CALL FOR SUPPORT: Department on Disability at Risk of Being Dismantled by March 2010

In The News

Published on Thursday, January 28th, 2010 | Source:

WHAT: The City of Los Angeles Department on Disability (DOD) and the Commission on Disability (COD) are threatened in the City’s budget process, again. Los Angeles City Council is considering ELIMINATING the DOD and COD, as they now exist by March of this year. EACH YEAR, DOD SERVES OVER 15,000 PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES (including persons living with HIV/AIDS), and provides technical assistance to hundreds of organizations (private and public), as well as to local and international governments.

EFFECT: “MARGINAL COST SAVINGS” will seriously impact the City’s ability to provide opportunities for employment, health services, and all other essential resources provided by the Commission and Department, which ensure that people with disabilities have equal access to services in the private and public sectors.

NEED: “WHAT YOU CAN DO”… Express your concern/support “IN-PERSON” at CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS during “Public Testimony”; or contact the Office of the Mayor and City Councilmembers (see below or visit the City’s website at www.LACity.org for contact information). You can also send in a letter expressing your concern over the proposed cuts. A template of the letter is provided below.

THESE ARE CRITICAL ISSUES THAT WILL IMPACT THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY. PLEASE LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD IMMEDIATELY! ELIMINATION OF THE DEPARTMENT IS SCHEDULED TO BE IMPLEMENTED BY THIS MARCH…THAT’S APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH AWAY!!!

WHERE: LOS ANGELES CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS
Los Angeles City Hall – John Ferraro Council Chamber
200 North Spring Street, Room 340, Los Angeles, CA 90012

WHEN: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 10 a.m.

THE DEPARTMENT IS VITAL BECAUSE DOD:

ENFORCES THE CITY’S AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT COMPLIANCE EFFORTS

OVERSEES THE ACTIVITIES OF THE CITY AIDS COORDINATOR TO EXPAND THE AVAILABILITY AND ACCESSIBILITY OF HIV TESTING, PREVENTION AND TREATMENT

WORKS TO COORDINATE FIRST RESPONDER EMERGENCY SERVICES FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

PROVIDES EXPERT TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND ADVICE TO CITY DEPARTMENTS AND ORGANIZATIONS (PUBLIC AND PRIVATE)

IS THE CITY’S PRIMARY RESOURCE TO LINK THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY TO PROGRAMS AND SERVICES; SUCH AS DOD’S ANNUAL EVENT, “ACCESSIBLE CITY EXPO,” ATTENDED BY OVER 5,000 PEOPLE.

THE COMMISSION IS VITAL BECAUSE COD:

HOLDS MONTHLY MEETINGS FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES TO BRING THEIR CONCERNS TO THE CITY, AND IN ADDITION, HEARINGS ARE CONDUCTED ON ISSUES OF IMPORTANCE TO THE COMMUNITY

PROVIDES OVERSIGHT FOR THE ACCESS ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR LOS ANGELES WORLD AIRPORTS

PROVIDES RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF PARATRANSIT SERVICES (e.g., ACCESS SERVICES, INC.) AND IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MANY IMPROVEMENTS IN SERVICES

PROVIDES OVERSIGHT FOR LAUSD SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES AND ADVOCATES FOR PARENTS WITH DISABLED CHILDREN

PROVIDES EXPERT ADVICE TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES FOR INTERACTING WITH THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY.

On behalf of the City of Los Angeles, the Commission on Disability work together with the Office of the Mayor and Department on Disability to respond to the needs and concerns of an estimated 1.3 million residents with disabilities in Los Angeles. The Commission advocates for people with disabilities and serves in an advisory capacity to the Department. The Commission holds its regular meeting on the first Wednesday of each month; annually presents a public hearing on current critical issues; identifies priority issues to be addressed; and makes recommendations to the Mayor and City Council for the benefit of the disability community. For more information about the Commission on Disability, call the Department on Disability (213) 202-2764 voice, or (213) 202-2755 TTY, or visit www.Disability.LACity.org.

201 North Figueroa Street, Suite 100
Los Angeles, California 90012
213.202.2764 Voice
213.202.2755 TTY
213.202.2715 Fax

OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW SUPPORT IN PERSON

We are requesting for the disability community, advocates, and community-based organizations to attend the Los Angeles City Council Committee Meeting (in large numbers) to voice your concerns and support for the Department, immediately. Time is of the essence and these are critical issues, which will negatively impact the disability community!

Monday, February 1, 2010 at 1:00 p.m.

LOS ANGELES CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE MEETING
Los Angeles City Hall, 10th Floor, Room 1010
200 North Spring Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012

CONTACT THE MAYOR’S OFFICE AND YOUR CITY COUNCIL MEMBER

Antonio R. Villaraigosa, Mayor / (213) 978-0600 / mayor@lacity.org

Ed P. Reyes, First District / (213) 473-7001 / Ed.P.Reyes@lacity.org

Avak Keotahian, Second District / (213) 473-7002 / Avak.Keotahian@lacity.org

Dennis P. Zine, Third District / (213) 473-7003 / Dennis.Zine@lacity.org

Tom La Bonge, Fourth District / (213) 473-7004 / Tom.LaBonge@lacity.org

Paul H. Koretz, Fifth District / (213) 473-7005 / Paul.Koretz@lacity.org

Tony Cárdenas, Sixth District / (213) 473-7006 / Tony.Cardenas@lacity.org

Richard Alarcón, Seventh District / (213) 473-7006 / Richard.Alarcon@lacity.org

Bernard C. Parks, Eighth District / (213) 473-7008 / Bernard.C.Parks@lacity.org

Jan Perry, Ninth District / (213) 473-7009 / Jan.Perry@lacity.org

Herb J. Wesson, Jr., Tenth District / (213) 473-7010 / WessonHJ@lacity.org

Bill Rosendahl, Eleventh District / (213) 473-7011 / Bill.Rosendahl@lacity.org

Greig L. Smith, Twelfth District / (213) 473-7012 / Greig.Smith@lacity.org

Eric Garcetti, Thirteenth District / (213) 473-7013 / Eric.Garcetti@lacity.org

Jose Huizar, Fourteenth District / (213) 473-7014 / Jose.Huizar@lacity.org

Janice Hahn, Fifteenth District / (213) 473-7015 / Janice.Hahn@lacity.org

LETTER TO CITY OF LOS ANGELES COUNCILMEMBERS

Name
Address
City, State Zip

January 28, 2010

Dear Councilmember:

I am writing to you about the pending proposed budget cuts and elimination of the Los Angeles Department on Disability and the Commission on Disability. These cuts will have a severe impact on residents who are deaf and hard of hearing and disabled residents of Los Angeles.

The Department on Disability is vital as it enforces the City’s Americans with Disabilities Act compliance efforts, oversee the activities of the City AIDS coordinator and expands the accessibility of HIV testing/prevention/treatment, coordinates the first responder emergency services for people with disabilities, provides expert technical assistance to City departments and organizations and is the City’s primary resource link to the disability community. Rights such as communication access at the City Council meetings is something that many people take for granted. As a deaf person, I value communication access and thanks to the Department on Disability, I’m able to receive equal access.

I strongly urge you to reconsider the proposed cuts that would have an impact not only on deaf, hard of hearing and disabled people but the overall population. I’m not alone in this struggle. There are over 3 million deaf and hard of hearing California residents living with a hearing loss, with approximately 1 million in Los Angeles alone. I urge you as my representative to oppose the proposed budget cuts to the Los Angeles Department on Disability and the Commission on Disability. Deaf and hard of hearing constituents are counting on your leadership to STOP the proposed budget cuts!

Sincerely,

Name
Address
City, State, Zip

[via ]