Advocacy Director’s Report

SUMMER 2008—Work as of April 30, 2008

This report represents a summary of the work PAI staff has reported from January 16, 2008 through April 30, 2008. I’d like to thank those who provided the material to make this report possible.

communications

PAI in the Mass Media

Over this quarter, PAI attorneys and advocates were featured once on the radio and once on cable television to provide overviews of PAI, and 5 times in California newspapers, primarily covering our commentary on lack of services, discrimination and equity. Highlights follow:

Access to services

· Every year for the last several, the California business community has unsuccessfully sponsored legislation to curb what they describe as “drive-by lawsuits” resulting in damages and high attorney fees for inaccessible premises. Most of the laws they propose call for notification prior to a lawsuit and early in 2008 a couple of those were drafted. Many papers covered the proposed laws, with most space given to the business point of view. On April 3, the North Coast News carried quotes by Margaret Jakobson, PAI advocacy director, and the Consumer Attorneys of California, pointing out there has been plenty of notification, since the access laws are more than 15 years old, and that these proposed notification laws are as predictable as a late budget. (Both these bills died in committee.)

· On April 11, the Sacramento Business Journal published an in-depth news story about the bleak outlook for development of a California health care plan as the deficit grows. One possibility being discussed in the media is forcing certain groups and individuals onto Medi-Cal managed care programs, and legislative advocate Deborah Doctor was quoted about PAI’s opposition to mandatory approaches.

· On January 28, the San Luis Obispo News featured a report on the myriad of problems encountered by a 43 year old man in Atascadero who had become brain injured in a bicycle accident. Todd Higgins, PAI advocate for people who have traumatic brain injury (TBI), was interviewed about the serious lack of services for Californians who receive TBIs after the age of 18. The reporter was clearly surprised by the vacuum of services and did a good job of explaining the situation without reducing the dignity of the Atascaderian.

Discrimination and equity

· On April 1, Justice for All and Ability Magazine covered the announcement of PAI’s lawsuit against a national day care chain, Tutor Tots, that provides tutoring services for discriminating against a pupil with epilepsy. Director of litigation for Southern California, Andy Mudryk was quoted about the importance of educational services for children with disabilities and stated that the Epilepsy Foundation of America had joined in the suit because of many prior incidences of the company refusing to accommodate children with this disability.

· On March 13 the Los Angeles Daily News reported on the increase in special education- related lawsuits in the LA Unified School District, up 25% to a total of 2302 this year. While agreeing that an interesting trend is towards more use of negotiation to avoid the high cost of litigation, associate managing attorney Keith Sakimura pointed out that PAI also placed great emphasis on reaching out to educate parents who are members of underserved minority groups about their rights. The paper presented several points of view but seemed to give more credibility to the school district representative who said they wanted to do the right thing—provide services to children with disabilities—but did not have the funds to do so. (Other recent media coverage of LA schools showed that in excess of $25million has been spent on accessibility with few visible or effective results.)

Overviews of PAI

· In April, attorneys Keith Sakimura and Fred Nisen were given the opportunity to explain PAI’s role in the disability rights movement and highlight its 30^th anniversary on LA City Cable Channel 35 and San Francisco’s Disability & Senior Report from University of San Francisco, respectively.

Press Releases

Using our eNR media management service that we subscribe to through National Disability Rights Network (NDRN), PAI issued a press release each month since January. They received different distribution as indicated:

· On January 23, we announced our Voter Hotline for people with disabilities participating in the February primary. This was distributed to our state lists covering media, government, advocacy and education.

· On February 25, we issued a reminder to advocates and allies to join forces at the March Respectability conference to strategize against the budget cuts. Distributed to all state lists.

· On March 24, our press release was coordinated with Senator Sheila Kuehl’s office to jointly announce the bill (SB1515) calling for elimination of seclusion and reduction of physical restraint in California schools. Distributed to state and national lists because this would be the first state law in the nation to do so.

· On April 1, we sent out a press release about our lawsuit against the national day cay center, Tutor Tots, as described above in the In the News section. This was distributed nationwide because the chain being sued is.

Communications: Goals 1, 2, 3

PAI Staff: Barb Duncan, Margaret Johnson, Keith Sakimura, Fred Nisen, Andy Mudryk, Deborah Doctor, Todd Higgins

Grant Funding Source: Trust Fund

Website Visits this quarter

Visits fluctuated slightly this quarter, starting at 18,220 in January; dipping to 17,475 in February; rising to 17,986 in March and rising again to 18,017 in April. As a comparison, in January 2007, the total visits were 14,382.

Since we began tracking site use through Google analytics in 2007, the main purposes for visits have remained constant: homepage news (around 10,000 visits), publications (ranging from 3000-6000) and jobs (around 3000).

The top two publications across the quarter were: “Special Education - Rights and Responsibilities” getting around 3000-4000 hits a month; and “IHSS Fair Hearing and Self-Assessment Packet” around 500.

Other publications in the top five this quarter were Social Security – Rights and Responsibilities,” the PAI Advocacy Plan, “Restraint and Seclusion in California Schools,” “Filing Claims against Public Entities under the California Tort Claims Act,” and “18 Tips for Getting Quality Special Education Services for Your Child.”

Hot Topics on the Homepage

Highlights of this quarter were:

· January-February—promoted logo contest, resulting in 123 entries

· February—promoted Respectability, Voter Hotline and PAI Voter Publications

· March—promoted jointly-sponsored legislation on Durable Medical Equipment, black history month, press reports on improvements at Coalinga and Patton hospitals, SEIU request to generate letters about treatment of passengers with disabilities at LAX

· April—publicized various budget protests around the state and announced UN disability rights treaty adoption into force

Communications: Goal 3

PAI Staff: Barbara Duncan, Margaret Johnson and contractors Ruth Ordas and Hizuru Cruz

Grant Funding Source: Trust Fund

LEGISLATIVE ACTIVITIES

Legislative activities are current at the time this report is prepared, however, the legislature moves quickly and things can change overnight, so for the most current information on bills or other activities reported here, check PAI’s legislative website: http://www.pai-ca.org/legislature/index.htm

PAI Sponsored Legislation moves through the Legislative Process

PAI staff spent a significant amount of time during the quarter working on our three sponsored pieces of legislation, SB 1515 (Kuehl), SB 1198 (Kuehl) and AB 2424 (Beall). All of these bills passed out of their policy committees. For a detailed description of these pieces of legislation, see the Spring 2008 AD Report.

SB 1515, PAI’s bill on the use of seclusion and restraint in educational settings passed out of the senate education committee. Staff worked hard to move the bill. The author’s office and PAI staff held several meetings with many stakeholders and stakeholder groups to address various concerns, such as some educators wanted to continue to use seclusion in some situations and cost issues related to training educational providers. Staff also met with Senate Education Committee staff and members about the bill. PAI staff gathered letters of support for the measure from state, local, and national groups and testified with a parent witness in the Committee. The bill passed out of the Senate Education Committee with all members voting for the bill.

SB 1198, co-sponsored with the Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund, Inc. (DREDF) cleared the Senate Health Committee with all of the voting Republicans joining all the Democrats in support. Republican committee members questioned the opponents (health care and insurance company representatives), and rejected their assertions about the cost of the bill and how it would force employers to drop insurance, thus harming employees. The senators agreed with the analysis of the California Health Benefits Review Program (CHBRP), which projected minimal costs to employers and subscribers, no increase in people requesting DME, and no effect on the availability of insurance overall attributable to the bill. Because neither CHBRP nor the administration projected any General Fund costs to implement SB 1198, the Senate Appropriations committee did not have to hear the bill.

AB 2424, Co-sponsored with the State Council on Developmental Disabilities, made it out of the Assembly Human Services Committee with a 4-2 vote. PAI staff met with committee staff and stakeholders on the bill about costs and workload concerns, drafted letters in support of the measure, and testified in committee on the legislation.

Public Policy Goals: 1, 2, 3, 6

PAI Staff: Evelyn Abouhassan, Deborah Doctor, Ellen Goldbatt, Leslie Morrison

Grant/Funding Source(s): Trust Fund, Equal Access

The Battle against Budget Cuts Continues

Staff advocated heavily in opposition of the proposed cuts in the governor’s January Budget. For a description of the key cuts affecting persons with disabilities, see the Spring 2008 AD Report or visit our website at http://www.pai-ca.org/legislature/budget/2008-2009/index.htm. PAI staff is working with its allies to fight the cuts. Staff attends hearings and testifies in opposition. We draft letters in opposition and use the press as a tool to oppose these measures.

Specific key proposals approved in recent legislative hearings include

· Department of Developmental Services: Expansion and redesign of Family Cost Participation Program, Continuing Past Cost Containment Measures Indefinitely including: Continued Suspension of Funding for Start-up of New Programs, Continued Rate and Service-Level Freezes.

· Medi-Cal: 10 % Provider Rate Cuts.

Other budget proposals that are still under consideration include:

· Reduction Of $357.9 Million in State Funding for Special Education

· The governor’s proposal to cut rates for supported employment services by 10%.

· Cuts to IHSS, Elimination of Medi-Cal “optional” benefits, Elimination of SSI/SSP Cost of Living Adjustment

Office of Client’s Rights Advocacy: Staff advocated against the governor’s proposal to cut the Office of Client’s Rights by $512,000. Staff met with key legislative and budget staff in the Senate and the Assembly on the issue. Staff drafted letters and documents in opposition to the proposal, advocated, and attended budget hearings to testify in opposition to the cut. The cut will reduce the number of advocates available to help clients of the regional centers advocate for such things as special education and IHSS services. The cut was defeated in the Assembly and now goes to the conference committee.

Public Policy Goals: 3, 4, 5, 6

PAI Staff: Evelyn Abouhassan, Deborah Doctor, Margaret Johnson

Grant/Funding Source(s): Trust Fund, Equal Access

PAI Staff works on Voting Issues and Voting Rights Legislation

AB 1654: The subject matter of this bill has changed from being an all mail voting bill to a bill about integrated regional water planning and no longer has a disability nexus. PAI is neutral on the bill in its current form.

AB 9: PAI staff continued its advocacy work on this measure, a voter identification bill. Staff wrote letters to policy committee members, lobbied the author and lobbied the Assembly Elections Committee Members with personal visits to their staff. The bill failed in the Assembly Elections Committee. For more details on the bill, see the Spring 2008 AD Report.

Public Policy Goals: 3, 6

PAI Staff: Brandon Tartaglia, Margaret Johnson, Hillary Sklar

Grant/Funding Source(s): Trust Fund, Equal Access

Progress on Abuse Protection Legislation

PAI staff are working on AB 2038 (Lieber), a bill sponsored by the ARC of California to help train police officers to work with people with disabilities. Staff are advocating for the bill and it has moved through Assembly policy and fiscal committees. We are working with the author to fine tune the language of the bill.

Staff focused legislative advocacy efforts this quarter on AB 1983 (Evans), which will create a care giver registry. Staff advised the REACH Coalition (sponsor), about the cost factors in the bill and how to minimize the cost of the legislation given the current state budget deficit. The bill is currently in the Assembly Appropriations Committee. For a more information on the bill, see the Spring 2008 AD Report

Public Policy Goals: 3, 4, 5, 6

PAI Staff: Leslie Morrison, Evelyn Abouhassan, Brandon Tartaglia

Grant/Funding Source(s): Trust Fund, Equal Access

Staff Participates in Policy Meetings

Staff attended an Olmstead Committee meeting, which included grim reactions by Committee members to the administration’s proposed cuts to home and community-based services. Staff has been comparing those cuts to the increase scheduled for skilled nursing facilities. Staff also attends all meetings of the Community Choices project and its subcommittee on the financing of long-term care in California, and advocates to include psychiatric institutions within the scope of the financing study.

Public Policy Goals: 5, 6

PAI Staff: Deborah Doctor

Grant/Funding Source(s): Equal Access

Staff Works with Stakeholders on Community Activities

Capitol Action Day

PAI worked with other advocacy organizations to plan the annual Disability Capitol Action Day on May 15, 2008. The event took place at the Capitol this year, with an educational rally on the Capitol’s North side. The focus of the event was the Governor’s proposed budget cuts, concentrating on Medi-Cal, and IHSS cuts. Staff sought donations for the event, helped to set legislative priorities, and organize speakers and helped with general logistics. PAI had an informational booth about the services PAI provides. There was a voting information booth to encourage people with disabilities to vote and be active in the political process. The voting information booth was staffed by PAI and four other voting advocacy organizations. The event brought hundreds of people with disabilities to the Capitol to express their concerns about the budget and a variety of legislative issues.

RespectAbility Conference

Staff helped plan the RespectAbility conference, putting together a public hearing on health care and organizing workshops on health care issues and media.

Public Policy Goals: 4, 6

PAI Staff: Brandon Tartaglia, Deborah Doctor, Margaret Johnson, Barbara Duncan

Grant/Funding Source(s): Equal Access, Trust Fund

SELF ADVOCACY ACTIVITIES

DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES PEER SELF ADVOCACY

DDPSAU Busy Providing Trainings and Outreach to Over 600 People this Winter!

Over the report period staff held 17 trainings and outreaches on a variety of topics including, Self Advocacy and Rights of People with Developmental Disabilities, Rights of People Living in Facilities, Peer Advocacy Leadership Skills, Civic Participation, Voting Rights, Abuse Prevention, and IPP Rights.

We also gave information about PAI, OCRA and DDPSAU general services to more than 600 people in groups at the Regional Center of the East Bay, Chico People First, Fairview Developmental Center, Oakland Activity Center, Pathway to Choices Tenants Group in San Leandro, Golden Gate Regional Center, The ARC San Francisco, Access to Community Living in San Leandro, Pathway to Choices in Pinole, The ARC Adult Day Center in Stockton, The ARC Access program in Stockton, Thumbs Up in Stockton, Toolworks in Oakland and STEP in Carmichael .

DDPSA Goal: 1, Objective B

PAI Staff: Marinda Reed, Maria Marquez, Daniel Meadows, and Jackie Coleman

Grant/Funding Source(s): EA/PADD/PAVA

DDPSAU and People First of California Announce Tenth annual Sandra Jensen Self Advocacy Award Recipient

Staff worked collaboratively with People First of California to select the tenth annual Sandra Jensen Self Advocacy Award recipient. This year’s award recipient is Elizabeth Grigsby who is the Consumer Rights Advocate for the Golden Gate Regional Center and a long time self advocacy leader in the San Francisco Bay Area. As part of her work with the regional center Ms. Grigsby trains regional center clients to be self advocates, teaches about supportive living and disability sensitivity. Elizabeth Grigsby was appointed to the Mayor's Disability Council by Mayor Willie Brown in 2002. She is an impassioned self-advocate and professional trainer on disability rights. She also participates in the San Francisco chapter of People First and is a peer mentor through CLAIM (Community Leadership and Advocacy In Mentoring), a project sponsored by the Independent Living Resource Center. She is strongly committed to the right of people with disabilities to live independently in the community.

DDPSA: Goals 1, 2, Objectives 1, 2

PAI Staff: Marinda Reed, Maria Marquez and Daniel Meadows

Grant/Funding Source(s): EA/PADD

Peer Self Advocacy

Ongoing efforts to Overcome Resistance to Self-Advocacy Groups at Patton State Hospital

PSA staff worked to reinstate a self-advocacy group on the West Compound of Patton State Hospital and start a new self-advocacy group on the East Compound. The self-advocacy groups have finally been reinstated and the new one started. They are listed in the Treatment Mall catalog so that residents have information about the groups and can choose to participate. Eight residents have already signed up, and many other residents are learning about the existence of the group as a result of outreach efforts by PSA Staff. We have developed a great working relationship with the Patton Mall Coordinators so the PSA program can provide ongoing services to residents on both compounds.

Peer-Self Advocacy: Goal 1, Objective B (Outreach and Training)

PAI Staff: Garnet Magnus

Grant/Funding Source(s): PAIMI

T.E.A.M House Self-Advocacy Group Helps Eliminate Stigma and Discrimination

Advocacy group members at T.E.A.M. House in San Bernardino worked with the clubhouse art group to design a mural board in the main reception area to raise awareness and understanding about the stigma and discrimination that people with psychiatric disabilities often experience. By re-defining the dictionary definitions, posting personal testimonies and providing a handbook about homelessness, the self-advocacy group informs people and broadens their perspectives about psychiatric disability issues.

Peer-Self Advocacy: Goal 1, Objective B

PAI Staff: Garnet Magnus

Grant/Funding Source(s): PAIMI

Voting Rights Trainings

Learning about the voting process through participation in PSA voting rights trainings, members of the Victorville Day Club in San Bernardino County recently completed elections for their clubhouse representatives and are now concentrating on the upcoming election in June. All 21 regular group members have registered and pledged to vote. Working with County and the Registrar of Voters, the group is working to have the Clubhouse be a polling site for the June election.

Arrangements are currently underway to provide voting rights trainings to traditionally underserved communities such as people in rural areas of Imperial County and Native Americans tribes living on reservations. Staff is participating in specialized trainings focusing on the voting rights and experiences of people in Native American communities.

In addition, staff is drafting a voter survey for residents of facilities and institutions to learn more about the resident’s knowledge and experiences and what factors affect their decision to vote. With this information, staff will create and customize more effective voting rights training.

Peer-Self Advocacy: Goal 1, Objective B

PAI Staff: Garnet Magnus

Grant/Funding Source(s): PAVA

Focusing on Veterans and their Families

Staff participated in a Veterans Workgroup with San Diego County. The focus was on veterans and their families who do not receive adequate mental health services and assistance. As a result of PAI’s participation, veterans will be a top priority with a special emphasis on the needs of veteran’s families as the County disburses funds from the Prevention and Early Intervention component of the Mental Health Services Act.

Peer-Self-Advocacy: Goal 2, Objective 2

PAI Staff: Michael McPherson

Grant/Funding Source(s): PAIMI

Collaborative Efforts to Address Housing Issues

Both the Corner and Friendship Clubhouses in San Diego are working with the California Network of Mental Health Clients (CNMHC) and Partners in Care to organize a community panel that will include speakers from the Corporation for Supportive Housing and the San Diego Housing Council. Finding affordable housing continues to be one of the main challenges that clients face when they move to the community. Clubhouse group members are inviting mental health consumers to attend the community panel, which will be held at the CNMHC Far South Regional Meeting. In a similar vein, PSA staff is forming a study group to learn more about housing problems, develop educational materials, and find solutions to help self-advocacy group members avoid homelessness.

Peer-Self-Advocacy: Goal 1, Objectives A & B

PAI Staff: Michael McPherson, Garnet Magnus

Grant/Funding Source(s): PAIMI

Self-Advocacy Group Members Develop a Plan to Raise Money for Cell Phone Project

In discussing their difficulties with obtaining affordable housing and jobs, self-advocacy group members at the Wellness Center in Ventura concluded that one of the main obstacles they face is that potential employers and property owners or managers have no way of contacting them since they are homeless and do not have a phone. While some of them may be reached through the Wellness Center, they often do not receive their calls or messages in time to follow-up on potential opportunities. Also, many of them expressed discomfort with having the center staff know about their personal needs or issues.

To overcome this problem, group members decided to create a self advocacy action plan and letter to request donations from various cell phone companies and other businesses so that they could receive a pre-paid cell phone to help them find jobs and places to live. Realizing that it was unrealistic to request unlimited funds for ongoing monthly phone plans, the group decided that the best strategy was to request pre-paid phones, so that potential contributors would be more likely to donate them. In this way, each person would be responsible for deciding how to use their limited phone time, without the need to be monitored by staff or phone companies. At this time, the group has received one response from a company that has expressed interest in participating in their Cell Phone Project.

Peer-Self Advocacy: Goal 1, Objectives A&B

PAI Staff: Robyn Gantsweg

Grant/Funding Source(s): PAIMI

Preparations Begin for Second Annual Central California Women’s’ Conference

Following up on the success of last year’s conference “Quitándonos La Mascara” (“Taking Our Masks Off”), the Woodlake Women’s Association, Asociación de Mujeres Unidas de Coalinga and the Asociación de Mujeres Unidas de Huron are planning the 2^nd Annual Mental Health Conference for June or July. The theme this year is tentatively titled “No Estás Sola” (“You Are Not Alone”) and it will focus on mental health resources and rights workshops and activities.

The self-advocacy groups have been active in collaborating with local organizations, such as Poder Popular that works to achieve optimal and complete health for agricultural workers, their families and communities; Proteus, a non-profit, community-based organization that provides employment, training, education, and community service; Women and Girls - Advocacy Coalition of Tulare County an organization that engages women of all ages in leadership opportunities to promote social and personal change. Through these collaborations many self-advocacy group members are mentoring teenage girls who have been abused and neglected and helping them learn about their rights and gain self advocacy skills

Peer-Self Advocacy: Goal 1, Objective B and Goal 2, Objective B

PAI Staff: David Solis

Grant/Funding Source(s): PAIMI

Self-Advocacy Group Members Experience More Stigma and Discrimination in the City of Los Angeles

Self-Advocacy group members of La Hora del Café, many of whom are homeless, are being adversely affected by a new law. The law says people can not stay more than 15 minutes in any one spot within a 50 block radius of downtown LA. People who break this law can be jailed, fined, or both. Self-advocacy group members attended a meeting with LA County Commission of Human Rights to speak out about the law. They also participated in a meeting with the Network Against Hate and Crime. This is the first time that group members have actively spoke up about their concerns and advocated for change. Group members are also meeting with students from the California State University – Northridge to educate them about the rights of mental health clients and the stigma and discrimination they face.

Peer-Self Advocacy: Goal 1 Objective B

PAI Staff: Senobia Pichardo

Grant/Funding Source(s): PAIMI

Sonoma County Contract Work Continues

Seven on-going self advocacy groups are up and running in Sonoma County, at Interlink; two at the Wellness and Advocacy Center; at Brown Street Board and Care; at The Fact Group, a forensic training program; at The Living Room, a drop-in center for homeless women and children; and, at the Burbank Housing Organization community room in the Old Elm Village, Petaluma.

One of the trainings at Interlink called “Opportunity Knocks,” covered a history of PAI self advocacy, client driven programs, rights of mental health clients and how self-help advocacy can be used to find solutions to problems. Over 40 clients attended and took part in the discussion about issues and concerns.

The Interlink self advocacy group using existing PAI materials, such as “Talking with your doctor,” worked to create a Passport to Wellness brochure. The brochure was created from a client’s perspective. It is a one page brochure-like guide to identifying components for becoming and staying “well”. The group presented the brochure at a forum at the Wellness Center and at the River Road Empowerment Center in Guerneville. From community feedback the Passport to Wellness is having a positive impact on care in the community as mental health care providers begin using it and clients find it to be a valuable communication tool in obtaining their rights.

Peer Self Advocacy: Goal 1 Objective B

PAI Staff: Linda Kehoe

Grant/Funding Source(s): Sonoma Contract

Creekside Self Advocacy Group Activities

Two members of the Creekside Self Advocacy group in Sonoma County were discharged and are now living independently. One member who was transferred from Napa State Hospital and has been a resident of Creekside for ten years and thought that he would never leave - has left. He is enjoying his new freedom and is appreciative of the self advocacy group for teaching him about his rights. He is participating in community self help activities and is volunteering at the local library. Another member who has multiple disabilities including psychiatric and physical disabilities has moved into independent living. He is getting support from the local self help center. Both group members attribute their successes in living independently to the knowledge about rights and the support received in the self advocacy group.

Self-Advocacy Groups in Redding, CA

As a result of the self advocacy skills and rights training received through participation in the PSA self advocacy groups; a resident at Sierra Center (Stillwater) has successfully terminated his conservatorship. A resident and group member at Crestwood Redding was also successful in getting a discharge plan approved and is going home.

Peer Self Advocacy: Goal 1 Objective B

PAI Staff: Mark Olberg

Grant/Funding Source: PAIMI

Self-Help Center in Napa, CA

A member of the self advocacy group at Napa State Hospital, who was under an Incompetent to Stand Trial commitment and about to be placed on a LPS conservatorship was successful in getting discharged from Napa. He advocated for his aunt to be his conservator using the self advocacy skills and the rights information learned at the group. Before leaving Napa he let us know that he is happy about his aunt being appointed as his conservator.

Peer Self Advocacy: Goal 1 Objective B

PAI Staff: Debi Davis and Amy Breckenridge

Grant/Funding Source: PAIMI

The California Memorial Project Activities

California Memorial Project (CMP) Defines and Expands Project Goals

The CMP Goals Committee, which consists of 7 PSA staff members, has developed 5 new goals to restore state hospital cemeteries, increase participation at Remembrance Day Ceremonies and raise funds to accomplish CMP Project goals, which include collecting oral histories from people who have lived at the institutions and documenting the history of the consumer/survivor movement to learn more about client’s experiences and accomplishments. Another goal is to restore at least 4 more cemeteries in the next 2 years, with a focus on Agnews Developmental Center, Patton State Hospital, Porterville Developmental Center and Napa State Hospital.

The committee is working to increase participation by the project’s collaborating organizations, California People First and the California Network of Mental Health Clients, to help plan and organize the annual Remembrance Ceremonies that are held throughout the state in September. In addition, we are planning fundraising events, such as a soccer tournament in the Central Valley.

Cemetery Restoration

PSA staff along with members from the Stockton Restoration Team, which include peers/clients from Person Centered Services in Stockton and other community members, finalized their recommendations for a monument at the Stockton Rural cemetery, one at California State University (CSU) Stanislaus and another where remains were originally found and later exhumed. The Team advocated for their recommendations with the Site Authority and secured funding for the monument at the Stockton Rural Cemetery and a monument and plaque at the CSU Stanislaus Campus. The CSU monument will be close to parking, near an accessible pathway and overlook a lake on the campus.

The Team recommended that there be a wheelchair accessible pathway from the parking to the monument at the Stockton Rural Cemetery. Although the site authority did not agree to fund the accessible pathway, PSA representatives on Task Force are looking for other resources to get an accessible pathway in place at the Stockton Rural Cemetery.

Peer-Self Advocacy: Goal 2, Objective A

PAI Staff: Karyn Farr, Alicia Mendoza, David Solis, Sheryl Bradford, Gabby Poblete-Morales, Martha Cook, Yvonne McGough, Senobia Pichardo, Marinda Reed, Daniel Meadows

Grant/Funding Source(s): PAIMI, PADD