California must support the developmentally disabled
Thank you to Mayor Steve Vaus for hosting my recent Poway Community Coffee where the 80-plus attendees peppered me with their questions, shared their ideas and enjoyed coffee generously donated by Employment and Community Options, a Poway non-profit that supports the intellectually disabled community.
One of the heartfelt discussions that evening centered on the state’s failure to support the developmentally disabled community which includes intellectual disability, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, autism and disabling conditions closely related to intellectual disability or requiring similar treatment.
Jack Cohen, who serves on the Poway Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and as board vice president of a home for adults with developmental disabilities called Noah Homes, explained how continuous state funding cuts are jeopardizing services to this population that isn’t represented by large lobbying firms.
Budgets are about priorities, and I believe our state’s developmentally disabled should be a priority within our social safety net.
In 1977, California made a promise with the passage of the Lanterman Act to support individuals with disabilities so they could live independent lives with dignity. I was proud that California led the nation in transitioning people out of large state-run hospitals and integrating them into the community while offering meaningful opportunities to live full lives and reach their potential. We started funding early intervention for infants and toddlers to change their developmental trajectory and improve their long-term outcomes.
The Lanterman Act created a funding stream to provide services for 300,000 Californians through the State Department of Developmental Services (DDS). DDS contracts with 21 independent, non-profit “regional centers” across the state through which qualifying individuals are able to access the services they need such as supported-living, job training and placement, and life-long individualized case management.
During the economic downturn, state spending for services for the developmentally disabled was severely slashed. Yet even as the state’s finances appeared to improve, the governor and legislative leadership refused to prioritize this population. Despite last year’s record state spending and a $3.5 billion surplus, California continually spends the least on services for individuals with developmental disabilities out of all 50 states and less than half of the national average.
While cutting provider funding, the state also increased provider costs by mandating new regulations and increasing the cost of labor, bringing this vulnerable population’s network of services to the brink of collapse.
Instead of prioritizing the funding for these core services, Governor Brown has removed the developmentally disabled community from the state’s budget and tied their future funding to a shaky new federal tax swap scheme.
It’s time that California kept its promise.
That’s why I introduced Senate Bill 948, which would prioritize the developmentally disabled by using existing tax dollars to fund providers. The bill sets up a stakeholder process to create a comprehensive approach to funding regional center operations in a sustainable and transparent manner, and it enables regional centers to deliver high-quality services to consumers. It also requires DDS to increase funding to meet labor costs and mandates.
If you agree that California must keep the Lanterman Act’s promise, please visit my website at sen.ca.gov/anderson and sign a support letter for SB 948.
State Sen. Joel Anderson, a Republican, represents the 38th District, which includes Poway.