July 1, 2005: Governor Schwarzenegger has issued an Executive Order directing all state agencies to utilize their best efforts to recruit, hire and advance employees with disabilities. He further directs all state agencies to annually review their hiring practices and identify barriers to the employment of individuals with disabilities.

June 3, 2005: Council grant funding has enabled the creation of the California Statewide Program Locator, part of the HOME (Home Ownership Made Easy) Program. For this online directory and other valuable housing information, we encourage you to visit the HOME Website.

May 31, 2005: The Memorial Day weekend is considered the beginning of the Summer Recreation Season. Drowning is a leading cause of death in California for children under the age of five, and near-drowning accidents can result in a lifetime disability. During the months of May through October, DDS and the Drowning Prevention Foundation will raise awareness on this issue, and remind parents and caregivers that "kids aren't drownproof!" View Governor Schwarzenegger's Letter on Drowning Prevention and the DDS Drowning Prevention Page for more important information.

January 13, 2005: Information about the Governor's Proposed 2005-2006 State Budget and the Agnews Developmental Center Closure Plan has been posted to the DDS website.

May 7, 2004: The Little Hoover Commission, has released "Real Lives, Real Reforms: Improving Health and Human Services". The Report is a result of a year-long study and contains recommendations on fundamentally restructuring the health and human services system in California. The Report is available to order or download on the Real Lives, Real Reforms web page. In addition to the Full 148 page Report, the page contains links to the 19-page Executive Summary, Press Release, and agendas and written testimony from public hearings on the topic.

February 11, 2004: There's a new online resource for working with a disability in California. Disability Benefits 101 is a project of the World Institute on Disability, and provides updated and accurate information on health coverage, benefits and employment programs in California.

September 26, 2003: The Family Resource Centers Network of California has recently been awarded a sixteen-month Planning Grant under the Administration on Developmental Disabilities Family Support program. The goal of this project is to build the capacity of an existing network of family-to-family resource centers (FRCs) so that they can (1) offer more community-based, culturally competent information, education, and peer support to families throughout the state, and (2) partner more effectively with other family support agencies and service providers.

For this Planning Project, the Family Resource Centers Network Steering Committee will assess needs, review resources, and develop coordination tools and structures so that the state’s 55 State Department of Developmental Services Family Resource Centers and the FRC Network can better meet the needs of consumers and families throughout California. Products to be developed include: a summary report of needs expressed by internal and external stakeholders; an overview report describing the current services of FRCs; standardized data collection and evaluation tools and procedures; and a Strategic Plan.

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December 12, 2002: The US Department of Transportation has just announced a web site for individuals with disabilities to submit comments on transportation services for individuals with disabilities. The current Transportation for Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21) is set to expire September 30, 2003 and Congress is seeking input as they develop replacement legislation. The web site is www.fhwa.dot.gov/reauthorization

November 7, 2002: The California Department of Developmental Services has just published Autistic Spectrum Disorders: Best Practice Guidelines for Screening, Diagnosis and Assessment, the product of nearly a year's work by experts in the field of autistic spectrum disorders. Based on validated scientific evidence, clinical experience and clinical judgment, the Guidelines provides professionals, policymakers, parents and other stakeholders with detailed "best practice" recommendations and rationale for screening, evaluating and assessing individuals suspected of having autistic spectrum disorders.

In late 2001, the Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment funded national technical assistance centers designed to assist the workforce development community to address the issues affecting the employment of people with disabilities. The National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth has launched a new website to provide information and assistance:

National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth 

The Federal Administration on Developmental Disabilities (ADD) has posted Coping With Disaster: Suggestions for Helping Children With Cognitive Disabilities on its website. This excellent resource not only provides useful suggestions for parents and others, but includes links to other resources.

• Thirteen California Agencies Receive Social Security Administration Grants

Thirteen California agencies are among 52 nationwide who have been selected to receive Social Security Administration Grants for benefit planning, assistance, and outreach to individuals with disabilities who are attempting to work.  The California agencies are listed below.  A complete listing is available on the Social Security Administration Website. 

• Independent Living Resource of Contra Costa County (Contra Costa, Solano and Marin Counties)
  $ 90,172

The purpose of the Tri-County project will be to provide benefits planning, assistance and outreach to recipients of SSI and SSDI. Two goals will structure project implementation: (1) To improve beneficiaries' understanding of options and incentives so that they may make more informed decisions regarding employment; and (2) To assist SSA in assessing the scope and usefulness of outreach and information provided through the project.

• Legal Services of Northern California  (Amador, Butte, Calaveras, Colusa, El Dorado, Glenn, Lassen, Modoc, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Sacramento, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou, Sutter, Tehama, Yolo and Yuba Counties)
  $238,450

This project, the Work Incentives Education Project (WIEP), will assist SSDI and SSI recipients to make informed choices about returning to work by providing them with accurate information regarding Social Security work incentives and the impact of earnings on recipients' disability benefits and any other benefits they or their family are receiving, as well as assistance with the development of a benefits assistance and management plan to facilitate individuals' return to self-sufficiency.

• Disabled Resources Center, Inc. (cities of Artesia, Avalon/Catalina, Bellflower, Carson, Cerritas, Compton, Dominguez, Downey, Gardena, Hawaiian Gardens, Lakewood, Lomita, Long Beach, Paramount, San Pedro, Signal Hill, Torrance, and Wilmington/Harbor City)
  $ 88,600

This project will increase benefits planning, advocacy, and outreach to beneficiaries, including transition-to-work-aged SSI youth and populations with different languages and cultural considerations. The project will also collaborate with 8 community agencies, especially the One-Stop Career Transition Centers to educate and train staff on the work incentives programs.

• Center for Independent Living (Alameda County)
  $ 99,022

The applicant will conduct outreach and educational activities that will inform beneficiaries, family members and professionals who work with people with disabilities through dissemination of accurate information regarding work incentive programs; and provide direct assistance to persons with disabilities (or family members in the case of minors) in maneuvering the myriad of work incentive programs.

• Community Resources for Independence, Inc.  (Del Norte, Humboldt, Lake, Mendocino, Napa, Sonoma, and Trinty Counties)
  $ 72,310

Community Resources for Independence's Back to Work Project will make beneficiaries aware of the recent changes in the legislation which will make it easier for persons with disabilities on SSDI/SSI to work without losing supports essential to their survival.

• Disability Resources Agency for Independent Living (Alpine, Fresno, Inyo, Kings, Madera, Mariposa, Merced, Mono, Monterey, San Benito, Santa Cruz, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Tulare, and Tuolumne Counties)
  $286,079

The goals of this group are to improve beneficiaries' understanding of options and incentives so that they make more informed decisions regarding employment; and to assist SSA in assessing the scope and usefulness of outreach and information provided through the project.

• Dayle McIntosh Center for the Disabled  (Orange County, California)
  $103,192

This program will disseminate accurate information regarding work incentive programs and related issues to people with disabilities, who are eligible for such benefits. Two goals will structure the project implementation: (1) To improve beneficiaries' understanding of options and incentives so that they may make more informed decisions regarding employment; and (2) To assist SSA in assessing the scope and usefulness of outreach and information provided through the project.

• Center for Independence for the Disabled  (San Francisco, San Mateo, and Santa Clara Counties)
  $160,266

The project plans to aid SSA by providing comprehensive benefits planning, assistance and outreach to recipients of SSI and SSDI. The two main goals are to improve beneficiaries' understanding of options and incentives so that they may make more informed decisions regarding employment and to assist SSA in assessing the scope and usefulness of outreach and information provided through the project.

• Goodwill Industries of Southern California  (City of Los Angeles)
  $274,106

Goodwill Industries of Southern CA (GISC), acting as lead agency, in collaboration with AIDS Project Los Angeles (APLA) will provide Benefits Planning, Assistance and Outreach (BPAO) to all Social Security Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security Income recipients with disabilities living within the City of Los Angeles boundaries. GISC and APLA will initiate the BPAO program using their own client bases. An extensive outreach campaign will be conducted, in part, through long-standing collaborative relationships with other disability and community organizations.

• TODEC Legal Center Perris  (Riverside, San Bernardino and Imperial Counties)
  $200,815

This project will provide benefits planning, assistance and outreach to SSDI and SSI disability beneficiaries through collaboration with local, public, and private agencies.

• Familia Unida Living with Multiple Sclerosis  (Los Angeles County, excluding Los Angeles City and the area covered by the Disabled Resources Center)
  $170,603

FULWMS provides a unique program of services to multicultural and multilingual individuals who have been affected by MS. The project's goals and objectives are to: (1) Provide hard to reach populations in Los Angeles County, California with information on the Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act guidelines; (2) Assist eligible applicants with work incentives planning and assistance; (3) Conduct culturally and linguistically sensitive outreach to eligible, legal immigrants, mono-lingual non-English speakers, and other hard to reach groups; (4) Work in cooperation with Federal, State and private agencies and nonprofit organizations that serve beneficiaries with disabilities.

• Project Independence  (San Diego County)
  $143,938

Project Independence will provide Benefits Outreach, Counseling and Assistance to SSI/SSDI beneficiaries within San Diego County. Working with the SSA and community partners, Project Independence will demonstrate the effectiveness of this approach and provide relevant data to be incorporated into national policy.

• Independent Living Resource Center  (Kern, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura Counties)
  $118,224

A networked system of benefits assistance personnel will provide comprehensive support, information and outreach, planning, assistance and follow through for those individuals with disabilities who want to make choices about work. Independent living services provided through the Center for Independent Living (CIL) are a logical and appropriate source of additional training and support for those wishing to explore working. Work incentives, peer support, independent living skills, and self-advocacy training for successful life change will be addressed in a supportive environment where people with disabilities feel empowered and have choices.

The California Department of Developmental Services (DDS) has released a Developmental Centers Options Study Report. This report, which contains the results of focus groups and other information gathering, will be one of the sources used in preparation for DDS' March 1, 2001 Report to the Legislature on this topic.

In October, 2000, the California Department of Developmental Services (DDS) published a Report to the Legislature on Crisis Intervention for Persons with Developmental Disabilities. This report was developed pursuant to Chapter 1043, Statutes of 1998 (Senate Bill 1038), and contains information on regional center mobile crisis intervention services and emergency housing options and the status of Memoranda of Understanding between regional centers and mental health agencies.

The California Department of Developmental Services issued a Report to the Legislature entitled: Changes in the Population of Persons with Autism and Pervasive Developmental Disorders in California's Developmental Services System: 1987 -- 1998.  This report describes changes in the population of individuals diagnosed with these disorders over the past decade.  The Autism Study is available through the DDS website.

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