Bay Area autism friends,
Governor Brown's proposed budget is devastating to California's burgeoning population of adults with autism.
The math is simple -- our service providers simply can't hire staff, pay rent, or stay in business based on the minuscule rates paid by the state (often less than minimum wage!). This means our grown autistic children increasingly face diminishing options for programs or supported housing.
Are you scared? You should be. California's adult autism population will double in five years, and triple in ten, and yet, our state is doing nothing to expand or even sustain our thin network of adult autism service providers. Sustainable pay rates for autism workers? NO! Seed money for new programs? NO! A housing plan? NO!
Contact legislators ASAP, per below, and tell them YOU ARE OUTRAGED that our governor is diverting funds away from necessary human services providing basic care for adults with autism and other developmental disabilities. Urge them to ensure a 10% regional center budget increase so community-based services can at least keep their heads above water. Note that most of the legislators are sympathetic to our cause -- it's the Gov who is the head-in-the-sand problem. So feel free to focus on him.
If you have a child with autism, you will soon have an adult with autism. Fight for them today so they will have a place to go tomorrow. The state's steady abandonment of its developmentally disabled is making prior eras of institutionalization look downright warm and fuzzy by comparison.
Thanks,
Jill Escher
Autism Society San Francisco Bay Area
PS: Many people ask me, how could 10% really make a dent when the adult autism service needs are so much more vast? This is correct, 10% is just a short-term step to stop the bleeding—we clearly need a much broader and muscular reinvention of our system. But let's support the 10% today, knowing the bigger fight lies ahead. And please forward this email.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Governor Brown
"My name is [_______]. I am calling to ask the Governor to support he Lanterman Coalition’s Budget position. [now share your message]"
Phone (916) 445-2841 Fax number (916) 558-3160 @JerryBrownGov The Governor’s Facebook
Assemblymembers
"My name is [_______]. I am calling to request [Assemblymember ___] support
the Lanterman Coalition’s Budget position. [now share your message]"
Assemblymember Toni Atkins - Phone (916) 319-2078
@toniatkins or Asm. Atkins’ Facebook
Assemblymember Chris Holden - Ph (916) 319-2041
ChrisHoldenNews or Asm. Holden’s Facebook
Kristen Olsen Phone (916) 319-2012
@KristinOlsenCAAsm or Olsen’s Facebook
Assemblymember Shirley Weber - Phone (916) 319-2079
@AsmShirleyWeberAsm or Weber’s Facebook
Assemblymember Tony Thurmond - Phone (916) 319-2015
@TonyThurmond or Asm. Thurmond’s Facebook
Assemblymember Melissa Melendez - Phone (916) 319-2067
@asmMelendez or Asm. Melendez’s Facebook
Assemblymember Rob Bonta - Phone (916) 319-2018
@RobBonta or Asm. Bonta’s Facebook
Assemblymember David Chiu - Phone (916) 319-2017
@DavidChiu or Asm. Chiu’s Facebook
Assemblymember Shannon Grove - Phone (916) 319-2034
@shannongrove or Asm. Grove’s Facebook
Assemblymember Brian Jones - Phone (916) 319-2071
@AsmBrianJones or Asm. Jones’ Facebook
Governor Brown's proposed budget is devastating to California's burgeoning population of adults with autism.
The math is simple -- our service providers simply can't hire staff, pay rent, or stay in business based on the minuscule rates paid by the state (often less than minimum wage!). This means our grown autistic children increasingly face diminishing options for programs or supported housing.
Are you scared? You should be. California's adult autism population will double in five years, and triple in ten, and yet, our state is doing nothing to expand or even sustain our thin network of adult autism service providers. Sustainable pay rates for autism workers? NO! Seed money for new programs? NO! A housing plan? NO!
Contact legislators ASAP, per below, and tell them YOU ARE OUTRAGED that our governor is diverting funds away from necessary human services providing basic care for adults with autism and other developmental disabilities. Urge them to ensure a 10% regional center budget increase so community-based services can at least keep their heads above water. Note that most of the legislators are sympathetic to our cause -- it's the Gov who is the head-in-the-sand problem. So feel free to focus on him.
If you have a child with autism, you will soon have an adult with autism. Fight for them today so they will have a place to go tomorrow. The state's steady abandonment of its developmentally disabled is making prior eras of institutionalization look downright warm and fuzzy by comparison.
Thanks,
Jill Escher
Autism Society San Francisco Bay Area
PS: Many people ask me, how could 10% really make a dent when the adult autism service needs are so much more vast? This is correct, 10% is just a short-term step to stop the bleeding—we clearly need a much broader and muscular reinvention of our system. But let's support the 10% today, knowing the bigger fight lies ahead. And please forward this email.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Governor Brown
"My name is [_______]. I am calling to ask the Governor to support he Lanterman Coalition’s Budget position. [now share your message]"
Phone (916) 445-2841 Fax number (916) 558-3160 @JerryBrownGov The Governor’s Facebook
Assemblymembers
"My name is [_______]. I am calling to request [Assemblymember ___] support
the Lanterman Coalition’s Budget position. [now share your message]"
Assemblymember Toni Atkins - Phone (916) 319-2078
@toniatkins or Asm. Atkins’ Facebook
Assemblymember Chris Holden - Ph (916) 319-2041
ChrisHoldenNews or Asm. Holden’s Facebook
Kristen Olsen Phone (916) 319-2012
@KristinOlsenCAAsm or Olsen’s Facebook
Assemblymember Shirley Weber - Phone (916) 319-2079
@AsmShirleyWeberAsm or Weber’s Facebook
Assemblymember Tony Thurmond - Phone (916) 319-2015
@TonyThurmond or Asm. Thurmond’s Facebook
Assemblymember Melissa Melendez - Phone (916) 319-2067
@asmMelendez or Asm. Melendez’s Facebook
Assemblymember Rob Bonta - Phone (916) 319-2018
@RobBonta or Asm. Bonta’s Facebook
Assemblymember David Chiu - Phone (916) 319-2017
@DavidChiu or Asm. Chiu’s Facebook
Assemblymember Shannon Grove - Phone (916) 319-2034
@shannongrove or Asm. Grove’s Facebook
Assemblymember Brian Jones - Phone (916) 319-2071
@AsmBrianJones or Asm. Jones’ Facebook
Senate
"My name is [_______]. I am calling to request [Senator ___] support
the Lanterman Coalition’s Budget position. [now share your message]"
Senator Kevin de Leon Phone (916) 651-4024
@kdeleon or Sen. de Leon’s Facebook
Senator Bill Monning – Phone (916) 651-4017
@billmonning or Sen. Monning’s Facebook
Senator Holly Mitchell – Phone (916) 651-4030
@HollyJMitchell or Sen. Mitchell’s Facebook
Senator Mark Leno – Phone (916) 651-4011
@MarkLeno or Sen. Leno’s Facebook
Senator Bob Huff - Phone (916) 651-4029
@bobhuff99 or Sen. Huff’s Facebook
Senator Jim Nielsen – Phone (916) 651-4004
No Twitter - Sen. Nielsen’s Facebook
Senator Jeff Stone – Phone (916) 651-4028
@Stone4Senate or Sen. Stone’s Facebook
"My name is [_______]. I am calling to request [Senator ___] support
the Lanterman Coalition’s Budget position. [now share your message]"
Senator Kevin de Leon Phone (916) 651-4024
@kdeleon or Sen. de Leon’s Facebook
Senator Bill Monning – Phone (916) 651-4017
@billmonning or Sen. Monning’s Facebook
Senator Holly Mitchell – Phone (916) 651-4030
@HollyJMitchell or Sen. Mitchell’s Facebook
Senator Mark Leno – Phone (916) 651-4011
@MarkLeno or Sen. Leno’s Facebook
Senator Bob Huff - Phone (916) 651-4029
@bobhuff99 or Sen. Huff’s Facebook
Senator Jim Nielsen – Phone (916) 651-4004
No Twitter - Sen. Nielsen’s Facebook
Senator Jeff Stone – Phone (916) 651-4028
@Stone4Senate or Sen. Stone’s Facebook
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