CA DISABILITY COMMUNITY ACTION NETWORK
CAPITOL NEWS REPORT - ISSUE #154-2004
SEPTEMBER 7, 2004 - TUESDAY
Linking people to disability rights and unified action
Website IS BACK UP! New location:  www.cdcan.us     Toll-free info Lines Up
Note: Virus Alert - Beware of Attachments! There is NEVER any attachment to CDCAN Reports.

NEXT DISABILITY RIGHTS TOWNHALL TELEMEETING RESCHEDULED FOR 10/07 - WILL FOCUS ON GOVERNOR'S FINAL ACTIONS ON ALL BILLS IMPACTING PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

SACRAMENTO  -  The next Disability Rights and Issues Townhall Telemeeting set for September 9, has been rescheduled and will be combined with the October 7 telemeeting in order to provide more complete and final information and updates.
The October Townhall Telemeeting will focus on Governor Schwarzenegger's final actions on all bills impacting people with disabilities and seniors; and also updates on any proposed regulations and a preview of where the Administration may go regarding major changes to Medi-Cal and other critical state services.  An update on implementation of regulations impacting family share of cost for certain families who receive regional center services, and also regulations impacting In-home Supportive Services, will also be reorted.

The Governor's period to consider approval or vetoes of bills passed in the final days of the 2004 legislative session, ends on September 30.  A full report on the status of bills he has considered already - and those bills pending, will be issued in the next CDCAN Capitol News Report later today.

10/07 - Thu 1:00 PM
11/04 - Thu 1:00 PM
12/02 - Thu 1:00 PM

WHAT IS A TOWNHALL "TELEMEETING"?
* The California Disability Community Action Network's (CDCAN)' Disability Rights Townhall Telemeetings is a non-partisan  effort, started last December, t to reach out to communities who are doing tremendous things for people with disabilities - and to connect each of them via a  conference call line.
* Travel costs and time make it difficult make it difficult for people with disabilities,  families, community organization, direct care and other workers to attend meetings in any one location in the   state.  The first townhall telemeeting was held December 12, 2003 - and have been held every couple weeks since then.  Since then upwards of over 40
locations and over 300 persons participate in each of the townhall telemeetings - with numbers expanding each month.
* The telemeetings are a simple and cost effective way  to link diverse communities   together on the issue of disability rights and to take the next steps toward organizing for change - and helping people with developmental and other disabilities, people with traumatic brain injuries and others, families,  community organizations to learn more about policy making in Sacramento and in their own communities and to participate effectively in that process.
*  Instead of individuals calling in on individual lines, people must go to a specific location (such as a meeting room, conference room or even a large living room in someone's home) to join at least 6 other people interested in these issues. The interaction locally is as important as interaction across the state.  A list of organizations or individuals "hosting" a townhall telemeeting site are listed on the CDCAN website at www.cdcan.us under "Locations".
* The townhall telemeeting concept also increases the efforts to connect with more diverse communities across the state who are involved in these same issues, helping to promote inclusion of communities across the state.  It is also meant to continue the efforts to mobilize and help empower more and more people in communities across the state with information, to discuss and agree on  strategy and next steps to take action to promote and defend the rights of people with disabilities - and to take constructive positive steps toward real reforms and changes.
* The Disability Rights and Issues Townhall telemeetings are also meant to be another tool to help build a permanent statewide community-based advocacy force - linking people with developmental and other disabilities, traumatic brain injuries, the blind, the deaf and others, families, community organizations, advocates, direct care (including In-Home Supportive Services ) and other workers, regional centers, unions, independent living centers, family resource centers, area boards and other groups.

HOW CAN PERSONS OR ORGANIZATIONS PARTICIPATE IN OCTOBER?
* STEP 1: There are TWO ways to participate.  A person can go to a location that is "hosting a site" and nothing else is required - simply check the CDCAN website (www.cdcan.us or check the the CDCAN Capitol News Report) for a location nearest you.  You are advised to always call the location to make sure they are still hosting a telemeeting.  The second way a person (or organization) can participate is by "hosting" a site for the telemeeting.  There are no special requirements for hosting a site, except the following steps below.
* STEP 2: In order to HOST , a person (or organization) must get a room (meeting room, conference room, or  even a large living room in a person's own home) that also can connect to either a good speaker phone OR a conference phone (like those made by Polycom).  Either of these two phones are a requirement in order to allow other people at your location to hear and speak on the townhall telemeeting. We also now have the townhall telemeetings available via webcast.
* STEP 3 : In order to participate a person or organization must have at least 6 other persons (or at least make the effort to get that many) who will join you on the call from your location, which must be accessible for people with disabilities and seniors.  Ideally, the number would be around 20 people. Due to costs - and also because this is also an effort to help build community organizing, NO individuals can participate unless they are part of a site (people can become a site if they can get the required minimum number of people who are interested)
* STEP 4: A proposed host location/site needs to send an  email listing their exact street  location, address, the phone  number to reach you, your email address and the approximate number of people you expect. EVEN if a location has participated before, that location is asked to RSVP again.  Also indicate if anyone at your location could use the services of Speech To Speech (we will make arrangements).  Email with subject line "TOWNHALL TELEMEETING" to  Sheri Van Wert at   ttsr_receptionist@yahoo.com with a "cc" to Marty Omoto at martyomoto@rcip.com.  You can also call Sheri Van Wert at Training Toward Self Reliance (TTSR) at 916/442-8877, extension 100 or "0".  You will receive more information and details after that.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT CA DISABILITY COMMUNITY ACTION NETWORK
URGENT - CONTRIBUTIONS NEEDED TO CONTINUE EFFORT
Please help continue the effort! Many many, thanks again,  to the friends, people with disabilities and their families, community organizations and others who have sent in generous and needed contributions and donations.  Contributions from people and organizations is  very urgently needed to keep the advocacy efforts going for the next several months, as we work to establish non-profit status, which we can focus after the budget is signed.  Apologies to anyone who have not yet received a thank you - email, letters, calls have been overwhelming!
Please make check or money order  to:  California Disability Community Action Network  (or abbreviate CDCAN).  A method to contribute by credit card (through Paypal) is NOW set up on our website, at www.cdcan.org.   CDCAN is not yet a non-profit organization but will be soon.  Send contributions to: California Disability Community Action Network,  1225 8th Street Suite #480, Sacramento, CA  95814.  A method to contribute by credit card (through Paypal) is NOW set up on our website, at www.cdcan.us   [NOTE the NEW website address!)
* Who Is CDCAN?
The California Disability Community Action Network is a non-partisan link to thousands of Californians with developmental and other disabilities, their families, community organizations and providers, direct care and other workers, and other advocates. These action alerts and news reports is for all of them. In addition it also goes to news organizations, state and local government officials and staff.
* How To Receive CDCAN Capitol News Reports and Alerts
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  OR sign up via the NEW CDCAN website at www.cdcan.us  - the site at the NEW location is UP! 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!
* How To Contact CDCAN
Marty Omoto, director/organizer  -  California Disability Community Action Network   WEBSITE:  www.cdcan.us  [new address]
1225 8th Street Suite 480 Sacramento, CA 95814   VOICE PHONE: 916/446-0013
FAX number: 916/446-0026        email: martyomoto@rcip.com 
INFO HOTLINE TOLL FREE NUMBER: 1-877-260-0267 (cannot leave messages) SAME INFO HOTLINE FOR SACRAMENTO AREA:  486-4652