ILRC Newsletter ~ 4th Quarter 2003
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
October - December, 2003
Volume 14, No. 4
PUBLISHED FOUR TIMES ANNUALLY
Do Political Candidates Understand the Needs of People with Disabilities?
The purpose of this questionnaire is to find out the level of information and understanding that candidates for elective office have in the area of public policies and funding for Californians with disabilities or those in need of long term care and assistance.
The questions are designed to offer a framework for responses and observations by candidates. They are not intended to be “trick” questions. The format is to provide a summary of information on an area of focus followed by one or more questions for response and comments.
To the candidates: The 28 Independent Living Centers (ILCs) as members of the California Foundation for Independent Living Centers (CFILC) hope you will find these questions useful. Please address any questions to your local ILC or CFILC’s Executive Director Patricia Yeager or Director of Media Relations Vince Wetzel at 916 325-1690. Please send your responses to Vince Wetzel at 660 J Street, Suite 270; Sacramento, CA 95814 or 916.325.1699 (FAX) or e-mail at vince@cfilc.org.
(1) Access to Education.
(a) Of highest priority to Californians with disabilities and families with school-age children, is full implementation of IDEA, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, which provides federal funding and policy direction to states including an emphasis on full inclusion or “mainstreaming” in accordance with the requirements of IEPs, Individual Education Plans.
Question: What is your position on “full inclusion of students with disabilities” in regular classrooms and what priority do you place on making adequate federal and state funds available for appropriate “related services” which enable students to be “mainstreamed?”
(b) For the state Budget Act for Fiscal Year 2002-03, commencing July 1, 2002, the Governor and Legislature decided to take most all new federal IDEA funds and offset the state General Fund costs of special education in California rather than augment services and increase funds available to eligible special education students throughout the State.
Question: Do you support this fiscal decision and direction in periods of deficit or not, and if so, explain your rationale?
(c) In order for students who have print-related disabilities to participate, meaningfully in a timely manner, in their education, the state and local education agencies must make instructional materials available in accessible format as requested by students.
Question: What priority do you place on making funds available for these purposes for students K-12 and in the community college, state college and university systems?
(d) One of the major areas of difficulty involving interagency coordination for students in K-12 involves the Governor and the Superintendent of Public Instruction, which are separate, constitutional officers in California and who have significant independence in making decisions on the way to expend federal and state funds.
Question: What suggestions do you have for making practical changes which will ensure these two statewide elected officials and their designees cooperate better regarding the use and expenditure of public funds for students in the areas such as obtaining and paying for appropriate, assistive technology and transitioning from K-12 to higher education and the “world of work?”
(2) Civil & Disability Rights.
(a) The landmark civil rights legislation at the federal level is the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), signed by former President G.W. Bush in 1990.
Question: Explain, generally, what you know about the ADA and your position on implementation in California?
(b) The U.S. Supreme Court has issued several significant decisions which hold, generally, that the scope of the ADA, particularly who is considered a “person with a disability,” should be narrowed.
Question: What do you know about these U.S. Supreme Court decisions and how do you feel about their effect on the civil rights of Americans with disabilities?
(c) The U.S. Supreme Court handed down a significant decision in Olmstead v. L.C. in 1999, which is viewed, widely, as a positive, consumer-focused ruling which requires states — as a matter of civil rights under the ADA — to develop home and community-based residential and other services for those who are inappropriately placed in institutional settings such as nursing homes. In short, the court directs states to change the way it uses federal funds, specifically Medicaid or Medi-CAL in California, to achieve this goal and in to do so in a planned, reasonable manner.
Question: What do you think is the best way to implement this decision throughout the state?
(d) The Legislature and Governor Davis have agreed to prepare a comprehensive Olmstead long-term care plan and provide it to the Legislature.
Question: What do you think you could do, specifically, in the elective office you seek to further the planning process and involve Californians with disabilities in that process?
(e) During the 1990s, California’s Legislature passed and the Governor approved several bills which take provisions of the ADA and federal law and put them in state statute in order to strengthen state law in the event the U.S. Supreme Court and federal courts issue decisions which “water down” the ADA and other federal laws providing rights to citizens with disabilities.
Question: Do you support this general direction of enacting state legislation to maintain or strengthen civil and service rights in California? Explain your views and concerns.
(3) Public Benefits and Income Maintenance.
(a) One of the major “life lines” of support for people with disabilities and those who are aging and have long-term care needs, is the Social Security Act (SSA), which provides cash and other benefits to those who meet eligibility requirements.
Most important to low income individuals is the SSI/SSP program, which is reviewed annually at the federal and state level to determine whether or not to give a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) based upon factors indicating increases in the cost of living.
When the federal government provides a COLA on the SSI portion of the SSI/SSP grant, it makes the money available to states, which can opt NOT to “pass through” the COLA to SSI/SSP recipients but offset the state’s General Fund deficit.
Question: What is your position on whether or not California should “pass through” any federal COLA as provided by the federal government? What is your position about a state COLA, which must be approved by the California Legislature and Governor and is based upon the SSP portion of SSI/SSP depending on unique factors related to the cost of living in California and which is discretionary? Explain your basic position.
(b) In California, SSI/SSP recipients are “categorically-linked” to the In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) program designed to ensure low income seniors and people with disabilities have personal assistance to remain safely in their own homes and apartments and do not have to go to institutional settings such as nursing homes.
Question: What is your understanding of the IHSS program and the concept of personal assistance for those who need assistance in activities of daily living such as breathing, eating, bathing, communicating, etc.? To what degree should the state contribute to increases in wages and benefits for IHSS workers? Should these providers have funds to pay for health care for themselves as workers? Should the workers be allowed to unionize and collectively bargain under current state law? Explain your positions on these issues.
(c) California’s Legislature during the 2001-02 session debated and put on Governor Davis’ desk A.B. 925 by Assemblywoman Dion L. Aroner who seeks to remove disincentives for people with disabilities to work or earn more money because of the fact that such earnings will result in their losing or having reduced vital, publicly-funded health and support services such as those provided through the Medi-Cal program. The basic concept is to allow such individuals to “buy in” on a sliding fee scale and depends on the amount of earnings.
Question: What are your issues and concerns about this direction in state public policy?
(4) Accessible, Affordable Housing and Transportation and Independent Living Philosophy.
(a) One of the highest priorities for people with disabilities is the development of accessible, affordable housing options, which offer choices and can ensure access by people with mobility limitations particularly those using wheelchairs and carts as visitors in these housing options.
Question: In your capacity in the elective office you seek, what specific actions would you take to address these issues?
(b) Another critical area of concern for Californians with disabilities is access to affordable transportation, allowing maximum independence and mobility to meet the needs of people with disabilities and will be available in all communities throughout the State.
Question: What do you think you could do to address these issues and what do you see being the roles of local, regional and state governments in this process of change?
(c) Providing federal and state funding for community-based, consumer-controlled Independent Living Centers (ILCs) to assist people with disabilities in a variety of ways to become and maintain independence in their homes and local communities is one of the highest priorities for the use of public and private funds.
Question: What do you know about California’s 29 ILCs and what is your position on maintaining or increasing funding even in tight fiscal times?
(d) Currently, access to appropriate and user-friendly voting technology is a subject of much discussion at the national, state and local levels.
Question: What priority is this to you as a person seeking elective office and what changes need to be made toward this goal for all Californians including those with disabilities?
From the Desk of the Director:
It is time to update our progress. ILRC’s Santa Barbara office has made an administrative move. We were able to add the space at the Westside Community Center formerly occupied by EasyLift. This gives us more area for meetings, trainings and consumer services. Please feel free to come by and have a look.
In the same vein, a bigger move in San Luis Obispo was also completed in August. Due to the landlord’s need to pursue some construction goals, we decided to move our offices to the front of the building on Laurel Lane. The address is the same but the suite number is #184. And, even better, CCATC, our assistive technology program, has moved in with us and we now share a lovely space that is no longer behind the gate as were the offices before.
To external issues, there are several articles in this newsletter about the voting processes that face us. First the Recall here in California, but possibly more important is the upcoming presidential election next year. So many important issues swirl around the news that we must stay vigilant and keep disability and equality issues in the forefront. LISTEN, QUESTION, SPEAK OUT, DISCUSS and VOTE!
October 7 Special Election
There will be four questions for voters on the ballot for the October 7th Special Election. The first two questions are about whether to keep the current Governor or elect a new one (a recall election). The other two questions are about propositions that could change the California constitution.
1.Shall Gray Davis be recalled from the office of Governor? Yes or No? If the yes votes win, Davis is no longer Governor. If the no votes win, Davis stays as Governor.
2.If Governor Davis is removed from office, who should replace him? (Voters will see a long list of candidates. Whoever gets the most votes will be California’s Governor through 2006.)
3.Proposition 53: Should California set aside up to 3% of the state budget for spending on infrastructure (such as roads, water, public buildings)?
4.Proposition 54: Should government agencies be stopped from collecting racial data?
You do not have to vote on everything. You can choose which questions you want to vote on. Source: http://www.easyvoter.org/california/index.html
ILRC Adds Art!
Judy Gilder — the artist and the adventurer.
Seven years ago Judy had a good friend at Hillside House who put a paintbrush in her hand. This was the first time she had considered watercolors as a way to express her joy and love of life. Her first project was an insulated coffee cup where you insert your painting between the inside and outside walls. At first she felt that her work was “just scribbles,” but she soon got hooked on the idea of blending colors and textures in whatever way she felt like.
Judy has a wonderful friendship with Margaret Dodd, whom she first met at Hillside House. Margaret owned a gallery in Sausalito, and Judy visited her four times to participate in art exhibitions held in the gallery, which was part of the ICB artists’ community in Marin. Judy is a member of the Los Padres Watercolor Society in Santa Barbara, and won a prize from the society for one of her paintings. She shows with the society in group exhibitions several times a year at the Faulkner Gallery and the Cabrillo Arts Pavilion, and her work has been shown at the Annual Canvas Project at the Art Fund, and the annual Santa Barbara County Fair. Judy and Margaret continue to look for new opportunities to display her work in local galleries, particularly to find a locale for a one-person show.
Though she is on a summer break from her art classes at the moment, in the fall you will find Judy in art classes at Val Verde and the Ridley Tree Education Center.
Judy finds her painting both recreational and occupational. She tells me that she started out with watercolors but also works now in acrylics. She has so many paintings in her new home that she doesn’t know what to do with them all! What she would like to be able to do is sell them. For that purpose, please do come in and view her exhibit at the Independent Living Resource Center from the 1st to the 31st of October. Judy would love to match you up with something that you can’t resist!
Judy moved to her own apartment in May this year after 52 years of living in an institution.
Anne Gabeler, our second artist, who will be displaying her work from November 1st through November 28th, has an extensive graphic design background in web related and printed art, photography, graphic design, digital art which she hopes to soon make large copies of. She also has a recent Webmaster Certificate from the University of California Santa Barbara’s UC Extension Webmaster Certificate.
She is looking to use her talents to create images and elements for websites as well as create websites. With her excellent people skills and creative imagination she excels at teaching photography, graphic design, website design and a diverse number of computer skills.
Please catch her exquisite work not only in our gallery here at the Independent Living Resource Center but also on her website (http://www.silcom/~gabeler/resume.html).
Dear Patty, ILRC, and News Press Fund,
I just had to write to thank you again for all you did for me in getting my new laptop! I just absolutely am IN LOVE with it - it just is opening me to a whole new level of opportunities toward my goal of being able to live a more normal and fulfilling life despite my physical problems. I can now compute lying down which is a miracle for me! I want to also thank you wonderful folks at ILRC and the News Press Fund for providing such very needed services to people like me! I just love you guys. Thank you.
Blessings,
Rebecca Hubert
Generous Donations - Thank you!
• Ruth Jackson $100.00 in memory of Orville Wallace, to the Wallace Interpreters Fund
• Patti Fisher $100.00 in mem-ory of Ruby Howard
• Shari Burkoth $100.00 in memory of Ruby Howard
The Ventura ILRC would like to invite everyone to attend our Open House at our office on Friday, October 17, 2003 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. We will recognize individuals that have accomplished their goals, and formally kicking off our new program, ACCESS WATCH. We have invited political leaders and representatives of other organizations, so this will be a great opportunity to socialize with others in your community. Light snacks will be served. Hope to see you there!
Wheelchair Accessible Transportation in Western Ventura County
July 2003
ROADRUNNER SHUTTLE—(805) 389-8196/www.rrshuttle.com
_ Service between Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties and major transportation centers (airports, train stations, cruise centers).
_ Ask for van #116 or #300—the TWO accessible vans.
_ I strongly suggest arriving at least one hour before you need to be there.
_ Major credit cards accepted.
_ Reservations REQUIRED.
SCAT—(805) 483-3959/www.scat.org
_ Service Area: Ventura, Oxnard, Port Hueneme, Ojai
_ All busses are wheelchair accessible.
_ Reduced fare (60 cents) for people over the age of 65 and those with a disability.
SCAT ACCESS—www.scat.org
_ Service Area: Ventura, Oxnard, Port Hueneme, Ojai
_ Must be certified to use this service.
Contact: Sue Munday at (805) 642-1591extension 114
_ Must make reservation the day before your trip—(805) 649-4421 or (805) 485-2319.
_ Fare is $1.50 each way.
_ Look in handbook for details
VCDS TRANSPORTATION SERVICE—(805) 986-5057
_ General transportation for Seniors and people with disabilities.
_ Service Area: All of Ventura County
_ Cost depends on distance traveled.
_ Good for traveling to UCLA Medical Center
_ Reservations strongly suggested
VISTA—1(800) 438-1112/www.goventura.org
_ Intercity service within Ventura County.
_ All busses are accessible.
_ Most fares 50 cents with ADA or MEDICARE card.
_ Shuttle service between Ventura and Santa Barbara ($2 fare, $1 fare with ADA or MEDICARE card).
If you need to use public transportation to travel in Ventura County or Southern California and have questions about your travel, call 1 (800) COMMUTE or 1 (800) 266-6883.
A GUIDING ANGEL
Patty Neumeyer, the Assistive Technology Advocate in the Santa Barbara office, has a lot to thank her guide dog for. On Monday, July 7, Patty and her black Labrador guide, Gazebo, were walking their usual one-mile trek to work. Their route was southbound along the right-hand side of a northbound one-way street. Here is how Patty tells the story:
The morning sun was low in the sky, and they were facing into it. They crossed a noisy intersecting street on a green light. The street is a main artery for traffic passing over the freeway from the east and west sides of town. Patty said, “I knew we were half-way across the intersection because we passed two empty lanes and were just passing the first lane of waiting traffic. We walked very close to the front grill of a high-profile vehicle that was waiting at the red light. I could feel the heat coming from it and hear the roar of the idling engine. I knew we still needed to cross one more lane of waiting vehicles before we reached the curb on the other side. That is why I was surprised when Gazebo stopped just beyond the front of that idling truck. I became afraid that the light would change and we would get caught out in the middle of the street. The intersection was very noisy, so I never heard it coming; but Gazebo saw it and stopped. I was just beginning to encourage her to proceed to the curb when she backed up about two steps. That was when I felt the breeze WHOOOSH and then saw the huge shape of a tractor-trailer whiz across our path about 3 feet from us; it ran the red light. I knew that the trailer was very long because we were shaded from the morning sun for several seconds. I heard the creaking of the trailer and smelled the rubber tires in its wake as it rolled by.
Gazebo stayed perfectly calm, and once the full length of the huge big-rig completely passed, she guided us out of the street as quickly as possible. When we reached the opposite curb, I immediately squatted down next to her and gave her a gigantic bear hug for saving my life. It was then I noticed that the big rig had made an emergency right turn going the wrong way on to the one-way street! It pulled over and stopped immediately at the right curb, and thank goodness it was not hit head-on by an on-coming vehicle!
We were still hugging when we heard it start to move again; it appeared to be going backwards. We decided to get away from the corner just in case it jumped the curb. As we watched, the big rig made a reverse right turn back around the same corner and then proceeded forward straight across the intersection.
Pretty amazing adventure, huh!
I have always known that I have a rather imposing set of guardian angel wings following me, but now I know that I also have a formidable furry forward guard as well. I am infinitely grateful that Gazebo is my guide dog, because she just earned her purple heart!”
Pacific Pride Foundation Upcoming Events List
LGBT and HIV/AIDS Book Drive
Pacific Pride Foundation would like to increase our Lending Library. If you would like to donate any pertinent books, please drop them off at our North County and South County offices. We can use your support in creating a full library for all to use. Contact Monica Arrambide at (805) 963-3636 or email monica@pacificpridefoundation.org.
Bisexual and Gay Men’s Conference - Coming Soon (Santa Barbara) If you would like to volunteer or join the committee in making this conference possible, email monica@pacificpridefoundation.org or contact Monica Arrambide at (805) 963-3636.
For other Santa Barbara events, call 963-3636 for details. For other Santa Maria events, call 349-9947 for details.
Pacific Pride Support Groups:
LGBT Youth Group - Santa Barbara, Mondays 4-5:30 p.m.;
Santa Maria, Tuesdays 4-5:30 p.m.
Transgender Group - Santa Barbara, Tuesdays 6:00-7:30 p.m. Suite A-12
Families of Pride - Monthly social events for LGBT parents and our children. Call 898-0663.
LGBT Tobacco Free Discussion Group
Monthly meetings to support each other in the process of continuing to be smoke free.
For other community support groups please call:
* For Santa Barbara groups, call 963-3636 for details.
* For Santa Maria groups, call 349-9947 for details.
If you would like to have your voice heard, the following are some political leaders you can contact:
President George W. Bush
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, D.C. 20500
(202) 456-1414
Fax: (202) 456-2461
E-mail: President@whitehouse.gov
Governor Gray Davis
State Capitol Building
Sacramento, CA. 95814
Fax: (916) 445-4633
E-mail: governor@ca.gov
U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer
112 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
(202) 224-3553
E-mail: senator@Boxer.senate.gov
U.S. Senate Dianne Feinstein
331 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
(202) 224-3841
E-mail: senator@Feinstein.senate.gov
If you do not have access to the internet, you can make an appointment with your local ILRC office to use the consumer computer.
Calendar 2003
October
6 Yom Kippur Begins
7 California Special Election
8 Ventura Empowerment Team Meeting
12 National Children’s Day
13 Santa Barbara Empowerment Team Meeting
13 Columbus Day (Observed)
18 Sweetest Day
24 United Nations Day
26 Daylight Savings Time Ends (“fall back!”)
31 Halloween
November
4 Elections Day
11 Veterans Day
12 Ventura Empowerment Team Meeting
17 Santa Barbara Empowerment Team Meeting
27 Thanksgiving Day (ILRC closed)
December
8 Santa Barbara Empowerment Team Meeting
10 Ventura Empowerment Team Meeting
20 Hanukkah Begins
22 First Day of Winter
25 Christmas Day (ILRC closed)
26 First Day of Kwanzaa
31 New Year’s Eve
Barry’s Top Ten Internet Cautions
from Barry Gridley
The Internet can be especially valuable to people with physical disabilities. But there is a dark side to the Internet. Chat rooms can be fun if used very carefully, but can also be a danger to the unwary. Following are suggestions for helping to ensure your safety while using the Internet:
1. Constantly monitor the tone of a conversation. If you feel in any way uneasy with the way it is proceeding, terminate it!
2. Choose a user name that gives no clue to your gender and provides no identifying information about yourself.
3. Do not give information regarding your home, school, or work address, the city in which you live, places you visit for recreation, your home, work, or cellular phone numbers, or your marital status.
4. Do not reveal the names of your family members, friends, or partner.
5. Do not share photos of yourself or your family.
6. Never reveal that you are disabled.
7. Do not give your social security number, credit card numbers, or reveal the amount of your income.
8. Do not give any information that you would not give to any other complete stranger.
9. Watch for signs that the person you are chatting with is trying to direct, control or manipulate you.
10. Finally, information given to you by a stranger is not necessarily true; lying is common in chat rooms.
Board of Directors
Michael Blaise, Ventura, President
Sue Andrews, Carpinteria, Vice President
Tina Pedotti, Santa Barbara, Secretary
Richard Donchak, Newbury Park, Treasurer
Sheila Blaise, Ventura, PR Chair
Irene Gonzalez, Ventura
Bernice Jacobson, Santa Maria
Edward Perry, Sr., Santa Maria
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/TDD: (805) 963-8265
CAP Advocate (Toll Free):
(888) 963-0595 V/TTY
Jo Black, Executive Director
Kathleen Riel, HR/Program Director
Jennifer Griffin, Business/Grants Mgr
Faith Strader, Full-Charge Bookkeeper
Carol Baizer, ILS/BPAO Prog Coord
Jennie Caldwell, Advocate/CA
Barry Gridley, Peer Support/Intake
Frank Lindstrom, Accounting Cons
Petra Lowen, Community Living
Ken McLellan, ILS/Peer Support for the Deaf
Patty Neumeyer, AT Program Coord
Rabecca Serpa, Admin/CAP/Acctg Clerk
Kristin Watts, CAP Advocate
Nora Winger, Information & Referral
Ventura Office
1802 Eastman Av, Suite 112
Ventura, CA 93003
Voice/TTY: (805) 650-5993
Fax: (805) 650-9278
TTY/TDD: (805) 650-0669
BJ Legan-Adams, BPAO/Benefits
James Greer, Community Living
Christine Miko, Information & Referral
Chera Minkler, Systems Change/AT Advocate
Susan Oatman, Outreach/ILS
Christina Rahn, ILS/Peer Support for the Deaf
North Santa Barbara Co. Office
327 E. Plaza Drive, Suite 3A
Santa Maria, CA 93454
Voice/TDD: (805) 925-0015
Fax: (805) 349-2416
Leeman Burke, Information & Referral/Peer Support
Tina Burke, IL/Benefits
Candace Ridenour, PA/Information & Referral
San Luis Obispo Office & CCATC
1150 Laurel Lane #184
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
Voice/TTD: (805) 593-0667
Fax: (805) 549-7423
TTY/TDD: (805) 549-7424
Marjie Bastanchury, Systems Change/Advocate
Chris Bingaman, Community Living
Maria Gibson, Information & Referral
Denise Martinez, Peer Support/Intake
Karen McGill, AT Information & Referral
Brenda Tebbetts, IL/BPAO
CCATC:
Voice/TTY: (805) 549-7420
Paul Mortola, Project Director
Judi Kahrs, Services Coord
John Lee, Rehabilitation Eng.
Robert Thompson, Low Vision AT
© 2003
Schedule for ILRC Newsletter Submissions
Issue Deadline
January - March, 2004 December 1, 2003
April - June, 2004 March 1, 2004
July - September, 2004 June 1, 2004
October - December, 2004 September 1, 2004
Please send submissions (as MS Word attachments) to Jennifer Griffin at jgriffin@ilrc-trico.org, or mail to:
ILRC Newsletter Submissions
423 W. Victoria Street
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
General Information
Circulation Base: 2,700
Published four times yearly; mail submissions to ILRC NEWS-LETTER at Santa Barbara office or e-mail to jgriffin@ilrc-trico.org; deadline is the first day of the month prior to publication date. For more information, contact Jennifer at (805) 963-0595, extension 112. Submit articles as MS Word attachments to jgriffin @ilrc-trico.org.
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