FAMILIES ACROSS STATE VOW HUGE FIGHT TO OPPOSE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSAL TO ELIMINATE IN-HOME SUPPORTIVE SERVICES RESIDUAL PROGRAM

SACRAMENTO   -  Families with family members with developmental and other disabilities, seniors and other community advocates are vowing a huge fight to oppose Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's current year budget proposed cut that would eliminate the In-Home Supportive Services "residual program" by April 1, 2004 that will impact 74,200 children and adults with disabilities, seniors and the Blind. His proposal faces an uncertain fate in the Legislature, with the proposal needing  2/3rds vote in both houses to pass. A march and rally in support of the rights of people with disabilities and seniors - including support for the IHSS program, is scheduled for January 6, Tuesday afternoon.  Families and advocates see the program as critically important for children and adults with developmental and other disabilities and seniors, and the Blind.

Governor Schwarzenegger made the proposal to eliminate the IHSS residual program on November 25, along with proposing suspension of the landmark Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services Act, elimination of several regional center services, including respite, for children and adults with developmental disabilities.  The Governor also proposed at that time,  enrollment caps and waiting lists for regional center programs, and also several health services including Healthy Families, AIDS Drug Assistance Program, California Children's Services, Genetically Handicapped Persons Program, Vocational Rehabilitation and Habilitation Services and an additonal 10% rate reduction to Medi-Cal providers. However after weeks of major protests including a massive demonstration of thousands of people with disabilities at the State Capitol on December 10, the Governor announced December 16 that he was reversing himself on suspension of the Lanterman Act, and cuts to regional center programs for persons with developmental disabilities.  At the time - because there was nothing actually in writing that was officially released by the Schwarnegger Administration, it wasn't clear if the Governor also reversed his proposal to eliminate the IHSS residual program.  Late last week, the Department of Finance confirmed that it was their information that only the Governor only reversed his proposals dealing with the  Lanterman Act and the regional center services (including respite).

What the Governor Proposed In November
* The IHSS residual program provides services to 74,200 children and adults and seniors with low-incomes, blind or having developmental or other physcial disabilities, that allows them to remain in their own home instead of placement in a institutional setting or group home.
* Governor Schwarzenegger proposed November 25 to permanently eliminate the entire IHSS residual program, cutting (and providing a savings to the state general fund) of $90.3 million for the current budget year that ends June 30, 2004 and another $367.9 million for the full 2004-2005 budget year.  The program receives no federal funds.
* Another 254,800 children, adults with developmental and other disabilities, seniors and people who are Blind, are part of the separate IHSS "Personal Care Services Program", which does receive matching  federal funding, was not mentioned in the Governor's November proposal.
* Advocates fear however, that the Governor may propose some level of cuts or reductions to that program too when he submits his proposed budget for 2004-2005 on January 9 - though no one knows for sure.
* The non-partisan Legislative Analyst Office proposed elimination of the IHSS residual program in January 2002 as a means to bridge the budget shortfall that year.  The Assembly Budget Subcommittee #1 on Health and Human Services, chaired by then-Assemblyman Gil Cedillo (D-Los Angeles) held a hearing on March 20, 2002 with a hearing room and hallways packed with IHSS residual program families and workers  - and agreed to hold off on any action.  The Department of Finance and Department of Social Services at that hearing reported that the possiblity of obtaining federal funds to help pay for the residual program was seemed likely. Since that hearing, it is not known what subsequent actions were taken by either Department to obtain additional federal funding.

What Services Are Provided Through IHSS Residual Program
The IHSS residual program which is only funded with state funds provides the following services:
* Allows a parent to be the IHSS worker to a minor child
* Allows a spouse to be the IHSS worker
* Provides protective supervision services to persons needing around the clock care
* Allows "advance pay option" to persons with severe disabilities  and requires this option in order to have funds up front to pay their IHSS worker (or a replacement or backup worker).
* Services to a person who only requires assistance with domestic chores
* Restaurant meal allowances to those persons who receive those services

NEXT STEPS AND PROSPECTS
The State Senate
* The Senate Budget Subcommitee #3 on Health and Human Services, Labor and Veteran Affairs, chaired by Sen. Wes Chesbro (D-Arcata), held a hearing on the Governor's proposed current year budget cuts on December 10, and heard testimony from the public who jammed the hallways and hearing rooms. Many testified specficially in opposition to the proposed elimination of the IHSS residual program.  A massive protest by thousands of people with disabilities proceeded the hearing outside the North Steps of the Capitol earlier that same day. No action was taken by the subcommittee - and they are likely to hold a second hearing sometime in mid -January at the earliest, though nothing has been scheduled.
* The Senate Health and Human Services Committee, chaired by Sen. Deborah Ortiz (D-Sacramento) held an informational hearing on the impact of the Governor's current year budget cuts proposal on health and human service programs - including IHSS residual program, on December 15, in Los Angeles. The hearing drew a huge crowd of hundreds of people with developmental and other disabilities and others who protested the cuts.  No action was taken by this committee (it was just an informational hearing).
* The full Senate adjourned Friday, December 12, until January 5, Monday, taking no action on the Governor's proposed current year budget cuts - with Senate President Pro Tem John Burton (D-San Francisco) flatly indicating his strong opposition to the cuts that were originally proposed - and the cuts that remain. There is no word yet on when - or even if, the Senate will take action on any or all of the Governor's proposals.
* The Senate did give final approval on December 12, to a "budget reserve fund" (formerly "spending cap")  measure and a bond measure to go before approval before the voters for the March primary election ballot (the Assembly passed it 12/11).  Neither measure woud have an immediate or direct impact tp programs or services for people with developmental or other disabilities.
The State Assembly
* The Assembly Budget Committee and its subcommittees have not held any hearings specifically on the Govenror's proposed current year budget cuts.  The Assembly budget committee or its subcommittees may hold hearings in mid-January, though nothing is scheduled.
* The full Assembly adjorned Thursday, December 11 and will not reconvene until January 5, Monday afternoon.  The Assembly - like the Senate - took no action on any of the Governor's proposed current year budget cuts.
* The Assembly did, on December 11, pass a "budget reserve fund" (formerly "spending cap")  measure and a bond measure to go before approval before the voters for the March primary election ballot (the Senate gave final approval on 12/12).  Neither measure woud have an immediate or direct impact tp programs or services for people with developmental or other disabilities.
The Governor
* Proposed on November 25 his package of current budget year (or "mid-year") spending reductions which originally included suspension of the Lanterman Act, elimination of respite and IHSS programs, program caps and waiting lists, etc.
* Reversed himself on suspension of the Lanterman Act and proposed cuts to regional center services, including respite on December 16 - though it was unclear what else was included.
* Invoked on December 17 special power, granted to a governor in the 2003-04 budget, to make $150 million worth of cuts to state departments and agencies that don't require changes in law or approval by the Legislature, in order to pay funding to counties that was lost when the vehicle license fee increase was rescinded on November 17 (the day Goernor Schwarzengger assumed office). With the exception of $850,000 in "caseload savings" in the Department of Rehabiliation, none of the other $150 million in cuts made on 12/17 had an immediate or direct impact to people with disabilities.  These cuts are separate and different from the reductions the Governor proposed on November 25.
* The Governor is scheduled to give his first "State of the State" address to a joint session of the Legislature on January 6, Tuesday at 5:00 PM in the Assembly Chambers in the State Capitol.  His address - his first to the Legislature since becoming Governor, is expected to unveil some key parts of his proposed budget for 2004-05 and hints on how he intends to bridge a remaining budget shortfall of possibly over $14 billion.
* The Department of Finance and other departments continue work pulling together a proposed budget for 2004-2005 (the budget year that begins July 1, 2004) which the Governor must submit to the Legislature on or before January 10.

TESTIMONY OF PEOPLE WITH DEVELOPMENTAL & OTHER DISABILITIES
AND OTHER ADVOCATES ON IHSS-RESIDUAL PROGRAM DEC 10
This is an actual public testimony of the December 10th Senate Budget Subcommittee #3 hearing, that I transcribed verbatium.  The comments below are only those that referenced the IHSS residual program.  Other comments on other critical issues - including Medi-Cal rate reductions, caseload caps and waiting lists on services and the Lanterman Act suspension will be reported separately.  In some cases it was not possible to transcribe the person's name (sometimes a person didn't give their name).  In some cases it is possible that the wrong spelling of a person's name or a wrong name (that sounds similar) was given.  Please excuse those errors.  Most - but not all comments are included (due to space limitations):

Lisa, woman (mother of daughter with disabilities) - "My daughter is 19 years old. All of you may have probably experienced what it is like to have a young child with infant feedings. My 19 year old child is still eating like an infant, talking like an infant and is unable to care for herself.  I am still potty training her. I still feed her. I still bath her.  I still care for her.  I am a college graduate. I cannot find any In-Home Supportive Services worker to care for her because she is so severely disabled...For me respite means, one night's sleep. That's what it means  I would also like to point out, that if I lose my respite [voice breaking, near tears] then my daughter will go to a state hospital [voice breaking] and it will cost this state $200,000 a year. Right now, because she is home with me, it's $14,000 a year. And I am asking you [the Governor]  to look to the future - look at how many increased cases there are of autism, and how many people are going to be dumping their children and adults at the state's doorsteps. This is not a fiscally sound solution."

Jo Cunnighman (mother of little boy, Sam with disabilities Lake County) [holding Sam in her lap] "Believe me I would not have driven down - it took three hours and it rained part of the way.  Sam has to be hand fed -all his meals. Meals take anywhere from one to three hours - he chokes. I have tried to get specialists to see Sam and over and over I am told:  'you're rates are tied to the Medi-Cal rates' - our private insurance rates are tied to the Medi-Cal rates'. And so, they don't want to see a child, especially a child with a lot of needs, especially a child with developmental disabilities who doctors say 'well you know, your child can't talk" so its hard to communicate and hard to figure out what is going on. Lowering the [Medi-Cal] rates will devastate families. I cannot spend anymore time on the phone then I am doing now trying to get people to see him. As for the other cuts - there is hardly anything on the list that is not going to devastate our family. Like Lisa [parent who spoke earlier]  I am a college graduate. I had a good job in marketing [voice breaking with emotion]  but because there are so few services in Lake County, I had to quit my job so I could do the physical therpay, the occupational therapy, the speech therapy, the feeding, and the behavioral therapies. I trained myself to do all that.  That is how my day goes [voice with emotion]. So please - he is not waste, he is not fraud - he's Sam."

Joan Lee (Gray Panthers, Congress of California Seniors and Older Womens League): "The Governor's proposed cuts are totally unrealistic. We cannot afford them in Medi-Cal programs nor the companion cap on enrollment, with its ultimate result of impossible waiting lists. It flies in the face of reality. We can only consider the millions needing services now. But what about that huge boom of seniors and aging disabled persons that are coming along behind them...As a member of the Olmstead Task Force and advisory body...I would remind you that the Supreme Court has determined that a state's budgetary woes cannot be used as an excuse to not implement the Olmstead Plan. So we must not make untimely cuts, unwise decisions and unthinkable caps or we would be in serious conflict with our federal government."

Jackie McGrath - "500,000 Californians who live with Alzheimer's, about 20% of these folks are dependent on Medi-Cal for their healthcare.  Try as people do to prepare for retirement and their ongoing health needs, it is rare that people are prepared to deal with chronic disease that can last 10, 15 or 20 years. So the likliehood that a lot of people with Alzheimer's spending down and requring Medi-Cal to meet their medical services is pretty high...We are opposed to the IHSS residual [program]  elimination...I would suggest we should be celebrating the caseload increase in this program. It reprsents that people are moving and takinag advantage of community based functions and moving us into the direction that we need to be going with Olmstead [Decision] and secondly, taking advantage of more cost effective services."

Joe Murphy (AARP) - "...AARP is strongly opposed to Medi-Cal cuts, particularly in the area of provider rates, which have been clearly pointed, that will reduce availabilty of physicans across the board. And also the other provisions in here, home health services, IHSS services. All of these things combined are taking away
access to medical services from needy persons. The bottom line of this entire thing - the result, is that you [the Governor] are going accelarate people's trips to institutionalized care or alternatively, in serious cases, into a funeral home."

Bill Diaz (Mendocino County) - I am a disabled person...I am a In-Home Support [Services] consumer. I need round the clock supervison, as well as medical supervision. If you cut In-Home Supportive care, I won't be able to get that..."

Karen Duncanwood, parent (Whittier) - "My mother had polio. She recovered.  When she aged - she got post polio syndrome and Alzheimer's. She used Medi-Cal and IHSS to save the State of California $400,000 by not going into a nursing home...My son Ryan Duncanwood [shows picture], he graduated from high school, he has gone to a couple of community colleges and adult school.  He is a public speaker on his communications device. I haven't found him yet because he flew up on a different plane, but I hope he will testify to you  today.  He has had 24 paid speaking engagements, training teachers, administrators, speech therapists all over the state and otehr states.  If you slash IHSS this year and amputate it next year, which the projections promise to do, he will be in an institution for the rest of his life at the age of 28. I have three disabilities and can't lift him anymore. The myth that parents can do it all, is a myth. I have already contributed $300,000 to his services. And I get to retire if I make it, on $300 a month."

Ryan Duncanwood (young man with disabilities - son of Karen) - "We need our civil rights. We won't go down without a fight!"

Robin Grafam, parent (Vallejo) -  [shows picture of daughter Zoe]  "Zoe is a 6 year old quadrapalegic, suffering from muscular dystrophy and she is terminally ill...Zoe could benefit from the EPSDT program if we could find a nurse.  Currently she has 40 hours available to her for in-home nursing. I am unable to access that system because there is a crisis and a shortage of nursing. So I am Zoe's only care provider. I am that single woman that the other lady was talking about.  And I am her IHSS provider. If the rules are changed where I can no longer be her provider, where will she go? Right now, that is what we are relying on to keep her at home."

Single mom (no name or location given) - "I am sole caregiver of a 29 year old young man with developmental disabilities and a head injury.  Frankly, I am appalled over the Governor's proposal to suspend the Lanterman Act, and to discard services such as respite, camp and IHSS.  If successful, this proposal will decimate the lives of people with developmental disabilities and their care givers. Not only will my son experience regression of functioning, lack of access to the community, and protective supervison, but I will not be able to work my job as a professional in the high tech industry and earn a basic living for the two of us if he does not receive the services he needs. I cannot afford to pay for those services myself.  This important and longstanding civil rights legislation is essential to the growth, protection and independence of people with developmental disabilities.  Services provided under the Lanterman Act as well as IHSS, have enabled my own son James to remain outside of an institution and to be successful within ourcommunity - where he should be.  If this Act is suspended and supporting services are taken away, the result will be the return of institutionalization. Caregivers, many of whom are single parents such as myself, will not be able to cope on their own..."

Peter Mendez (State Council of Developmental Disabilities) - "...It is very important that we maintain In-Home Supportive Services. The IHSS residual program isn't just a minor program. People who are on advanced pay  [a part of the residual program] and use In-Home Support Services, the advanced pay program allows people with disabilities to be able to hire an attendant in an emergency or call for a backup person if their regular attendant doesn't show up, which does happen.  We, in the community of people with developmental disabilities and people with disabilities as a whole, want to be at the table with you and the Administration to discuss alternatives. But these catergorical cuts - though I am sympathetic to the problem the state is in - we need to work together....people have to have the right to self determination. Families have to be given choices, Consumers have to be given choices...."

Catherine Ellis (parent and Area 10 Board Member): "...I'm urging the Legislature to be the real action heroes. Let's not succumb to the quick fixes that seem to provide a short term solution to the bottom line but doing estimatable harm to these vulnerable citizens. The net result is not ultimately to provide long term well thought out solutions to problems that are not only not going to go away, but will certainly get worse with postponement. There's a valuable legacy to be left here. Let it be a re-affirmation of the values expressed anbd carried out over the last 26 years. Let it be not forcing families to make agonizing choices about staying together..."
Sen. Chesbro - "I understood you to raise the question of the definition of an action hero there." [laughter]

Rocky B. (Marin Independent Living) - "Basically we see cost shifting...to emergency rooms, to local cities and counties for services where the money is not available already...we will see an era of institutionalization...the proposals don't make any sense.  42% of the mid-year cuts are in health and human services - next year 76% [if mid-year cuts are made]. These proposals are out of line of the Governor's campaign promises not to balance the budget on the backs on the poor and disabled. [I want to] leave a question to the Administration - the Governor ran on a platform to cut waste, fraud and abuse out of the budget...Is it the Governor's message to the people of California, that it is waste, fraud or abuse of taxpayer's dollars to fund programs which protect the civil rights of seniors and people with disabilities to life, liberty and their independence?"

Father (parent 26 year old son & teacher in special ed) - "...Looking at these proposals that the Governor has in mind - it seems so appalling. Particularly for my son, he is non-verbal and he is severely disabled. The IHSS that we receive, obviously I have to work. There is my wife and others helping her...I mean, some of you who never had the opportunity to live with a disabled child. You heard testimony here. My god, [voice breakingwith emotion]  it..it..it makes you a better person - but it is so difficult at times. Issac - is my son's name - at times he doesn't sleep at night, but dad has to get up the next day to the university and teach - and I stay awake all night.  There are some things a lot of us take for granted.  Issac is 26 and still cannot clean himself after the bathroom.  I must have bought at least million wipes over the past 25 years. These are things a lot of us take for granted.  But this is the real life that we parents with disabled kids deal with...from a parent and a educator, please [to the Governor] think twice before deciding on this issue."

Woman (member of Area 5 Board and person with disabilities ) - "I would like to speak on a more personal level.  Just to give you an idea of what my life is about - I go to UC Berkeley. I do disability awareness...I work with disabled students...I work with people with AIDS...I have a full family life....I have many friends...I've done many interesting things in my life. This would not be possible under the Governor's proposal. And my greatest worry is that the Governor's proposal  - when I have lived the opportunities - other people with disabilities wouldn't have the opportunities in their life to live in their communities."

Cindy Venuto (parent of daughter - Big Bear) - [held up picture].  "...She [my daughter] is 18 years old in February. She requires that I brush her hair, her teeth, wash her face after eating, change her diapers several times a day, bath her in a special way because she has temperature control problems,  blow dry her hair. She has muscle spasms and seizures.  I could go on and on.  Basically that gives you a good idea that she needs full time care. And giving us respite [services] to take care of our children or young adults a few times a month..I need that break to continue to care for her because it is stressful at times. We also get In-Home Supportive Services [residual program] and that has allowed me to work at home so that I can care for her. A lot of times she doesn't go to school for a week at a time, because she is sick. Or sometimes I need to go get her from school because she is having seizures and can't stop or bloody noses or the variety of things that happens to her during the day at school.  And I need to often go get her.  I found that  I could work full-time and do that - I would lose my job.  So what I decided to do was start working at home, and that way I could care for her at home and work part-time still. With the amount of services we get, it helps me to be able to do that.  I would really like [the Governor]  to look at the costs that it would take for parents who do choose to have their young adults or children at home with them compared to the costs that it would take to put them even in a six-bed [state licensed community care group] home...for the amount of care my daughter needs, it would costs $5,000 to 6,000 per month to care for her in a group home - and it costs a third of that for me to take care of her in our home and....[voice breaking, sobbing]...and I get to say her prayers and tell her goodnight...[weeping] please take the time to understand what families and people with disabilities need. And ask questions - get to know us. Spend time with us. Because you will see that these cuts that Governror Schwarzenegger is proposing are just a drop in the bucket to the budget - they are life changing to families."

Johnny A (PARCA - San Mateo County) - "..Hard choices include keeping promises..."

Cindy Weemis (parent of Nicole - 17 years old) -  "It takes 24 hour care, seven days a week For ten years I was forced out of the work force because no one was able and available to take care of my daughter and help me while I was a single parent...In order to do that, I need nursing, respite, I need regular respite, and I need In-Home Supportive Services.  And most of all, I need the Lanterman Act to stay in place. My daughter has a right to be here. She has a right to live a life. She will almost be 18 in a year.  And we have planned since she was 13 years old for her to be outside of my home, and put services in place - have a house in my backyard - just for her, with In-Home Supportive Services and everything in place, and now I am a year away, so that I can acutally have my life back and be a full tax paying citizen, to be taken away. No! And the fair hearing process [proposal to eliminate fair hearing]...no right to fight?  I am here right now - and also for Lotte Moise, from Fort Bragg, who is one of the co-founders and writers of the Lanterman Act, who could not be here today. She is my mentor and says 'hello Mr. Chesbro - do your job' and she knows she can count on you."

David Williams (person with disabilities) - "I am here about personal choice. Home care [In-Home Supportive Services] is about personal choice. As a taxpayer, I should be the one to decide - not a politician.  Home care is about freedom and about independence. Home care is about judging people as individuals. Home care is about self respect and dignity.  We have a governor that in the movies he portrays the 'good guy' - he fights the good fight. He always wins, he does things that are right. But he is a real governor now.  And these are real people he is dealing with. I need him to help the home care [IHSS] workers so they can help people like myself. I lost the fight against diabetes - but this is one fight for the home care workers and myself that I refuse to lose. I have a letter here that I want to submit to the Governor that contains words that says to him: 'spend a day in my shoes - spend a day in my provider's [IHSS worker] shoes and see the struggles that I go through and he goes through to provide for me.  Not only for me but for people who provide for their family members. In his [the Governor] own words, if he doesn't recognize and realize and analyze the fact that this is real - like he has said so many times - we will be back!"

Crystal Duarte (daughter of father with disabilities) - "My mother is Anna Duarte. And she is a home care worker [In-Home Supportive Service residual program].. My father is one of two customers that she cares for. Sixteen years ago my father had a car accident that left him paralyzed and speechless.  I have never had a conversation with my dad because of his disability. My mother not only helps him live with dignity, but she is the one that supports our family.  The Governor doesn't want to pay providers who care for their spouses - and this is wrong. My family will be further disabled if these cuts are made and my mother loses her job. We cannot afford the loss of income.  We are five in my family. And my father cannot afford the loss of his care.  This is our reality. So on behalf of children of both providers and consumers, I am here to tell the Governor -  we strongly oppose this. Please Governor - help us to protect home care."

Evelyn Hawks (mother of daughter with disabilities) - "I am a home care provider [In-Home Supportive Services residual program] and I also take care for my daughter Hester. I've been a single parent raising my daughter, caring for her, for the last 47 years. I wash, cook and clean. I take her everywhere that she goes..Hester has no one but me to take care of her. Without me she would be placed in an institution. To cut the IHSS residual program is to deny thousands of consumers like Hester quality care. We traveled 6 hours on a bus to tell the governor that in-home care is a vital service. It allows consumers to live with dignity and respect. It allows providers [parents or spouses] continue to give care to our love ones. Governor, Hester and I oppose your budget cuts. Please reconsider."

Hester Brown (person with disabilities) - "My mother [Eveyln Hawks] has to prepare my food for me, drive me to the doctor, she has to help me with my bath, put out my clothes. I love my mom and I need her to care for me."

Mary Juliette Lona (IHSS worker) - "This is reality...I am here to speak on behalf of my co-workers and consumers. I am here to speak not only for the preservation of our jobs but for the presevation  of services to some of the most helpless and needy in our society...to eliminate home care services would only hurt those who are most helpless. I would be dishonest to say that we are not worried about our jobs. I would like to ask the Govenor - are you willing to help your fellow man? Would you be willing to clean and care for one who is not able to care for themselves?...I strongly urge the Governor to reconsider....Human misery has a face, please remember this when you look into the mirror."

Helen H (81 year old woman) - "I have diabetes and endema in my legs. I cannot raise my feet over 3 inches off the ground My granddaughter is my provider. She has to help me in and out of bed.  She has to help me get dressed. I can't get my legs into the bath tub - she has to lift them over and she gives me a bath three times a week...she has to bandage my [legs] six or seven times a day.  She is on 24 hour call seven days a week and gets paid for 5 hours of work a day. I strongly resent him [the Governor] taking our [IHSS] providers away from us.  I have my own home. I was researching nursing homes in case I lost my [IHSS] provider. It would cost me $4,050 a month plus my medication and it would be two people in a bedroom.  Whereas it's $1,000 a month and they [the State] pay her [grandaughter] to take care of me, [voice breaking with emotion] and I'm home. I wouldn't live three months if I had to go into a nursing home [crying]. My mother willed herself to die there - and I would will myself to die to [if put into a nursing home]."

Nicolas Sullivan (person with disabilities and workers at Center for  Independent Living Center/Berkeley) - "I am living proof that In-Home Supportive Services as well as the Lanterman Act should not be stopped. Before I was able to get regional center services....I was in my bed, at home, without a care provider...I now have a health care degree from the University of California at Berkeley..I would like to appeal to the Governor to please resincd, this horrible, devastating cuts [voice heavy with emotion]. Care providers, people with disabilities and myself  have dedicated their lives to moving forward. This would take us into the dark ages. We will not go down without a fight."

Deborah Dahl (parent with child with disabilities, Placer SELPA Advisory Committee & IHSS worker) - "I am preaching to the choir and I know it - these recommendations[by the Governor] are a travesty."
Sen. Chesbro - "I think you heard me earlier say that are many people watching this on television [Governor's office], so don't assume I am the only one listening. This will make an impact."
Deborah Dahl - "Thank you.  I'd like to remind [the Governor] that on March 20, 2002, the Assembly Budget Subcommittee [Health and Human Services] heard testimony and was told by the Department of Finance - that the two departments [Dept of Social Services] had the capacity to capture federal revenue and they assured the committee that this was possible to get those waivers.  Here we are a year later, and we still have no waivers [for the IHSS residual program].  If I didn't do my job for a year, somebody would be knocking at my door.  These proposals are going to come...if they are put into effect, put me in the position of not having a home. Put me in the position of not being able to feed my family, and put me in the position of losing my children - both of them, because I will have no means to care for them...It brings me to the point -  that family members have to beg, have to borrow, and have to demean themselves to make sure that they can provide for their families. These Medi-Cal cards that I have [shows her Medi-Cal cards] are worth nothing because there will be no physician providers to take care of my family. Please sir, I beg of you, as you have always done in the past. Protect our families, protect our rights..."
Sen. Chesbro - "Thank you for your testimony. I want to repeat something earlier about federal funding. I challenge the [Schwarzenegger] Administration to follow through on the Governor's statements about his capabilities of attracting additional federal funds from Washington. In addition to that, I have met with Administration representatives already on the [Medicaid] Home and Community Based Waiver trying to make sure that the new incoming Administration is fully aware of the critical need to expand the available federal funds - as a more appropriate response to these challenges then these kinds of cuts."

Mother (from Rocklin of two young children with disabilities in wheelchairs) - "I am here on behalf of Eddie and Matthew Forbes, who were premies. The IHSS [residual program] is instrumental in using an extreme amount of ingenuity to go around insurance billing and make decisions that would help them now - and not waiting for months for insurance. I am able to stay home and do everything that they need when it comes to advocating, to being their coach, being their taxi cab driver - everything. The IHSS is strictly for them that I use to get them out of these wheelchairs.  If I don't do it - there will be nobody else that will. They will be destined for these wheelchairs..."

Advocate (CA Association of Counties/Public Authorities & CA Welfare Directors Association)  - "...We collectively ask that you debate this issue and take a hard look and perhaps more importantly to address the Administration at aggressively seeking either federal waivers or some kind of federal statutory changes to provide funding in this area [IHSS residual program].  We think there is opportunity. Particularly given apparent opportunities that this new Administration brings in its relationship in Washington..."
Sen Chesbro - "That too is part of the challenge I laid down in my opening comments to the Administration/. This is absolutely essential to fully exercise the influence that he [the Governor] may have in Washington to bring these funds to California."

Man (person with disabilities in wheelchair) - "If you [the Governor] want to save money for the budget, then you are not doing it. If you want to save money, don't put us in nursing homes or institutions. That would cost more money. You tried to balance the budget without balancing it.  You are creating more problems."

CONTRIBUTIONS/DONATIONS NEEDED TO CONTINUE ADVOCACY EFFORT
Until grant funding is finalized, contributions from people and organizations is urgently needed to help keep the advocacy efforts going for the next one to two months. Please make check or money order  to:  California Disability Community Action Network/Marty Omoto (or abbreviate CDCAN/Marty Omoto). CDCAN is not yet a non-profit organization, but will be in the coming month or so.
Send contributions to: California Disability Community Action Network,  1225 8th Street Suite #480, Sacramento, CA 95814. Thanks - and we will get through this!