This policy note discusses the background of California’s developmental disability services and identifies the challenges facing this system. It recommends that the state adjust frozen rates for services, adopt equitable and transparent vendor payment systems, and maximize the efficiency of the current system of service provision, among other policy solutions.
Read more: Challenges to Sustaining California’s Developmental Disability Services System.
Posted on March 30th, 2011
A veteran James Logan High School teacher will be honored Saturday for her longtime work with special education students. Aurora Vinci, 53, of Oakland, will receive the Human Rights Award for Physically and Mentally Challenged Students’ Issues from the California Teachers Association during a ceremony at the Fairmont Hotel in San Jose.
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Posted on March 7th, 2011
Zach Anner, who has cerebral palsy, will get his own travel show on Oprah Winfrey’s new cable television network after being handpicked by the TV legend herself.
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Posted on March 7th, 2011
Over 400 individuals with developmental disabilities and their families and service providers showed up for today’s rally against California Governor Jerry Brown’s proposed cuts to Medi-Cal. Rocio Smith, Josh Sullivan, Steven Laramore, Eric Stern, and several others gave testimony about where we stand today in terms of the proposed cuts. The overall theme was that we appreciate what our legislators have done thus far, and we are counting on them to stand with us until an equitable and well thought out health care plan is signed by Governor Brown; one that cuts things not people. Lia Bristol, from Senator Mark DeSaulnier’s office, was in attendance. She remarked that our voices are being heard all over the state and that our advocacy efforts are extremely important. This was our first rally and we would appreciate any suggestions about how we could do some things differently next time. Please email suggestions to: fcgina@sbcglobal.net.
Posted on March 1st, 2011
Josh Routh greets all his customers with a smile five days a week at the Nob Hill Foods store in San Ramon. He works out at Fitness 19 when time permits on his days off, volunteers at the School of Imagination in Dublin, a school where half the students are autistic, meets with a job coach, lives on his own, balances his checkbook, cooks his meals, pays his bills, and takes vacations each year to work with the Wheelchair Foundation delivering wheelchairs worldwide and delivering supplies and smiles to an orphanage in Mexico. His life is full and his weekly schedule would be an ambitious one for anyone. Did I forget to mention — Josh Routh also has cerebral palsy …
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Posted on January 21st, 2011
From: The Contra Costa Times
By: Sean Kent, Correspondent
Date: 04/13/2010
All any athlete can ever ask for is a chance. Whether it’s the Butler basketball team coming within inches of winning a national championship, or a career minor-leaguer finally getting his shot with a major league team, the toughest part is just getting the chance.
Even if they’re not successful, they can at least be content knowing that they had a legitimate opportunity at their dream. While athletes at the highest levels yearn for championship glory, children with special needs strive simply for the chance to play.
One youth basketball camp in Pleasant Hill hopes to offer these children the chance to excel among their peers who face the same physical limitations. Simply called the Special Needs Youth Basketball Camp, the clinic is open to anyone ages 6-14 and scheduled to take place on three consecutive Saturdays beginning May 1 at the Oak Park Christian Center Gym.
The only fee is a $30 donation (which includes a T-shirt) to United Cerebral Palsy of the Golden Gate, which is sponsoring the event.
The camp’s main motivating force is Doug Senz, a longtime scorekeeper and assistant basketball coach at Miramonte High School in Orinda. For him, the cause is extremely personal. His son, John Scott Senz, suffers from cerebral palsy and has limited use of his left side. For a father who has been involved with sports for so many years, he soon searched for athletic opportunities for his son. He was disappointed with what he found.
John Scott’s limitations weren’t severe enough for him to play in a wheelchair basketball league, but when he participated in “normal” CYO games he received a sort of patronizing sympathy from opposing coaches and players.
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Posted on April 13th, 2010
