Disability Rights Action Alert for May 13 National Call Day

Disability rights groups have called a National Call-In Day for tomorrow, May 13. It's in support of the Senate Finance Committee's report on health care reform, released only yesterday.

This report offers major support for our children with disabilities. It expands the medicaid waiver programs, designed to provide the supports needed to keep our kids home with their families, eliminates the waiver program waiting lists that plague many states, eases the medical requirements for entry into the medicaid waiver programs, and increases the FMAP (Federal matching funds) by 1%.

There are other benefits for our kids, but these are the ones that, as a parent, give me the most hope for my daughter's future.

The May 13 National Call-In to the Senate has been announced by the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities. Disability rights groups around the country are spreading the news. The CCD has even provided an example script for call-ins, but if we are going to call as the parents of children with disabilities (and I think we need our voices heard), the script needs to be altered a bit.

Here is the entire report that was released yesterday.

The section on long-term care and the Medicaid HCBS (Home and Community Based Supports) waiver programs begins on page 49.

Please participate in tomorrow's call-in. It could have a tremendous impact on our children's future.

The procedure for tomorrow is:

When: Wednesday, May 13 (Between 8AM and 6PM EDT)
Call-In Number: 1-866-459-9232 (Toll Free)

You will be asked which state you are calling from and will be connected to your Senators’ offices.



Here is the sample script being distributed via the CCD:

Hello (state your name and where you are calling from).

I’m calling to ask the Senator to help make sure long-term services and supports are part of health care reform. Long-term services and supports are essential to the health, well-being, and community participation of individuals with disabilities and seniors. Please ensure long-term services and supports are included in legislation to reform health care. Thank you.




You might want to think about this as an alternative, to reflect our role in the discussions:

Hello my names is {...} and I'm calling from {city} in {state}.

I’m calling to ask the Senator to help make sure long-term services and supports are part of health care reform. I'm the {mother,father,grandmother,etc} of a child with disabilities, and these long-term services and supports are essential to {his/her} civil right to remain with {his/her} family. Please ensure long-term services and supports are included in legislation to reform health care. Thank you.



Here is the list of US senators, and you can sort it by state. http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

Remember, it's best if you call rather than emailing or using their form online. Priority in the senate offices is always given to telephone calls, and you can use the toll free number I listed above to then get transfered to your senator's office.

(both men & women, sons & daughters -
Need to read this)

BEING A MOTHER...

After 17 years of marriage, my wife wanted me to
take another woman out to dinner and a movie. She
said, 'I love you, but I know this other woman loves
you and would love to spend some time with you.'
* * *
The other woman that my wife wanted me to visit
was my MOTHER, who has been alone for 20 years,
but the demands of my work and my two boys had
made it possible to visit her only occasionally.
* * *
That night I called to invite her to go out for
dinner and a movie.
* * *
'What's wrong, aren't you well,' she asked?
* * *
My mother is the type of woman who suspects that a
late night call or a surprise invitation is a sign
of bad news.
* * *
'I thought it would be pleasant to spend some
time with you,' I responded. 'Just the two of us.'
She thought about it for a moment, and then said,
'I would like that very much.'
* * *
That Friday after work, as I drove over to pick her up I was a bit nervous. When I arrived at her
house, I noticed that she, too, seemed to be nervous
about our date. She waited in by door. She had curled her hair and was wearing the dress that she had worn to celebrate her last
birthday on November 19th.
* * *
She smiled from a face that was as radiant as an
angels. 'I told my friends that I was going to go
out with my son, and they were impressed,' she said,
as she got into that new white van. 'They can't wait to hear about our date'.
* * *
We went to a restaurant that, although not
elegant, was very nice and cozy. My mother took my
arm as if she were the First Lady. After we sat
down, I had to read the menu. Her eyes could only
read large print. Half way through the entries, I
lifted my eyes and saw Mom sitting there staring at
me. A nostalgic smile was on her lips. 'It was I
who used to have to read the menu when you were
small,' she said. 'Then it's time that you relax and
let me return the favor,' I responded.
* * *
During the dinner, we had an agreeable
conversation-nothing extraordinary but catching up
on recent events of each other's life. We talked so
much that we missed the movie.
* * *
As we arrived at her house later, she said, 'I'll
go out with you again, but only if you let me invite
you.' I agreed.
* * *
'How was your dinner date ?' asked my wife when I
got home.
'Very nice. Much more so than I could have imagined,' I answered.
* * *
A few days later, my mother died of a massive
heart attack. It happened so suddenly that I didn't
have a chance to do anything for her.
* * *
Some time later, I received an envelope with a
copy of a restaurant receipt from the same place
mother and I had dined. An attached note said: 'I
paid this bill in advance. I wasn't sure that I
could be there; but nevertheless, I paid for two
plates - one for you and the other for your wife.
You will never know what that night meant for me. I
love you, son.'
* * *
At that moment, I understood the importance of
saying in time: 'I LOVE YOU' and to give our loved
ones the time that they deserve. Nothing in life is
more important than your family. Give them the time
they deserve, because these things cannot be put off
till 'some other time.'
* * *
Somebody said it takes about 6 weeks to get back
to normal after you've had a baby.... somebody
doesn't know that once you're a mother, 'normal' is history.
* * *
Somebody said you learn how to be a mother by
instinct... somebody never took a three-year-old shopping.
* * *
Somebody said being a mother is boring....
somebody never rode in a car driven by a teenager with a driver's permit. Somebody said if you're a' good' mother,
your child will 'turn out good'....
somebody thinks a child comes with
directions and a guarantee.
* * *
Somebody said you don't need an education to be a
mother.... somebody never helped a fourth grader
with his math.
* * *
Somebody said you can't love the second child as
much as you love the first.... somebody doesn't have two children.
* * *
Somebody said the hardest part of being a mother
is labor and delivery....
somebody never watched her 'baby' get on the bus
for the first day of kindergarten .
or on a plane headed for military 'boot camp.'
* * *
Somebody said a mother can stop worrying after her
child gets married.....somebody doesn't know that
marriage adds a new son or daughter-in-law to a
mother's heartstrings.
* * *
Somebody said a mother's job is done when her last
child leaves home....somebody never had
grandchildren.
* * *
Somebody said your mother knows you love her, so
you don't need to tell her.... somebody isn't a
mother.
* * *
Pass this along to all the 'mothers' in your life
And to everyone who ever had a mother. This isn't
just about being a mother; it's about appreciating
The people in your life while you have them....no matter who that person

Welcome and CAC Appreciation Fiesta Dinner

Welcome to the FIRST post of our San Joaquin County CAC blog. I hope you enjoy this site and learn a lot. I also hope that you will feel comfortable to post comments, suggestions and participate in this blog as it helps all of us. This isn't JUST for San Joaquin county or the Small schools I represent but for all and all are welcome to come to our sessions.
*
We had our CAC Appreciation Fiesta last night. Being it was Cinco de Mayo, we had the theme Mexican based. Mexican food, decorations, drinks. It was a success! The kids seemed to have fun at the game booths we had set up and of course LOVED the Balloon Man!! WOW were there some GREAT creations tonight! I saw a BUG hat, a RAINBOW hat, I saw Fishing pole balloons with fish on the ends and lots more.

*
The game booths we had were a fishing game, wiffle ball toss, ring toss over water bottles and pin the tail on donkey game. Each child got 5 tickets when they first arrived to play the games and each game they won a prize. The sticky wall climbers were the MOST LOVED!! Noah's wall climber got stuck up on the ceiling!! We tried the rest of the time to get it down but it wouldn't come down. Matter of fact, I think two more got stuck up there by the time the night was up. lol


*
Then it was time to start the main part. Margaret St.George and Jody (Former Chairperson) spoke of those who won awards for nominations and the ones who spoke thru the year.

*
We had a DELICIOUS dinner of beef and chicken fajitas, rice, beans, salad, nachos. They had drinks and Horchata. We had a delicious desert of churros and ice cream
*
We then announced the winner of the Logo contest. The logo is in upper corner of this blog. ALLLL the drawings were GREAT!! It was HARD for us to decide to pick JUST ONE!!
CONGRATULATIONS to the winner!!

*
I (Gina Marie) then announced next years topics and dates for the 09/10 year for CAC.

Next years topics will be:

Autism:
* Social Structures
* Strategies for appropriate community interactions
* Parental support (respite services, parent's well being, sibling interactions, family relations)

Behavior/Discipline:
* How to work towards lasting behavior change

Socialization
* How to make opportunities for your child to interact with peers
* Participation in community social activities
* How to model social skills
* Bullying/Teasing

*

2009-2010 CAC Meeting Dates

Mondays (EXCEPT for Feb)

9-14-09 Mon AM - Burwood 1 (Encore 9-28-09 PM Justice Rm)
*
10-5-09 Mon PM - Chartville 1 (Encore 10-19-09 AM Justice Rm)
*
11-2-09 Mon AM - Greenwood 3 (Encore 11-16-09 PM Justice Rm)
*
12-7-09 Mon PM - Chartville 1 (Encore 12-21-09 AM Justice Rm)
*
1-11-10 Mon AM - Burwood 1 (Encore 1-25-10 PM Justice Rm)
*
2-9-10 TUES PM - Burwood 1 (Encore 2-23-10 AM Justice Rm)
*
3-8-10 Mon AM - Burwood 1 (Encore 3-8-10 PM Justice Rm)
*
4-5-10 Mon PM - Burwood 1 (Encore 4-19-10 AM Justice Rm)
*
5-10-10 - PM - Burwood 1 Appreciation Dinner

*
We then ended the dinner and that was it for the 2008-2009 CAC year. It has been a GREAT, LEARNING year and I HOPE to see MORE teachers, educators, therapists, administrators AND PARENTS this coming year!! There is always MORE to learn!! So plan on coming and bring a friend.
*
I have ideas already for NEXT years dinner and suggestions for making it easier.

Like:

1. Name tags for the Parent Reps so everyone and visitors especially know who we are.
   
   
2. Having high school students and possibly Tracy High cater the dinner and games so staff and parent reps can visit and mingle more with guests and spend time with our families.
   
   
3. Please leave your suggestions and comments on any ideas for next yrs sessions AND Appreciation Dinner!! We would LOVE to hear them!!!
   
   God Bless,
   Gina Marie
   (Chairperson and Parent Rep for New Jerusalem, Banta and small schools)