WHAT:
LANTERMAN UNIFIED ACTION MEETING

WHEN:
AUGUST 20, 2003 (Wednesday 10:00 AM to 5:30 PM)

WHERE:
Secretary Of State  Building - Main Auditorium (first floor)
1500 11th Street (11th and O Streets)
Sacramento, CA 95814

PURPOSE
The purpose of the non-partisan Lanterman Unified Action Meetings is to share information and to bring together people with developmental and other disabilities, their families, providers, direct care and other workers, regional centers, independent living centers, advocacy groups and others to develop a unified strategy and action that will continue organizing our culturally diverse communities, and that will continue to protect the rights of people with developmental and other disabilities. This meeting continues the successful organizing and advocacy efforts of the past year and a half, including the April 7 rally and march in Sacramento. The name of the meeting is in memory of the late Assemblyman Frank Lanterman who authored the "Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services Act" over 30 years ago, the civil rights act that provides protections and rights for people with developmental disabilities.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN
Those attending will be, based on their preference, put into one of the 11 different "Action Teams" that will be formed to develop alternatives, options, solutions, on the many issues impacting people with developmental and other disabilities (see below). These "action teams will report back for a follow-up meeting on September 29 (Monday) with the hope that people can mobilize toward a unified action and support a strategy on each of those issues and proposed solutions.

OTHER PARTS OF THE PROGRAM FOR AUGUST 20th
* Federal Funding - Key staff from the Centers on Medicaid and Medicare Services to speak about the Home and Community Based Waiver and other federal resources. This is still being confirmed.  The information from this segment of the program can be very helpful to the various action teams looking at options, alternatives, etc.
* Lt. Governor Cruz Bustamante (will be confirmed Monday 8/4)
* Secretary of State Kevin Shelley (not confirmed yet)

WHO SHOULD GO TO THIS?
* All people interested in working together and coming up with and developing new ideas, options and strategies. This includes providers, direct care staff, people with developmental and other disabilities, families, advocacy groups and individuals, regional centers, independent living centers - everyone.

WHAT DO I NEED TO DO TO GO TO THIS MEETING?
* Registration Form. There is NO charge to attend this meeting. Complete the registration form in this email below (feel free to forward the form to anyone you think would be interested).  You can also download the attachment - titled "Lantermanregistrationform08202003" if you prefer a word version.
* Mail, fax or email the completed registration form back, on or before August 14.
* Seating is very limited, so get your forms returned quickly.

SOME THINGS TO BRING TO THE MEETING
* A willingness to work together
* A picture of someone who receives needed services and supports as a reminder to you and all of us why the effort to unify and organize is so important.
* Bring - if you have one - your date book or calendar. You will need this to schedule future meetings.
* Bring enough money for lunch on your own (there is an inexpensively priced cafe on the second floor of the Secretary of State building and two restaurants - all moderately priced, right across the street)

FEDERAL MEDICIAD STAFF WILL SPEAK AT LANTERMAN UNIFIED ACTION MEETING ON MEDICAID FUNDING OF COMMUNITY PROGRAMS FOR PEOPLE WITH DEVELOPMENTAL AND OTHER DISABILITIES; OTHER ISSUES TO BE DISCUSSED FOR UNIFIED ACTION

"We are here, we are united, and we will not go away!"
              Justin Dart Jr 1930-2002
              Advocate for people with disabilities

"I'm not leaving until I testify!"
          Warren Mattingly - San Luis Obispo People First
          advocate (after waiting several hours in his wheelchair for
             Assembly Budget hearing, that was delayed, to begin 4/02)

THE CRISIS THAT PEOPLE WITH DEVELOPMENTAL AND OTHER DISABILITIES FACE IS NOT OVER - IT CONTINUES. THE WORKERS COMPENSATION CRISIS ALONE, IF NOT RESOLVED THIS YEAR, COULD DEVASTATE OUR COMMUNITY SERVICES AND PROGRAM IN EVERY PART OF THE STATE. WE MUST CONTINUE THE EFFORTS TO STRATEGIZE, ORGANIZE, MOBILIZE AND TAKE ACTION NOW.  NEXT YEAR IS TOO LATE! JOIN US ON AUGUST 20TH AT THE LANTERMAN UNIFIED ACTION MEETING! PARTICIPATE IN DISCUSSION WITH FEDERAL MEDICAID STAFF ON THE FEDERAL MEDICAID FUNDING (WAIVER) THAT FUNDS COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICES AND SUPPORTS FOR PEOPLE WITH DEVELOPMENTAL AND OTHER DISABILITIES. LORRAINE SHEEHAN, PRESIDENT OF THE ARC OF THE US WILL PROVIDE NATIONAL PROVIDER & FAMILY PERSPECTIVES ON THE ISSUE. ALSO PARTICIPATE IN DEVELOPING UNIFIED ACTION ON KEY ISSUES IMPACTING OUR COMMUNITIES INCLUDING HOUSING, TRANSPORTATION, DIRECT CARE WAGES, WORKERS COMPENSATION, SYSTEM REFORM (INC SELF DETERMINATION), CRIME VICTIMS AND ABUSE, MEDI-CAL/SSI-SSP, SPECIAL EDUCATION, PARENTAL CO-PAYMENTS FOR REGIONAL CENTER SERVICES AND MORE.

WHEN:
AUGUST 20, 2003 (Wednesday 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM)

WHERE:
Secretary Of State  Building - Main Auditorium (first floor)
1500 11th Street (11th and O Streets) Sacramento, CA 95814

What Will Happen At This Meeting on August 20th?
This will be an interactive and action oriented meeting - not just talk.  Participate in discussion, updates and training from:
* MEDICAID WAIVER/FEDERAL FUNDING - Staff from the federal Centers on Medicare and
Medicaid Services on federal funding for services impacting people with developmental and other disabilities - and how federal funding can be expanded. The information from this segment of the program can be very helpful to the various action teams looking at options, alternatives, etc. The President of Arc of the US, Lorraine Sheehan will also provide a national non-profit perspective.
* WORKERS COMPENSATION - updates on workers compensation, background checks for direct care staff and other related issues.
* UNIFIED ACTION & TRAINING - Elbert Johns from TheArcLink, will help to facilitate the training and discussion on this, along with some action team leads or participants who include Shirley Dove (Arc California President), June Downing (CSU Northridge professor & former pres of CAL-TASH), Barbara Wheeler (Director, Center for Disability Studies and Community Inclusion - USC University Affiliated Program, LA), Warren Mattingly (People First San Luis Obispo) and many others.
* OUTREACH - development of outreach and communication to more and more communities across the state, including more individuals with developmental and other disabilities, families, minority communities and others who have never before been included in helping to shape advocacy efforts that will shape public policy. This is about real inclusion.
* ENTERTAINMENT - Michael Valcour, a person with autism, will perform. He also sang at our April 7th rally and march at the Sacramento Convention Center.
* UNIFIED ACTION TEAMS - Those attending will be, based on their preference on the
response form, will be put into different "Action Teams" that will be formed to develop alternatives, options, solutions, on the many issues impacting people with
developmental and other disabilities (see below) who will then report back for a
follow-up meeting on September 29 (Monday) with proposed unified actions.

What Is the Purpose Of The "Unified Action Meeting"?
* To bring together people with developmental and other disabilities, their families, providers, direct care and other workers, regional centers, independent living centers, advocacy groups and others to not only share information - but to work together to develop short term and long term solutions and options to critical issues. This includes reaching out (and developing new outreach) to community organizations and groups, minority communities and others who NEVER before have been included.
* To unite our actions to strategy that will build an advocacy force in every
legislative district and that will influence public policy at every level (local school districts, counties, cities, the Legislature & others)
NOTE: the meeting name is in memory of the late Assemblyman Frank Lanterman who
authored the "Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services Act" over 30 years ago, the civil rights act for people with developmental disabilities - though the meeting covers issues critical to people with other disabilities too.

WHO SHOULD GO TO THIS?
* ALL people interested in working together and coming up with and developing new
ideas, options and strategies. This includes providers, direct care staff, people with developmental and other disabilities, families, advocacy groups and individuals, regional centers, independent living centers - everyone.  Families with children with autism, IHSS workers, people who need Medi-Cal services, community based providers, families in the special education system, the various People First organizations, regional centers, area boards, various minority advocacy groups across the state are all invited and urged to attend.

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LANTERMAN UNIFIED ACTION AUGUST 20th MEETING
REGISTRATION FORM

Note: a copy of THIS part of the email is contained in an attachment in "word", titled "lantermanregistrationform08202003".  This is a real, bonafide attachment is sent for those who find it easier to download  it, or easier to forward.

WHEN:
AUGUST 20, 2003, Wednesday from 10:00 AM to 5:30 PM
[Note: Save the date for the next meeting on Sept 29, 2003 (Monday)]

WHERE:
SECRETARY OF STATE BUILDING  – Main Auditorium
1500 11th Street, Sacramento, CA 95814 (less than 2 blocks from Capitol)
Important:  SEATING LIMITED! Limited seats on a first come first serve (by registration) basis.

YOUR NAME (please print):____________________________________________________

ADDRESS:_____________________________________________________________________

CITY:_______________________________________ CA    ZIPCODE:__________________

ORGANIZATION (if any):_______________________________________________________

YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS (please print):___________________________________________

YOUR PHONE:_____________________________ YOUR FAX:___________________________

Please Check One That Applies To You for THIS meeting:
____  Person With Disabilities
____ Family Member of person with disabilities
____ Organization that provides services and supports to people with disabilities
     or:__________________________
____ Direct care staff person (including IHSS)
____ Advocacy organization
____ Other:_______________________________________________

Accessibility needs:
____ Wheelchair   ____Other:__________________________________________

Unified Action Teams – Indicate Your Interest
(Indicate your Top 6 preferences - #1 being the highest, and #6 being the lowest)
___ System Reform Action Team (includes service delivery, purchase of services
    standards and related issues, restructuring, rates, wages & workforce issues)
___ Parental Co-Pay/Narrowing Eligibility Action Team (to respond to new
    eligibility standards now in effect and parental co-payment requirement to go
    into effect 7/1/04)
___ Federal & Other Resources Action Team  (includes expanding and maintaining
    Medicaid Waiver)
___ Worker’s Compensation Action Team (includes other liabilities for providers
    ie health insurance, etc)
___ Crimes/Victims and Abuse Action Team (includes background checks, local law
    enforcement, etc)
___ Special Education/Adult Ed Action Team
___ Transportation Action Team (includes accessible transportation agencies)
___ Medi-Cal & SSI/SSP Action Team  (its impact to people with disabilities)
___ Housing Action Team (includes supported & independent living; In-Home
    Supportive Services)
___ Constitutional Initiative Action Team (includes voter registration, etc)
___ Habilitation Services Program Action Team (moving this program from Dept of
    Rehab to Dept of Dev Services)

Is there any issue or topic missing that you think an action team should be formed on?:___________________________________________________________________________

PLEASE RETURN THIS FORM ON OR BEFORE AUG 14, 2003 THUR
Sponsored by the California Community Advocacy Network – a link to thousands of people with developmental and other disabilities, their families, community providers, direct care staff and other advocates across the state
Please mail or fax  to:
Training Towards Self-Reliance (TTSR)
FAX: 916/920-8977  Voice line: 916/920-8877
Attn: Nancy Overton-Chance
1495 River park Dr. Suite 100
Sacramento, Ca 95815
OR email Marty Omoto at:  martyomoto@rcip.com
OR Nancy Overton Chance at: nancyco@jps.net

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS NOTICE
OR ABOUT THE AUGUST 20 MEETING
* This is a meeting notice and update for Californians with developmental (& other disabilities), families, providers and other advocates, from the California Coalition of United Cerebral Palsy Associations, a link to 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.  Sharing information is part of our organizing effort. Please feel free to forward or copy this (attribution is nice). We're all in this together!
Marty Omoto, advocate/brother of Alana, sister with developmental disabilities
CA Coalition of United Cerebral Palsy Associations
1225 8th Street Suite 480 Sacramento, CA 95814  916/446-0013 (NEW phone number!)
NEW fax number: 916/446-0026        email: martyomoto@rcip.com 
Coalition Chair: Philip Ksarjian (UCP of Greater Sacramento)
Past Chair: Ron Cohen (UCP of LA, Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties)