People With Developmental Disabilities Protest CA Capitol Tree Lighting

["Devine, James" <jdevine@xxxxxxx>]

People With Developmental Disabilities Protest At
Capitol Tree Lighting

At the lighting of the state Christmas tree, Governor
Schwarzenegger and his family will have a young child
with developmental disabilities flip the
switch to light the tree.

      [Special Thanks to Gil Murillo.]
http://www.prweb.com/releases/2003/12/prweb93381.php

      PRWEB - At the lighting of the state Christmas
tree, Governor Schwarzenegger and his family will have
a young child with developmental disabilities flip the
switch to light the tree. This traditional event
highlights the dignity and worth of people with
developmental disabilities, the very children and
adults with disabilities who will be denied 
family supports, necessary medical care, needed
therapies, and ultimately forced into institutions,
should the Governor's mid-year budget cut proposals 
be enacted. People with developmental disabilities,
family members, and friends will gather at the
ceremony to confront the Governor directly in a 
silent, respectful, but poignant display of protest.

      Event organizers will hold a press conference at
3:30 PM, Tuesday, December 9, 2003, at the North Steps of the State
Capitol, where people with disabilities and their families will tell the press
how the Governor's  cuts would wreak havoc in their lives. They will then walk
to the tree  lighting on the west lawn of the Capitol and stand as a group
in silent protest throughout the ceremony, which begins at 4:00 PM.

      Arnold Schwarzenegger rode the repeal of the
"car tax" to be elected Governor. Now he is paying for that $ 7.4 billion tax
cut by cutting services to children and adults with severe disabilities, the elderly
disabled, families who care for their loved ones with a disability at 
home, and young children with the most serious disabling conditions.

[this is not exactly true. He is making those with disabilities pay for the state of California's budget 
deficit. But the "car tax" repeal will be paid for mostly by cutting police, fire, rescue, and similar services
on the local level -- or raising local taxes. -- JD]

      The impact of the mid-year reduction could eventually lead to the
institutionalization of thousands of people with developmental 
disabilities, as their families become unable to care for them
without modest state assistance, like respite. Additionally, the
implementation of a caseload cap would lead to the denial of needed therapies and
irreversible  developmental damage for thousands of small children. People with
disabilities and  their families across California are terrified of the potential impact. Many 
of them will be present at the tree lighting ceremony to tell their  stories and 
educate others about the underlying impact of the Governor's budget proposals.

      According to Mark Polit, Executive Director of the California 
Alliance for Inclusive Communities, and himself a parent of young man with 
autism, "Arnold Schwarzenegger says he needs to be tough enough to make painful
cuts. But focusing cuts on little children and others with severe disabilities isn't tough. 
It's cruel. If he was really tough, he would tell California that we all have to share the 
pain, even the well-to do."

      The Governor promised that he would balance the budget by eliminating
waste and over-spending. "Governor Schwarzenegger did not reveal the 
details of his spending plan during the election campaign," says Shirley Dove, 
a parent and President of the Arc of California. "The reason has now  become
obvious: Californians would have rejected such a mean-spirited plan."

      Not only would the proposed budget cuts cause immense personal
suffering, they are ill-conceived, both fiscally and legally. The Administration 
proposals would: 

      *  Cause the State to lose substantial federal revenues.

      *  Cost the State more than it will save as people are forced 
into unwanted and costly out-of-home living arrangements
including  developmental centers costing close to $200,000 per resident per
year. 

      *  Result in possible violations of the Americans with Disabilities
Act, the Due Process Clause of the U.S. Constitution, and other federal
laws, opening the State to protracted and costly litigation.

      Governor Schwarzenegger has said that he wants to see "a world 
where people with intellectual disabilities are fully accepted, and where 
every person has the opportunity to succeed." Yet his budget proposal can 
only destroy that hope, causing irreparable harm, dislocation, and pain.

      The Silent Protest Vigil is supported by:  The Arc of California, 
a grass roots organization, formed by parents in 1954, whose mission is 
to improve the quality of life for people with developmental disabilities.

      California Alliance for Inclusive Communities (CAIC), a leading 
family voice for inclusion of people with disabilities in the mainstream life 
of our communities.

      The California Autism Coalition, comprised of organizations which
represent, support and advocate for individuals affected with autism
spectrum disorders and their families.

      Protection & Advocacy, Inc. (PAI), a federally mandated non-profit
advocacy agency that works with people with disabilities to advance 
their human and legal rights.

      NOTE: California Governor Schwarzenegger will be
interviewed  today on the Hannity and Colmes talk show, at 9pm Eastern (6 pm
Pacific).  You can ask to hosts to address with the governor his cuts
proposed to the disabled.

Sean Hannity hannity@xxxxxxxxxxx and Alan Colmes colmes@xxxxxxxxxxx

------------------------
Jim Devine jdevine@xxxxxxx & http://bellarmine.lmu.edu/~JDevine
"Is it peace or is it Prozac?" -- Cheryl Wheeler.