No To Medi-Cal and IHSS Cuts! March On State Capitol Jan. 6

No To Medi-Cal and IHSS Cuts! March On State Capitol Jan. 6
CA DISABILITY COMMUNITY ACTION NETWORK

December 21, 2003 - Sunday evening "We are here, we are united, and we are not going away!"
- late Justin Dart, Disability Rights Advocate ACTION ALERT #20:

* 3RD STATEWIDE TOWNHALL TELEMEETING ON DISABILITY RIGHTS, ISSUES AND STRATEGY TO CONTINUE ORGANIZING EFFORTS

* MARCH & RALLY TO THE CAPITOL TO REMIND CALIFORNIA OF THE RIGHTS OF CHILDREN & ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES & SENIORS (INCLUDING FIGHTING FOR IHSS & MEDI-CAL)

1. WHEN:
* 3RD STATEWIDE TOWNHALL TELEMEETING ON DISABILITY RIGHTS/ISSUES
JAN 5, 2004 - MON 10:00 AM to 11:45 AM

* MARCH AND RALLY AT THE STATE CAPITOL JAN 6, 2004 - TUE 3:30 PM to 6:00 PM

2. WHERE:

* 3RD STATEWIDE TOWNHALL TELEMEETING JAN 5
(see below how to participate - sites are located throughout the state)

* MARCH AND RALLY AT THE STATE CAPITOL JAN 6
March begins on the sidewalk area in front of the Sacramento Convention Center (near K Street Mall, facing 13th Street). We will march from the convention center down K Street Mall, making left on 11th Street to the sidewalk in front of the North Lawn of the State Capitol (facing L Street). Note: there will be, for those interested, a unified action strategy planning meeting held immediately after the rally, location to be announced.

3. WHAT:

3RD STATEWIDE TOWNHALL TELEMEETING JAN 5

* This is a new effort 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. Note: call will include improve facilitation to make sure all sites comment.

* It is simple and cost effective way to link our communities together and to take the next steps toward organizing for change - and fighting back effectively.

* Instead of individuals calling in on individual lines, we are requiring that individuals must go to a specific location (like 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.

* To mobilize more and more people in communities across the state. We will never be able to successfully fight further cuts to our system and rights unless our communities become an organized advocacy force, to hold policy makers and the Governor accountable at election time.

* This approach also allows us to increase efforts to connect with more diverse communities across the state who are involved in these same issues.

* This approach also promotes the organizing efforts in building community teams while also recognizing the limitations in time and resources for people to travel to central meeting locations.

* The site must have access to and actually have available a conference phone or a good speaker telephone.

* A speech to speech person - to assist people with speech difficulties, will be scheduled on the call too.

MARCH AND RALLY AT THE STATE CAPITOL JAN 6
* Governor Schwarzenegger is scheduled to deliver his first "State of the State" message in person, to a special joint session of the state legislature, January 6 at 5 PM drawing huge media attention.

* While appreciating the Governor's action to rescind proposed suspension of the Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services Act, caseload caps and waiting lists for regional center services and elimination of respite and other regional center services, this march and rally will be a strong counterpoint and reminder that the rights and needs of children and adults with disabilities, their families and others will need to remembered.

* The march and rally will include continued opposition to the proposed elimination of the In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) residual program; caseload caps and waiting lists for critically needed health services, including California Children's Services, and the additional 10% rate reduction to Medi-Cal providers that will severely impact access to health services, and in support of a constitutional initiative to protect the rights of children and adults with disabilities.

* For those who cannot come, a statewide phone call and (faxed) letter campaign to the Governor's offices will be held on the same day and time.

4. WHO SHOULD PARTICIPATE 3RD STATEWIDE TOWNHALL TELEMEETING JAN 5
Everyone across the state - people with developmental disabilities (including children with autism) people with disabilities, people with traumatic brain injuries, the Deaf, the Blind, seniors, people with mental health needs, their families, community organizations, direct care (including In-Home Supportive Services) and other workers, and other advocates - all who will be tremendously impacted by Governor Schwarzenegger's proposed massive cuts to the current budget that the state is operating under and also interested in protecting rights of people with disabilities; getting latest updates on issues and helping to develop strategy and next steps.

MARCH AND RALLY AT THE STATE CAPITOL JAN 6
Persons primarily from a 100 or so mile radius of Sacramento - people with developmental disabilities (including children with autism) people with disabilities, people with traumatic brain injuries, the Deaf, the Blind, seniors, people with mental health needs, their families, community organizations, direct care (including In-Home Supportive Services) and other workers, and other advocates - all who will be tremendously impacted by Governor Schwarzenegger's proposed massive cuts to the current budget that the state is operating under.

5. HOW TO PARTICIPATE 3RD STATEWIDE TOWNHALL TELEMEETING JAN 5

STEP 1: In order to participate, you must get a room (meeting room, conference room, or even a large living room in your 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.

STEP 2: In order to participate you must have at least 6 other persons who will join you on the call from your location. 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 3: Among the 6 people, choose a person who will act as the "lead" for your site. The "lead" will be the person who will introduce people from their location, and help make sure that people at that site are participating using the guidelines.

STEP 4: Once you have a location and 6 or more people, send via email (or call in) your location, address, the phone number to reach you, your email address and the approximate number of people you expect. Also indicate if anyone at your location could use the services of Speech To Speech (we will make arrangements). Email to: martyomoto (at) rcip.com or call: (916) 446-0013. This will strictly enforced.

STEP 5: You will receive via email (or if you prefer, by phone) the conference call phone number, the passcode, townhall telemeeting guidelines, and tentative agenda (items can be added on during the telemeeting) by Monday, December 29, 2003. If you have not received this by 12/29 Monday contact (916) 446-0013 or send email to martyomoto@rcip or contact Nancy Chance at Training Toward Self Reliance (TTSR) at (916) 920-8877, extension 102.

STEP 6: When your group comes to the meeting site, briefly discuss any additional agenda or discussion items. Test out your equipment if necessary.

STEP 7: At the appropriate time on 1/5 at 10 AM, dial the conference call phone number. Follow the instructions and type in the passcode. You and your site should be placed directly into the call - though you will hear good quality elevator music until the conference call moderator checks in. Please introduce yourself (your name and the location site). We will be checking off which sites are coming onto the call.

STEP 8: Participate in the call (everyone at your site can participate, make comments, etc providing that everyone follows the guidelines).

STEP 9: Following end of call, hang up.
MARCH AND RALLY AT THE STATE CAPITOL JAN 6
STEP 1: Save the date and time - it is important that groups arrive close to the starting time.

STEP 2: Groups should bring photos of loved ones with disabilities, or posters urging that the Governor rescind proposals to cut IHSS residual program, caseload caps on health services including California Childrens Services, and the 10% additional Medi-Cal rate cut - and also posters that thank the Governor for reversing himself on suspension of Lanterman and other cuts to regional center services (including respite) but also state reminder of the promise that California must keep to children and adults with disabilities - including those with traumatic brain injuries, the blind, the deaf and seniors.

STEP 3: On or before December 30 there will be final details and information, with final march route. If you have not received this information, please contact martyomoto (at) rcip.com or call (916) 446-0013. A toll-free phone number is being set up to give up to the minute information on issues - and events, like the rally.

STEP 4: Groups should arrive in front of the Sacramento Convention Center (facing 13th Street at K Street Mall) at 3:30 PM. More details on 12/30.

6. OTHER ACTIONS PLANNED

Besides the protests and march on the Capitol planned for January 6 Tuesday after 4 PM at the State Capitol and the third Statewide Townhall Telemeetings, statewide letter/phone campaigns, the California Disability Community Action Network is also planning the following:

* Video Conferences
In addition, a series of video conferences are also being planned to take the mobilization effort to the next step. Key legislators and other officials will be invited to speak briefly on the townhall telemeetings and also the video conferences being planned.

* Voter Registration/Campaign to place Lanterman Act & Disability Rights In Constitutional Initiative
This effort will be fully announced with more details at the January 5 statewide townhall telemeeting and press statement on January 6. Announced briefly two weeks ago, this effort is meant to be a vehicle to further organizing efforts in communities with people with disabilities, families, workers, and others with an effort to put major critical elements of the Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services Act and also other disability rights (elements of the Olmstead State Plan for instance) in a constitutional initiative. Coinciding with that effort is a coordinated voter registration campaign in every community.

* Letter/Phone Call Campaign to Governor and Target Legislators
This effort, begun on November 25, is being revised with different legislators - but with the Governor the focus. See California Disability Community Action Network Alert #21 Monday 12/22 for details, letter sample and addresses and fax numbers. Note: for those who cannot make the January 6th march and rally in Sacramento, a statewide phone call and faxed letter campaign to the Governor's offices will be held on the same date and time, to support the marchers in Sacramento.

* Weekly Lobby Days at the Capitol and District Offices
We are organizing beginning in mid-January, teams of people with disabilities, families, community organizations, direct care workers and others to join together in teams to lobby legislators and the Governor at the State Capitol, at the Governor's field offices, and at legislator's district offices. If interested, please join the January 5th townhall telemeeting or send email to martyomoto (at) rcip.com.

* Mobilizing People to Attend and Testify At Budget Hearings At the State Capitol in Mid-January
More hearings by both the Senate - and the Assembly, on the Governor's mid-year budget reduction proposals (these are cuts to the CURRENT budget now in operation) will likely be held in mid-January. At this point, nothing is scheduled yet - but an alert will be sent out as soon as hearings are scheduled on issues impacting children and adults with disabilities. Hearings on the Governor's budget proposal for 2004-2005 are more likely to be held later - probably in March and April.

* March and Rally at the State Capitol To Coincide with Governor's State of State Address Scheduled for January 6, Tuesday at 3:30 PM (tentative time), marching from the Sacramento Convention
Center to the sidewalk area in front of the North lawn of the State Capitol (grounds closed to public events due to the State of the State Address). People will march back and forth in front of the Capitol to thank him for reversing his proposed suspension of the Lanterman Act and cuts and elimination of many regional center services but to also urge the Governor to remember the promise the state made to people with disabilities; to strongly state our opposition to the Governor's proposed cuts to services and rights to people with disabilities and seniors including 10% rate reduction for Medi-Cal providers. Another march and rally is tentatively planned at the State Capitol for April 12-14.

* 1-800 Phone Updates To Be Set Up In Next Few Days
In order to broaden the effort of informing people with up to the minute reports, alerts and other information, a 1-800 number is being set up in the next few days for people with disabilities, families, community organizations and providers, direct care and other workers and advocates on the status of the Governor's budget reductions; alerts; next steps and what people can do; announcements of meetings, rallies and other timely information. We will work to have this in other languages to broaden the outreach.

* Website and Training
A website, still under construction, should be available soon, with community-based list serves, also issue based list serves (that will allow people interested in the same issue, or people in the same community to contact each other and exchange information. In addition, community advocacy training will be available to organizations, groups and others.

* Reports and Alerts
The regular California Disability Community Advocacy Network Capitol Reports and also Alerts will continue.

* Media
At the next statewide townhall telemeeting, teams of people with disabilities, families, community organizations, workers will be set up in different communities to approach their local newspaper editorial boards, radio and tv stations (for public service announcements) to raise visibility on the impact of the Governor's proposed cuts.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS ACTION ALERT
* This is a NON-PARTISAN online ALERT of the non-partisan California Disability Community Action Network, a 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 reports (formerly the CA UCP Capitol Reports) are for all of them.

* If you would like to get on this distribution (and conversely, get off of it) please send an email with that request to: martyomoto (at) 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, director/organizer
California Disability Community Action Network
1225 8th Street Suite 480 Sacramento, CA 95814 VOICE PHONE: 916/446-0013
FAX number: 916/446-0026 email: martyomoto (at) rcip.com

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