California Legislators are signing on to the 8% increase budget Request letter
The following legislators have signed their names, pledging their support for and 8% increase in funding to Lanterman Act services and supports for people with I/DD
Senate Request Author: Senator Henry Stern, Senate District 27
Senator Andreas Borgeas, Senate District 8
Senator Shannon Grove, Senate District 16
Senator Mike Morrell, Senate District 23
Senator Jeff Stone, Senate District 28
Senator John Moorlach, Senate District 37
Assembly Request Co-Author: Assemblymember Jim Frazier, District 11
Assembly Request Co-Author: Assemblymember Chris Holden, District 41
Assemblymember Brian Dahle, District 1
Assemblymember Heath Flora, District 12
Assemblymember Devon Mathis, District 26
Assemblymember Tom Lackey, District 36
Assemblymember Christy Smith, District 38
Assemblymember Marie Waldron, District 75
At the April 3, 2019 Sacramento rally these Senators and Assemblymembers came out of the Capitol building to sign the letter. To read the letter click the button below:
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Our stories
A mother who wants stability for her son
"Our son, David, has autism and significant difficulties with language and needs 24-hour staff support. In the last 27 months David has had 10 different support staff. For obvious reasons, this is not an ideal situation, and recruiting for David can be challenging due to the difficulties of communicating with him. Given the low wage rate with little opportunity for advancement, finding a higher paying job is always a prime motivation for staff to move on. There is always uncertainty about when the situation will resolve, and uncertainty is difficult for David and the rest of our family. The reassurance that would come with improvements for our direct support staff and knowing that the system is stable is priceless."
- Betsy Katz, Mom and President of The Arc of California
A direct support professional financially struggling
"I receive a paycheck twice a month. I work 120 hours plus each pay period and I bring home only $1500 at the most, usually less than that after taxes. I can't even afford my own place. I even started driving for Lyft to make ends meet. I love my job I enjoy going to work every day but it's not enough to survive."
- Anonymous Direct Support Professional, Solano County
The state budget matters
The Problem
The state is failing Californians with intellectual and developmental disabilities, causing individuals and families to suffer without critical services and supports. Violating its legal requirement under the Lanterman Act, the state has chronically underfunded the community based organizations that provide services such as supported employment, independent living, family respite, and community integration. As a result, the workforce is leaving in masses - forced to leave the job they love because they struggle with poverty as a result of low wages - and programs are closing their doors. Instead of receiving the services they need to actively contribute to our communities, people are sitting at home without services and families are left abandoned by the state that promised to support them.
The Promise
California's Lanterman Act passed in 1969. This law sought to end the long era of institutionalization by setting up the regional center system instead. This meant that people with I/DD could stay in their communities of origin instead of being removed to the segregated isolation of an institution. When this law passed state lawmakers promised to fund community based services and supports people with I/DD need to live full lives. Yet in recent years the state has failed to live up to its promise, leaving people with I/DD unsupported, isolated, and vulnerable.
What Can You Do?
- Contact your state representatives and tell them this year's state budget must adequately fund the intellectual and developmental (I/DD) community.
- Join us on Wednesday, April 3, 2019 for a statewide rally for the I/DD community.