Impact of California budget cuts on people with disabilities

- Our position letters on Governor's May Revise -
- Our budget analyses - Analyses by other organizations -
- News items - Announcements of meetings on budget cuts -

Who will and won't get IOUs?

Who will get IOUs? Welfare recipients, private businesses who contract with the state, local governments, taxpayers receiving income tax refunds and owners of unclaimed property.

Who won't get IOUs? The state constitution mandates that education and debt service have priority status. Laws also require that state payroll, CalPERS, CalSTRS, in-home supportive services and Medi-Cal providers continue to be paid. State retirees will also continue to get paid regularly. Read more here about the IOU vouchers and where you can get more information ...

Disability Rights California rejects Conference Committee budget cuts, offers alternatives

We recognize how much work has been done by the Committee to reduce the impact of the Governor's proposals on low income Californians with disabilities. But we believe the results still threaten the safety and survival of many who would experience multiple cutbacks of services and severance of lifelines. Link here to read our reasoning and suggested alternatives.

Supreme Court supports reimbursement for out of state services for special education students, if in-state services fail

This decision "eliminates the two tier special education system, one for students with means and the other for low income students, " said Paula Perlman, executive director of the Disability Rights Legal Center in Los Angeles. Read more here about the Supreme Court's decision on out-of-state services for special education students ...

Disability Rights California is on Facebook

Check out Disability Rights California on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Disability-Rights-California/56281311413.

Governor burns California’s safety net: Californians with disabilities to lose in-home help; medical, therapy, education and transportation services; and income to cover rent and food

In the May revise, Governor Schwarzenegger’s latest round of proposed cuts to state programs and services are so severe that they would effectively incinerate California’s safety net to ensure survival of people with disabilities, including seniors. Learn more about these drastic cuts in a press release from Disability Rights California ..., in an ABC7.com video ... and in a recent Mercury News article quoting Deborah Doctor ...

Social Security settles lawsuit, agrees that effective April 1 it will no longer deny or stop benefits because of an outstanding warrant in most cases

Social Security law says that to deny or stop benefits because of an outstanding felony warrant, it must be determined that the person is "fleeing" to avoid prosecution or confinement. Disability Rights California joined other organizations in Martinez v. Astrue, a class action challenging SSA's policy of refusing benefits on the basis of a warrant, without checking if the person was also "fleeing." SSA has now agreed to provide back benefits to some who were denied or lost benefits due to the incorrect policy.
* Learn more about the settlement and what you can do to help those hurt by Social Security’s illegal policy ...
* Social Security policy instruction #EM-09024, 3/31/09 - Suspension of Representative Payee/Fugitive Felon Match Process ...
* Social Security policy instruction #EM-09025, 4/1/09- Fugitive Felon: Stop Suspension or Denial of Individuals with Felony Warrants Affected by the Martinez Settlement ...
* Keep checking this website for updates on the settlement.

Events

Find hundreds of events, trainings and conferences on our Meetings & Trainings pages, in English ... y también varios eventos, reuniones y entrenamientos en español ...

Recommended viewing

Recommended reading

Univeristy of Redlands professor honored for role in theater and disability, Redlands Daily Facts, 7/1/09

Design for Disability, BrainPickings.org, 7/1/09

Obama's Chance to Lead: Sign the Disability Treaty, Huffington Post, 7/1/09

Advocacy in Action, Ukiah Daily Journal, 7/1/09

The parents of a 6-year-old with schizophrenia search for help, LA Times, 6/30/09

Autistic children in the cross hairs of state budget crisis, Sacramento Bee, 6/20/09

U.S. Sen. Harkin: Resolution commemorating Olmstead decision, IowaPolitics.com, 6/25/09

Supreme Court decision on out-of-state special education, Boston.com, 6/25/09