Townhall Telemeeting Audio Archive

AS OF NOVEMBER 28, 2007: URGENT! CONTRIBUTIONS NEEDED TO CONTINUE THESE CDCAN TOWNHALLS AND REPORTS! YOUR DONATION CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE! THANKS! Click here to make an online contribution.

All CDCAN Disability Rights Townhall Telemeetings are recorded for anyone to listen to later. The townhall telemeetings held in 2007 are now all recorded as an MP3 file - so you should be able to access and listen to these recordings using any media/audio player on your computer. For townhall telemeetings recorded prior to 2006, you will need have on your computer "Real Player" or "QuickTime" media/audio player. If you don't have either on your computer you can download a free copy of "Real Player" to listen to the recordings of the CDCAN Townhall Telemeetings by going to the Real Player website at www.realplayer.com and click for the free download (other versions cost different amounts).. Please contact Marty Omoto at martyomoto@rcip.com if you have trouble accessing any of these audio recordings or if you have suggestions or comments for previous or future townhall telemeetings.

Note: The opinions expressed during these telemeetings do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the sponsors or represent the views of the organizations that guest speakers are members of. Sometimes it doesn't even reflect the views of the person saying it, but then who doesn't have that happen ever so often? Thanks to everyone who participated as guest panelists, response panelists and for those who participated as members of the general audience. Organizations listed (regarding the guest speakers) are for identification purposes only. - Marty Omoto

NOVEMBER 27, 2007 CDCAN TOWNHALL TELEMEETING (click here to listen)
TOPIC: DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES
Guest Speakers (all with the Department of Developmental Service
* MARK HUTCHINSON - Chief Deputy Director
* JULIA MULLEN - Deputy Director - Community Services and Supports Division
Note: Over 240 people with developmental and other disabilities, seniors, workers, organizations, advocates, and others across the State participated in this townhall. Due to some technical difficulties there is some echo during parts of this townhall.

Note: Toby Douglas, new head of the Medi-Cal Program, is on vacation and will be scheduled for a future townhall telemeeting
Note: Over 260 people with disabilities, seniors, workers, organizations, advocates, and others across the State participated in this townhall.
* California's Medicaid program is the largest in the nation and is called Medi-Cal. Medi-Cal provides health care and related services to over 6.5 million Californians, including over 1.7 million eligible children and adults with disabilities, and seniors, including persons who are blind.
* The Department of Health Care Services, directed by Sandra Shewry, is under the California Health and Human Services Agency and is one of the largest departments in State government, with over 5,000 employees working in its Sacramento headquarters and over 60 field offices throughout California.
* The Department of Heatlh Care Services is responsible for overseeing a broad range of public and clinical health programs that provide health care services to Californians, including Medi-Cal.
July 12, 2007 Townhall on Medi-Cal Sponsored By:
This telemeeting made possible with support from CA NAELA, and also Training Toward Self Reliance, Fresno Disability Community Action Network, Alta California Regional Center, Tri-Counties Regional Center, Asian Pacific Islander Disability Coalition and USC UCEDD

ALSO OF RELATED INTEREST: AUDIO RECORDING - FEB 6, 2007 - CDCAN TOWNHAL TELEMEETING RECORDING (click here to listen) TOPIC: MEDI-CAL UPDATE - STATUS OF FEDERAL DEFICIT REDUCTION ACT OF 2005 IMPLEMENTATION, UPDATE ON GOVERNOR'S PROPOSED BUDGET AND ANY PROPOSED REGULATIONS, UPDATE ON MEDICAID WAIVERS, MEDICARE PART D DRUG PROGRAM
FEATURING: STAN ROSENSTEIN, head of California's Medicaid (Medi-Cal) Program, Department of Health Care Services (formerly Health Services). This townhall made possible with support from USC UCEDD, People First of San Luis Obispo, CANAELA (California National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys), UCP Westside Center Self Advocates of Culver City, UCP Stratham Center Self Advocates of Los Angeles, and Training Toward Self Reliance of Sacramento

AUDIO RECORDING - JUNE 21, 2007 CDCAN TOWNHALL TELEMEETING (click here to listen)
TOPIC: Focus on AB 1427 Developmental Services Pilot
GUEST PANEL:
* On AB 1427: Former Assemblymember Dion Aroner and Carol Zabin (representing sponsors of the bill, the Consumer DIrected Services Network), Mark Polit, parent of son with developmental disabilities and Policy Analyst with SEIU (Oakland)
ALSO: Jody Barker, People First of San Luis Obispo (San Luis Obispo), Donna Bettencourt (In Alliance, Sacramento) Jacquie Dillard-Foss of Strategies To Empower People (Sacramento), Terri Lantz, UCP of Los Angeles and Ventura, Doug Pascover, Arriba Independent Living (Los Angeles), Note: Jeff Strully, Jay Nolan Community Services (Los Angeles) was not able to join us

AUDIO RECORDING - MAY 24, 2007 CDCAN TOWNHALL TELEMEETING (click here to listen )
TOPIC: DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES: IN-HOME SUPPORTIVE SERVICES) (Dedicated to memory of Theresamary Johnson, Older Women's League of CA president and advocate for us all) featuring senior department officials covering IHSS budget proposals, quality assurance, update on direct deposit andm ore.

AUDIO RECORDING - MAY 16, 2007 CDCAN TOWNHALL TELEMEETING (click here to listen )
TOPIC: DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES (REGIONAL CENTERS & DEVELOPMENTAL CENTERS)
GUEST SPEAKER PANEL:
* featuring Director Terri Delgadillo and other senior department officials including Julia Mullen. Topics include update on Supported Living Services regulations, Self Directed Services, cost containment measures proposed to continue another year, new budget items proposed, Agnews Developmental Center closure, accessible and affordable housing, next steps on statewide computer system and other related issues

AUDIO RECORDING - APRIL 5, 2007 CDCAN TOWNHALL TELEMEETING (click here to listen)
TOPIC: DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES, IN-HOME SUPPORTIVE SERVICES & SSI/SSP BUDGET ISSUES (for upcoming April hearings)
GUEST SPEAKER PANEL:
* NICOLE VAQUEZ, Human Services Consultant, Assembly Budget Committee
* Co-Moderators/Response Panel Members: Connie Arnold, disability rights advocate & Sacramento County IHSS Advisory Committee Chair; Lisa Brown, parent & IHSS worker (Fresno); Frances Gracechild, executve director, Resources for Independent Living - Sacramento; Christal Hopkins, disability advocate & IHSS/regional center recipient (Fresno), Karen Kesslar, advocate for Californai Association of Public Authorities - CAPA; Patti Uplinger, director of Housing NOW (Sacramento) (Patti also co-host townhall with Marty Omoto)

AUDIO RECORDING - APRIL 4, 2007 CDCAN TOWNHALL TELEMEETING (click here to listen)
TOPIC: ACCESSIBLE & AFFORDABLE HOUSING - US DEPT OF HOUSING & URBAN DEVELOPMENT (HUD) OFFICIALS
GUEST SPEAKER PANEL:
* RICHARD RAINEY, HUD REGION 9 DIRECTOR
* CHUCK HAUPTMAN, HUD REGION 9 DIRECTOR OF FAIR HOUSING & OPPORTUNITY
* Co-Moderators/Response Panel Members: Ron Cohen, executive director of UCP of Los Angeles and Ventura Counties; Maggie "Dee" Dowling, disability rights advocate & radio talk show host (Contra Costa); Lisa Jackson, executive director of Housing Choices Coalition (Monterey & Santa Cruz Counties); Darin Lounds, executive director of Housing Consortium of the East Bay (Alameda & Contra Costa Counties); Patti Uplinger, executive director of Housing NOW (Sacramento); Mariko Yamada, Member, Yolo County Board of Supervisors and chair of the Yolo County Housing Authority

GUEST SPEAKER PANEL: STATE COUNCIL ON DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES SASHA BITTNER, CHAIR and ALAN KERZIN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR; AREA BOARDS ON DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES DIRECTORS (Julie Barnes, Executive Director - Area Board 9 [could not be on due serious family illness - our thoughts and prayers] , Tom Montesonti, Executive Director - Area Board 1 and Roberta Newton, Executive Director - Area Board 10 and LAURA LARSON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, FAR NORTHERN REGIONAL CENTER (Redding)

CO-MODERATORS/RESPONSE PANEL: Connie Arnold (disability rights advocate and chair of the Sacramento County In Home Supportive Services Advisory Committee, Sacramento), Lisa Brown (parent of child with disabilities and IHSS worker, Fresno), Ryan Duncanwood (disability rights advocate, Shasta), Bryon McDonald (World Institute on Disability, Oakland), Terri Lantz (disability rights advocate and also with UCP of Los Angeles and Ventura Counties)

GUEST SPEAKER PANEL::
KURT BALDWIN. Independent Living Center of Southern California (Los Angeles), MARILYN GOLDEN, Policy Analyst, Disability Rights Education Defense Fund (Oakland) and LAURA WILLIAMS, President, Californians for Disability Rights, Inc (CDR)
Note: This is a series on the issue of transportation - and paratransit officials from across California will be scheduled.
THANKS TO: This townhall and other CDCAN reports and updates made possible with support USC UCEDD, PHP

TOPIC: DEPT OF DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES ON GOVERNOR'S PROPOSED BUDGET FOR 2007 - 2008 (includes update on supported living services, self directed services, housing and cost containment measures)

GUEST SPEAKER PANEL:: TERRI DELGADILLO (Director), JULIA MULLIN (Deputy Director), KATHY KINSER (Deputy Director - Developmental Center Division); RITA WALKER (Deputy Director - Community Operations Division) [Carol Risley, Chief of the Office of Human Rights and Advocacy Services was not able to be on the telemeeting due to the time change). This townhall made possible with support from USC UCEDD, Hope Services of San Jose, StrategiesTo Empower People of Sacramento, Frank D. Lanterman Regional Center of Los Angeles, Arriba Independent Living Services of Altadena, and Training Toward Self Reliance of Sacramento

AUDIO RECORDING - FEB 6, 2007 - CDCAN TOWNHAL TELEMEETING RECORDING (click here to listen) TOPIC: MEDI-CAL UPDATE - STATUS OF FEDERAL DEFICIT REDUCTION ACT OF 2005 IMPLEMENTATION, UPDATE ON GOVERNOR'S PROPOSED BUDGET AND ANY PROPOSED REGULATIONS, UPDATE ON MEDICAID WAIVERS, MEDICARE PART D DRUG PROGRAM
FEATURING: STAN ROSENSTEIN, head of California's Medicaid (Medi-Cal) Program, Department of Health Care Services (formerly Health Services). This townhall made possible with support from USC UCEDD, People First of San Luis Obispo, CANAELA (California National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys), UCP Westside Center Self Advocates of Culver City, UCP Stratham Center Self Advocates of Los Angeles, and Training Toward Self Reliance of Sacramento

AUDIO RECORDING - AUG 29, 2006 - CDCAN TOWNHALL TELEMEETING RECORDING (click here to listen )
TOPIC: AFFORDABLE & ACCESSIBLE HOUSING FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, SENIORS, PEOPLE WITH MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS - Part 1 of a series featuring guest panel: George Braddock (nationally known disability housing consultant), Shella Dumong (parent and director of CHANCE Inc, a Santa Barbara housing coalition), Christina Keefer (disability rights advocate, Santa Monica), Chris Otero (housing coordinator, Ability First, Los Angeles county), Patti Uplinger (director, Housing Now, Sacramento county), Norma Jean Vescovo (executive director, Independent Living Center of Southern California), Anna Wang (parent and director of Friends of Children with Special Needs, East Bay area

GUEST SPEAKER PANEL:DION ARONER (former Assemblymember and private consultant on disability and workforce issues, Berkeley), DWIGHT HANSEN (Hansen & Associates/California Rehabilitation Association), TOM HEINZ (East Bay Innovations (EBI), BARBARA MAIZE (Contra Costa Arc), DOUG PASCOVER (Arriba Independent Living Services) and MARK POLIT (SEIU, Service Employees International Union)

GUEST SPEAKERS PANEL:
*Dr. Connie Cha-Moua, (CEO, Empowerment Institute, Inc - Fresno County)
* Lillibeth Navarro (Executive Director, CALIF or Communities Actively Living Independent and Free. central Los Angeles area)
* Nancy Thao (Resources for Independent Living - Sacramento)
* Anna Wang and Sylvia Yeh (Executive Director and program director - FCSN - East Bay Area)
* Dr. Jay Yang (Program Director, Family Support & Advocacy Services, Fresno Interdenominational Metro Ministries)
* Kyu Yo (Asian American with disabilities who lives independently with support in Los Angeles area)

GUEST SPEAKER PANEL: (Department of Developmental Services officials:) JULIA MULLEN
(Deputy Director), DENYSE CURTRIGHT (Assistant Chief, Work Services Section), RITA WALKER (Acting Deputy Director of the Community Operations Division), JOHN MENDOZA (Chief of the Community Rate Section, Community Operations Division, DAVID CARUCCI (Executive Director, UCP of San Diego), ANNA WANG and SYLVIA YEH (Friends of Children with Special Needs or FCSN - East Bay Area)

TOPIC: US DEPT OF TRANSPORTATION PROPOSED AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT (ADA) TRANSPORTATION REGULATIONS

GUEST SPEAKER PANEL: :
* Kurt Baldwin, Systems Advocacy Coordinator - Independent Living Center of Southern CA
* Jan Garrett, Executive Director - Center for Independent Living (Berkeley)
* Terri Lantz, client rights advocate for UCP of Los Angeles, Ventura and Santa Barbara counties
* Linda Samulksi, San Diego Center for the Blind & San Diego Disability Coalition

WHAT IS BEING PROPOSED:
* The US Department of Transportation is proposing to change (amend) its Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and section 504 regulations to update requirements concerning rail station platforms and
* Clarify that public transit providers are required to make modifications to policies and practices to ensure that their programs are accessible to individuals with disabilities, and
* Put into federal regulations (codify) the US Department of Transportation's practice concerning the issuance of guidance on disability matters.

AUDIO RECORDING - JUL 12, 2006 - CDCAN TOWNHALL TELEMEETING RECORDING (click here to listen)
TOPIC: ACCESSIBLE AND AFFORDABLE TRANSPORTATION (Part 1 OF SERIES):

GUEST SPEAKER PANEL:
* Kurt Baldwin, Systems Advocacy Coordinator - Independent Living Center of Southern CA
* Jody Barker (invited), disability rights advocate - member of People First of San Luis Obispo
* Carlos Duarte, City of Fresno, Paratransit Specialist/ADA Coordinator, Fresno Area Express
* Hugh Hallenberg, disability rights advocate, chair of LA County's Community Advisory Committee of Access Paratransit Services Inc
* Terri Lantz, client rights advocate for UCP of Los Angeles, Ventura and Santa Barbara counties
* Kamika Norman and Resmi Singh, persons with disabilities who live in Sacramento

GUEST SPEAKER PANEL:
STAN ROSENSTEIN, chief of the state's Medi-Cal program
California Department of Health Services and other Department Of Health Services officials
MICK MCGUIRE, (senior advocate, California NAELA)\

AUDIO RECORDING - JUN 01, 2006 - CDCAN TOWNHALL TELEMEETING RECORDING (click here to listen): TOPIC: SUPPORTED EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM EMPLOYMENT FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES (including update on proposed increased funding for Supported Employment Program for persons with developmental disabilities, importance of employment of persons with disabilities and the need for increased funding for this and other critical community-based programs)

GUEST PANEL/SPEAKERS:
* Frances Gracechild (Resources for Independent Living Sacramento)
* Dwight Hansen (Advocate - California Rehabilitation Association)
* Barbara Maize (Arc of Contra Costa)
* Bryon MacDonald (World Institute on Disability/CA Work Incentives Initiative Program)
* Denise Martinez (Member, People FIrst San Luis Obispo & staff with Independent Living Resource Center of San Luis Obispo)

AUDIO RECORDING - APRIL 25, 2006 CDCAN TOWNHALLTELEMEETING RECORDING (click here to listen)
TOPIC: IN HOME SUPPORTIVE SERVICES (IHSS) including impact of IHSS Quality Assurance Program and also brief update on SSI/SSP budget issues

GUEST SPEAKER PANEL:
* Christian Griffith Assembly Budget Committee staff consultant on IHSS & SSI/SSP issues
* Nancy Becker Kennedy, IHSS Personal Assistance Services Council, LA County
* Lisa Brown, parent of child with developmental disability & IHSS worker & Fresno County IHSS Advisory Committee member (confirmed)
* Deborah Doctor, Protection and Advocacy Inc
* Frances Gracechild, Resources for Independent Living, Sacramento
* Bob Roberts, Marin Independent Living
* John Standsbury, Marin County IHSS Public Authority
* Laura Williams, Californians for Disability Rights, Inc (CDR)

AUDIO RECORDING - April 18, 2006 CDCAN Townhall
Proposed Draft Supported Living Regulations & Related Housing Issues
Supported Living Services - Draft of proposed SLS Regulation Word Doc
Guests: Department of Developmental Services Julia Mullen,
Deputy Director and Marva Hamilton
and also:
* Cindy Burton, Work Training Inc (not certain)
* Ron Cohen, UCP of Los Angeles and Ventura Counties
* Jacquie Dillard, Strategies Toward Empowering People (STEP)
* Carol McKinney, Harmony Home
* Kim Olson, Alpha Resource Center
* Doug Pascover, Arriba
* Missy Runnels, consumer & member of People First/Santa Barbara

March 22, 2006 CDCAN Towhhall
Topic Regional Center Funded Community Based Services
* Impact of one-time 3% increase in payments this year to several programs and services
* Impact of new proposed and on-going reductions (called "cost containment" in the state budget) and rate freezes (the amount of money owed by the State to community organizations for providing services and supports to children and adults with developmental disabilities)
* Update on self directed services program

GUEST SPEAKER PANEL:
Therese Delgadillo, Interim Director California Department of Developmental Services
Julia Mullen, Deputy Director California Department of Developmental Services

RESPONSE PANEL:
* PHIL BONNET - Director, Redwood Coast Regional Center (Del Norte, Humboldlt, Mendocino & Lake counties)
* CINDY BURTON - Work Training Inc (Ventura, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo counties)
* MICHAEL CLARK - Director, Kern Regional Center (Inyo, Kern, Mono counties)
* SHELLA DUMONG - parent and housing advocate (Santa Barbara county)
* MAUREEN FITZGERALD, advocate (former executive director of CAR)
* CONNIE FRENZEL, parent/advocate, Autism Society of America - SF Bay Area Chapter and Parents Helping Parents (San Mateo/Santa Clara counties)
* CHRISTAL HOPKINS, consumer/advocate, member of the Fresno County In-Home Supportive Services Advisory Committee
* BARBARA MAIZE - Contra Costa ARC (Contra Costa county)
* AMY NISHIMURA - Developmental Disabilities Service Organization (Sacramento)
* DOUG PASCOVER - Arriba (Los Angeles county)
* PEOPLE FIRST OF SAN LUIS OBISPO [specific person not confirmed yet]
* JULIE SCHMAUCHER of United Cerebral Palsy (San Joaquin & Sanislaus Counties)

March 10, 2006 CDCAN Towhhall
TOPIC: IMPACT OF PROPOSED MEDI-CAL ESTATE RECOVERY REGULATIONS ALSO UPATES ON OTHER MEDI-CAL ISSUES MAJOR IMPACT TO PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES & SENIORS - IMPACT ON IHSS

GUEST SPEAKER PANEL:
* Margaret Hoffeditz, Estate Recovery Section Chief California Department of Health Services
* Doris Hawks, Mick McGuire, Dorothy Meyer (senior advocates and also with California NAELA)
This CDCAN Disability Rights Townhall Telemeeting is sponsored by California NAELA, a senior/disability advocacy organization and Resources for Independent Living/Sacramento and Arriba (independent living services provider).

GUEST SPEAKER PANEL:
* STAN ROSENSTEIN, CHIEF OF CALIFORNIA'S MEDI-CAL PROGRAM (Department of Health Services) and other Department of Health Services Officials
Also:
* Mick McGuire, Doris Hawks, senior advocates with California NAELA

FEB 17, 2006 CDCAN TOWNHALL TELEMEETING RECORDING (click here to listen) TOPIC: ASSISTED SUICIDE LEGISLATION (AB 651 "COMPASSIONATE CHOICES ACT" or "DEATH WITH DIGNITY" [note: AB 651 failed to pass out of the Senate Judiciary Committee in June of 2006. A new bill - AB 374 was introduced by Assemblymembers Patty Berg and Lloyd Levine in February 2007. ]

GUEST SPEAKER PANEL: Assemblymember Lloyd Levine (D-Van Nuys) Co-Author of AB 651; Donne Brownsey, from Compassion & Choices (bill's sponsor), Dr. Paul Spiers from AUTONOMY (chair of the board), Dr. Kathryn Locatell geriatrician and pallative care specialist; Marilyn Golden, Policy Analyst, Disability Rights Education Defense Fund (DREDF), Dr. Rex Greene, Oncologist-hematologist & consultant to the California Medical Association's Council on Ethical Affairs.

GUEST SPEAKER PANEL THE ARC & UCP DISABILITY POLICY COLLABORATION based in Washington, DC - MARTY FORD (Director of Legal Advocacy) and LIZ SAVAGE (Director Health & Housing Policy)

GUEST SPEAKER PANEL: (California Department of Health Services officials)
* STAN ROSENSTEIN, Head of the States Medi-Cal Program
* VANESSA BAIR, Chief of The Managed Care Division

January 20, 2006 CDCAN Townhall
TOPIC: SPECIAL EDUCATION (Also update on SB 517 that would exempt Class of 2006 special education seniors from the California High School Exit Exam requirements)

GUEST PANEL: JOE FELDMAN (executive director, Community Alliance for Special Education (CASE) of San Francisco) and JOHN NOLTE (California Association of Parent-Child Advocacy)

JAN 19, 2006 CDCAN TOWNHALL TELEMEETING RECORDING (click here to listen)
TOPIC: SPECIAL TOWNHALL - UPDATE ON CALIFORNIA'S RESPONSE TO CRISIS CAUSED BY IMPLEMENTATION OF THE FEDERAL MEDICARE PART D DRUG PRESCRIPTION PROGRAM (and implementation of Governor's executive order for Emergency Drug Coverage.

GUEST PANEL: STAN ROSENSTEIN (chief of the Medi-Cal Program) and other Department of Health Services officials, Health and Human Services Agency officials, and Department of Developmental Services

January 17, 2006 CDCAN Townhall
TOPIC: ACCESS TO COMMUNITIES (focus on disability rights regarding access for children and adults with developmental and other disabilities, traumatic brain and other injuries, seniors and update on compliance and enforcement issues and any updates on related legislation, regulations, proposed ballot propositions for November 2006.

GUEST SPEAKER PANEL: KIM BELSHE (Secretary of the California Health and Human Services Agency ) and later in the townhall, MICHAEL DIMMITT (Assembly Budget Committee staff on health issues including Medi-Cal, regional centers, rehabilitation)

Peggy Collins - Senior Staff Consultant Sen. Wes Chesbros office
Focus on the proposed Self Directed Waver

Julia Mullen - DDS Director of the Community and Support Division
Focus on the proposed Self Directed Waver

December 15, Family Share of Cost for Certain Regional Center Funded Services

CDCAN TOWNHALL DISABILITY RIGHTS TELEMEETINGS AUDIO RECORDINGS