Disability Rights California

Disability Rights California Logo

Listen Friday, Nov. 6, 2:30 pm
KPFA, 94.1 fm,
or streaming at
www.kpfa.org

Do non-profits operate
under too narrow
a charge?

Are they just plain
too conservative?

Catherine Blakemore

Eddie Ytuarte and Leah Gardner puts these questions to Catherine Blakemore, the executive director of one of the highest funded disability non-profits focused on California issues, Disability Rights California (DRC) -- It's also one of the most successful.

Sins Invalid

Take a good look
in the mirror.

Do you feel pride
in what you see?

Pushing Limits
ogles --
Beauty in the Face of Invisibility.

Listen, 28 min.

Nomy Lamm
photo by Richard Downing

Leah Gardner interviews Patricia Berne and Nomy Lamm from the groundbreaking organization, Sins Invalid.

This troupe of artists and performers use storytelling, music and dance to demonstrate
that disabled bodies are beautiful. Artistic director Patricia Berne and performer Nomy Lamm will discuss their work with Sins Invalid as well as what it takes to break down the barriers of shame and fear to create beauty

Best Websites For IHSS Appeals and Information

IHSS Coalition
www.ihsscoalition.org
Consumers, Providers and Advocates
Working Together to Protect and Improve
California's Home Care

Disability Rights California
www.disabilityrightsca.org
California's Advocacy and Protection System

A website of in-depth information

They will send copies to people without web access.

1-800-776-5746

United Domestic Workers of America

www.udwa.org

Serving Homecare Providers

across California

Bi-Lingual, English and Spanish.

(619) 641-1190
(800) 621-5016

Oakland Rally 10-19-09
in support of lawsuit challenging IHSS cuts

IHSS Appeals and Information

(Picture: University of Alaska at Anchorage, Disability Support Services

Appeal Assistance

1. Training and Orientation for IHSS Appeal Assistance Volunteer Corps. Westside Center for Independent Living Los Angeles, IHSS appeal mechanics and our Volunteer Corps process, quality control, confidentiality, and record keeping. Call Janet (323) 294-4565 weaver1245@aol.com

2. Recorded message about appealing the cuts, in English and Spanish: 1-877-601-4477 receive additional information on what to do.

3. In San Francisco: CRIL (415) 703-0286

Help with Daily Living

1. Tuesday Lunch Group
Every Tuesday, U.C. Berkeley, Bear's Lair 12-1 pm
can be fed, no money required.
With a day's notice, Serene Vannoy will do lunch
Monday through Thursday with anyone who needs it.
Disabled Students' Program office on Upper Sproul.
(510) 643-6473
(510) 642-6376 TTY


2. Ongoing Discussion and Coordination
of Community-Based Help in the East Bay.
Send a blank email to
DisMeals_EB-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

Service Cuts -- Will You Stand With Us?

Listen. 29 min
Original air date: Friday, Oct 16, 2:30 pm

KPFA, 94.1 fm

Critical cuts and unannounced home visits have begun for people with disabilities who rely on California’s In Home Support Services (IHSS).

Pushing Limits talks to Bobby Bogan. Executive Director of Seniors Organizing Seniors.

graphic by Soujaboy

Bogan sees both fear and courage as the State of California implements massive cuts.

On November 1st, 130 thousand people will be reduced or axed from the IHSS program. Over 450 thousand people face unannounced home visits and routine fingerprinting. Seniors, people living with AIDS and the developmentally disabled community face similar and overlapping slashes to programs they depend on.

Bobby Bogan’s San Franciso organization based in the South of Market area, Seniors Organizing Seniors, deals with the effect of these cuts first hand.

He joins Pushing Limits producers, Eddie Ytuarte, Adrienne Lauby and Nick Feldman.

Tune in to hear:

--stories of resistance,

--stories of community self-help, and

--advice about appealing individual cuts.

Letter From IHSS?

If you received a notice like this,
file an appeal today or tomorrow!

(See below for a
sample appeal letter. )


Send it to
State Hearings Division,
California Department of Social Services,
744 P Street, MS 19-97,
Sacramento, CA 95814-6413.

You can also request a hearing by calling
(800) 952-5253 or TDD: (800) 952-8349

You have the right to appeal regardless of what the notice says. If you cannot travel to the hearing office, you can request an in home hearing which is required by the judgment in the case of Tesluck vs. Swoap.

Keep a copy of the request for hearing you send.


SAMPLE APPEAL LETTER

Your Name ________________________________

Your Address_______________________________

_______________________________

Your Phone Number _________________________

Date ______________________

To:

State Hearing Division

California Department of Social services

744 “P” Street, MS 19-97

Sacramento, CA 95814-6413

Regarding: Request for Hearing

Case No.: ____________________

Dear People,

I am appealing the 9/16/09 IHSS notice form that I received AID PAID PENDING. The notice is not understandable. I do not know if the notice applies to me because there is no particularized information. The notice says I do not have a right to a hearing. But that is not correct. I do have a right to a hearing, if the notice does not explain what action is being taken and how it applies to me. I am requesting that my IHSS aid be continued at the same level until my hearing, even if I requested this hearing after 10/1/09. This notice does not comply with the federal or state regulations and therefore my aid must continue.

Yes__ No___ I need a home hearing because I cannot get to the hearing office for my hearing. A home hearing is required for all those who cannot make it to the downtown (or to the county location in other counties) hearing office as per the class action Judgment of Tesluck v. Swoap.

____________________

Your Name

IHSS Appeals -- Make a Huge Difference

This urgent appeal toward a grassroots network comes from a group in L.A. It could be utilized around the state and replicated specifically in each county.

As you probably know, there are thousands of In-Home Supportive Services consumers who are threatened with losing their in-home services on November 1. The Personal Assistance Services Council is organizing an Appeal Assistance Volunteer Corps to work with IHSS consumers who want help to file an appeal.

I am contacting you because you may know people who would be interested in participating in this Volunteer Corps. I know that you are already very busy and, hopefully, you can suggest 1 or 2 people who would be interested in doing this. After you send me their names, I will call them to talk about the program and see if they are interested. If you would rather call them, feel free to forward the attached description for their information. For people who want to participate, we are scheduling a 3-hour training session by October 16th.

As the attached description outlines, we are looking for IHSS consumers, advocates, parents, and/or retirees. We will provide training, materials, and on-going assistance as they work with the consumers who call in for help. Generally speaking, the work with the consumers can be done on the phone.

Please let me know if you have any questions or suggestions. With the state sending the notice of action to consumers by October 19th, we need to act fast. I hope to hear from you by the end of this week, October 9th.

This is a very important undertaking and I thank you for your help. I look forward to hearing from you soon. Janet

Janet Heinritz-Canterbury, M.S.W
Board Treasurer, Personal Assistance Services Council for IHSS
4434 9th Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90043
(323) 294-4565
weaver1245@aol.com

4730 Woodman Avenue, Suite 405, Sherman Oaks, California 91423
www.pascla.org
Tel: (818) 206-7000 Fax: (818) 206-8000 Toll Free: (877) 565-4477 TTY: (818) 206-7015

IHSS APPEAL ASSISTANCE VOLUNTEER CORPS

What is the IHSS Appeal Assistance Volunteer Corps?
Recent legislation has drastically changed the In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) program. One of the changes will result in the loss of some or all services for certain IHSS consumers.

These IHSS consumers have the right to appeal changes in their services. The IHSS Appeal Assistance Volunteer Corps will help these consumers file and go through the appeal process. This Volunteer Corps includes individuals familiar with IHSS and, ideally, with the IHSS hearing process from the Personal Assistance Services Council (PASC), United Cerebral Palsy, CALIF, Ability First, SEIU-ULTCW, AARP, and many other organizations and networks.

The Volunteer Corps members will be trained in the specifics of IHSS and how to file and prepare for an appeal. The PASC will provide training, informational materials, and forms to keep track of consumers who Corps members assist between now and the actual hearing date which may be several months from now. The PASC will also talk with Volunteer Corps members periodically about their cases and provide assistance if necessary.

How does the Volunteer Corps work?
The State Department of Social Services will send a notice of action to these consumers by October 19, 2009. The PASC is also sending a letter saying we can help with their appeal if the consumers call us at our 800 number. We expect that consumers will begin to call for help after they receive the Notice of Action or when they receive the PASC letter.

When the consumers call, the PASC will refer them to a Volunteer Corps member who can help them with their appeal. The Volunteer Corps member will have intake and follow-up forms and will have informational materials to answer questions that come up as they work with the consumer. Generally speaking this assistance will take place over the phone. Volunteer Corps members will also go out to senior centers and community centers to make presentations and provide one-on-one assistance to consumers who attend these presentations.

Who are the Volunteer Corps members and what will they do?
* They are IHSS consumers, seniors, parents, advocates, retirees, and/or are part of a network
* They are organized, keep good records, and pay attention to detail
* They are advocates and people who know about IHSS or social services
* They receive training, including role plays, on procedures and outcomes of the hearing process
* They do lengthy phone conversations and keep records on potentially complicated situations

How can I or my organization participate?
If you are or know an IHSS consumer who has been through the appeals process, or know an advocate, activist, parent and a person who is willing to volunteer for this program, please contact, Janet Heinritz-Canterbury, (323) 294-4565 or email Janet at: weaver1245@aol.com

People with disabilities need help now, please call as soon as possible!