GENERAL CALIFORNIA STATE
INFORMATION
The following is information compiled
by the California Disability Community Action Network (CDCAN) that might be
useful regarding applying for state offices, commissions, panels; contacting a
state agency or trying to find a specific state agency regarding eligibility or
other need. Please let CDCAN
know of any problems with links or suggestions: martyomoto@rcip.com
APPOINTMENTS TO STATE GOVERNMENT
OFFICES, COMMISSIONS, PANELS
- Persons
with disabilities, mental health needs, seniors, others with health needs
(including tramautic brain and other injuries, people with MS and other health
issues), their families, workers, and other advocates can be considered for
various state offices, commissions, and panels and should apply.
-
Qualifications are different for each position, and some positions - like the
director of an agency, offer a salary, while other positions (certain
commissions or panels) may only pay a small amount of money to partially cover
the costs of attending a meeting (sometimes called a per diem or stipend).
-
Appointments to a state office (such as director, deputy director, etc) are
made by the governor - some requiring approval of the State Senate.
Other appointments - to commissions and panels, may be appointments made by
the Governor, Assembly Speaker or President Pro Tem of the State Senate - and
those made by the Governor can also require approval of the State Senate.
- Pursuant to the federal
Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the federal Americans with
Disabilities Act of 1990, and the California Unruh Civil Rights
Act, any individual with a disability who requires reasonable
accommodation to attend or participate in a public meeting or workplace and, has a right to request and receive such assistance. Contact
the department that has the vacancy for more information. Please contact CDCAN if you are
experiencing difficulties in reasonable accommodations at
martyomoto@rcip.com Please put in
the subject line "Reasonable Accommodation" and we will work with other
advocates, including independent living centers, regional centers, advocacy
groups and organizations to make sure state agencies respond.
Click here to get an application for a position appointed by the Governor
Click
here to see listing of all appointments, terms of office
CALIFORNIA STATE AGENCY LISTING
- Several state agencies and
departments have obvious direct impact to people with disabilities and seniors
and others - for example, the California Health and Human Services Agency,
which oversees the Departments of Social Services (In-Home Supportive
Services, SSI/SSP, Community Care Licensing, Adult Protective Services, etc);
Department of Developmental Services (regional centers, developmental centers
for persons with developmental disabilities); Department of Rehabilitation
(certain supported employment programs (lnked to Department of Developmental
Services), vocational rehabilitation, independent living), Department of
Health Care Services (Medi-Cal, long term care services), Department of Mental
Health (implementation of Proposition 63, community and facility-based mental
health services, etc)
- But other agencies and departments
play a direct role: the Department of Public Health (some licensing, public
health issues) Employment Development Department (employment of people with
disabilities and related training); the State and Consumer Services Agency
which oversees the Housing and Community Development Department (housing,
accessibility related issues), State Architect (access related compliance and
enforcement), Building Standards Commission; and more.
- Other state elected officers head
agencies that have (or should have) impact on people with disabilities,
seniors, mental health needs and others: the elected Attorney General who
heads the independent Department of Justice; Department of Education overseen
by the independent elected State Superintendent of Public Instruction (special
and adult education.
click here to find a specific
California state agency
CALIFORNIA STATE AGENCY PHONE
DIRECTORY
click here to find a
specific phone number of a state agency