAS”).
PAS’s work with clients in a practical, hands-on manner to design partnership programs that help the person with a disability to complete their tasks. Together they address challenges by focusing on strategies that overcome a variety of daily hurdles, thereby increasing self-esteem. The goal of PerfectAssistance.com is to empower people with cognitive disabilities, through an active partnership with the PAS, to organize and manage life, education and work responsibilities.
If you are interested in becoming a PAS, watch for class dates in the Spring SBCC Adult Education catalog or call (805) 642-6112 or (805) 566-0441 for class information. After completing the courses at Adult Ed, you will be screened by ILRC staff before being listed on PerfectAssistance.com.
If you are interested in hiring a PAS, go online to www.PerfectAssistance.com.
JUST FOR FUN
by Sue Andrews, Editor
One of the most fun things about being on ILRC’s Board (and editing this newsletter) is reading about all the interesting things ILRC’s staff do - both on and off the “clock.” Take for example Barry Gridley of ILRC’s Santa Barbara office. Barry is taking an Independent Living Philosophy class with June Kailes online through ILNET. Recently he was asked to write “An IL Vision for the Future,” where he imagines himself to be 20 years in the future, looking back over the last 20 years of the Independent Living Movement. Some of the things that impressed Barry in his dream future were:
• The improvements in the quality of life for all Americans.
• The president is a powerchair user, and activist member of the Disability community.
• Congressional directives promote work and empowerment for people with disabilities.
• Social programs are useful and incentives are real.
• Affordable, comfortably-sized, custom-designed homes.
• All cupboards and surfaces are waist high.
• Bathrooms have anti-gravity devices and robotic assistance.
• People with disabilities can go shopping, to a bar, to a theater or a restaurant anytime and anyplace they please.
• Space-age engineering has been adapted to design super-strong, super-lightweight metals, along with assistive technology needed for seeing, hearing, sensing and for creating habitats and equipment. (Some of this was needed for the new Mars Colony!)
• Advances in treatment of brain injuries, chemical imbalance and psychological disorders are particularly impressive.
Some of this may sound pretty far-fetched, but some of them are actually already in the works. What would your 20-years-in-the-future sound like, if you had your wishes? Some of the things we would like to add are:
• Institutionalization is a thing of the past.
• All communities worldwide are barrier-free.
• Negative attitudes toward people with disabilities have disappeared.
• All mechanical vehicles are energy-efficient.
• Communication is universal.
And last but not least:
• All politicians tell the truth.
Dear Friend,
Whether you are able to participate on the Board or not, please remember that you are always welcome to attend our Board meetings. Check the calendar on page 3 for date and location. If you need additional information or directions to the office, please call your local ILRC office.
Sincerely,
The Board and Staff of ILRC
We’re Looking for a Few Good Board Members.
How About You? Interested?
What is the ILRC? ILRC works to eliminate any barrier to a person with a disability that prohibits or reduces his or her ability to lead a productive, self-sufficient, independent life. And what exactly does that mean? It means resource and referral for persons with disabilities. We teach people to be their own advocates in obtaining jobs, achieving equal access to the community, acquiring accessible housing and assistive technology, and communicating effectively.
What does the Board do? Well... the Board sets policy, determines the direction of the organization, ensures that there is a workable budget, assesses the needs of the community and translates them into programs, represents the philosophy and nature of the ILRC, and develops agency fund raising activities. We meet on the fourth Tuesday evening of each month, alternately in Santa Barbara and Ventura. If a Board member lives more than an hour from the meeting site, she/he may elect to attend via conference call. Committees meet regularly, too, so that Board meetings usually only take about an hour.
What are the qualifications to be an ILRC Board Member? ILRC is mandated to be directed by a guiding body with a majority (51%) of persons with disabilities. Additionally, we strive to maintain an ethnic balance representative of the community. We’re looking for responsible, team-oriented business-minded people who want to be involved. (Appropriate sense of humor welcomed.) We’re not discriminatory (unless you’re a bigot or a convicted felon). In fact, we’re so open-minded, we’re thinking of installing curtains.
What’s the value to you? This is your chance to significantly impact the quality of many peoples’ lives directly. There aren’t very many ways you can make a difference in someone else’s life. Giving a few hours of your time each month, though, will do exactly that. When was the last time you looked into the eyes of a person using a wheelchair? Did you recognize that there was a person there? Or did you just see the chair and look away? Your family taught you the skills you needed to survive within our social structure. Without an organization like the ILRC, who teaches someone who has lived in an institution for a large part of their life to live independently in that same society? By volunteering at the ILRC, you can be an important part of this rewarding process. Please consider joining us.
If we’ve piqued your interest, please fill in the following, tear out this page, stick a stamp on where indicated, and mail it to us. We’d love to hear from you!
Indicate one below:
I’m interested in finding out more about being on the Board of the ILRC.
I can’t help you out right now, but I’d like to find out more about the ILRC. Please put me on your newsletter mailing list.
I don’t have time to devote just now. Please contact me again in (indicate how many) months.
Board of Directors
Michael Blaise, Ventura, President
Sue Andrews, Carpinteria, Vice President
Barbara Lynch, Santa Barbara, Secretary
Richard Donchak, Newbury Park, Treasurer
Sheila Blaise, Ventura, PR Chair
Sheila Duffy, Goleta, Membership Chair
Mike Rifkin, Ventura
ILRC Mission Statement
The Independent Living Resource Center, Inc., is an organization of, by and for persons with disabilities who reside or work in our service area. Our purpose is to assist and encourage individuals to achieve their optimal level of self-sufficiency while eliminating the architectural, communication and attitudinal barriers which prevent them from full participation in the community.
United Way Agency
Ventura County, Santa Barbara and Central Coast
Locations and Staff
Santa Barbara Office
423 W. Victoria Street
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Voice/TTY: (805) 963-0595
Fax: (805) 963-1350
TTY: (805) 963-8265
Jo Black, Executive Director
Kathleen Riel, HR/Program Director
Bernie Faulkner, Bookkeeper
Carol Baizer, IL/Benefits Prog Coord
Barry Gridley, Peer Support
Frank Lindstrom, Accounting Cons
Laura Lippincott, Advocate/Communications Assistance
Petra Lowen, Personal Assistance
Patty Neumeyer, AT Program Coord
Faith Strader, Accts. Recvbl. Clerk
Aurelia Wallace, Admin Clerk
Jennifer Willer, Business/Grants Mgr
Nora Winger, Information & Referral
Ventura Office
1802 Eastman Av, Suite 112
Ventura, CA 93003
Voice: (805) 650-5993
Fax: (805) 650-9278
TTY: (805) 650-0669
BJ Legan-Adams, Benefits
James Greer, Community Living
Steve McPeters, ILS
Christine Miko, I&R, AT I&R
Christina Rahn, Peer/ILS/CA
Chera Minkler, Community Change Advocate
North Santa Barbara Co. Office
327 E. Plaza Drive, Suite 3A
Santa Maria, CA 93454
Voice: (805) 925-0015
Fax: (805) 349-2416
Leeman Burke, I&R, Peer Support
Tina Horr, IL/Benefits
Candace Ridenour - I&R, Personal Assistance
San Luis Obispo Office
1150 Laurel Lane #134
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
Voice: (805) 593-0667
Fax: (805) 593-0671
TTY: (805) 593-0219
Mailing: P. O. Box 4310
San Luis Obispo, CA 93403
Marjie Bastanchury, I&R, Site Coord
Sue Reese, Peer Support
Susan Stagg, Community Living
Brenda Tebbetts, IL/BPAO
Jason Farrar, AT I&R
CCATC:
1150 Laurel Lane #132
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
Voice: (805) 549-7420
Fax: (805) 549-7423
TTY: (805) 549-7424
Paul Mortola, Project Director
John Lee, Rehabilitation Eng.
Judi Kahrs
Robert Thompson
SLOCo Access
1150 Laurel Lane #132
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
Voice: (805) 543-3627
Robin Libbee, Executive Director
© 2002
Schedule for ILRC Newsletter Submissions
Issue Deadline
July - September, 2002 June 1, 2002
October - December, 2002 September 1, 2002
January - March, 2003 December 1, 2002
April - June, 2003 March 1, 2003
Please send submissions (as MS Word attachments) to Jennifer Willer at jwiller@ilrc-trico.org, or mail to:
ILRC Newsletter Submissions
423 W. Victoria Street
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
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