AB 1113 has gone to the Governor of California for his signature. We have provided print-out letters of support, however we urge you to write your own if possible.

You can find the letters of support by clicking on the appropriate letter:

Support Letter from Ukiah, CA

Support Letter from Your City

On May 24, Congress passed a federal minimum wage rate increase, which will raise the rate from $5.15 to $7.25 in three stages over two years. This increase is the first to happen in 10 years.

Given that many people with significant disabilities earn wages at or near the minimum wage, they are likely to be impacted by these changes. While the increase provides a wonderful opportunity for many individuals, questions may arise. Two new publications from the ICI (Institute for Community Inclusion) review how the minimum wage increase is relevant and provide guidance for both people with disabilities and service providers. These fact sheets will assist service providers and people with disabilities through the minimum wage increase and its affect on benefits and other issues

Source: Story provided by the AAPD’s quarterly newsletter

• Practice schedule:
  • 3:30pm to 5:00pm
  • Where: Yokayo Bowl, Ukiah
  • Dates:
    • September: 20th, 27th
    • October: 4th, 11th, 18th, 25th
    • November: 1st, 8th, 15th, 29th

There will be no bowling Thanksgiving Day!

If you get out of work or school at 3:00pm, it is okay if you show up a little late.

If you have any questions please call J.D.

• When: Saturday, September 29 - 11:00am to 3:00pm
• Where: Todd Grove Park Picnic Area

If your last name begins with A-L, please bring a green salad.

If your last name begins with M-Z, please bring fresh fruit.

People First will provide hot dogs, hamburgers, buns, condiments, paper goods and drinks!

If you plan on swimming, please bring $4.00/adult or $3.00/youth. Children 5 years and under are admitted free, but must be accompanied by a paying adult.

Community Resources for Independence!

CRI Tech Expo, Friday from 10:00am to 3:00pm, September 21st, 2007.

The second annual CRI Tech Expo will be held at the Craft Building at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds. This free event will showcase the latest technology to enable people with disabilities and senior citizens to live and work independently. Technology vendors will display and promote their products. Come see the new technologies!

Assembly Bill 1113 provides more opportunities for people with disabilities in the workplace without loss of Medi-Cal benefits. It allows major benefits that the previous “250% California Working Disabled” (250% CWD) did not allow.If AB1113 does not pass, the 250% CWD will go as well. It is due to an expiration date (sunset provision) set for September 1, 2008.

Though, the voting records on AB1113 appear to slowly move back toward failing the California Senate. Its first senate vote was was a meager “8-3″, the second vote was “10-7″ as a pass in the California Senate..

It was returned to a third reading in the California Senate. Potentially to gain enough votes in its dismissal. In either case, we need to let our “governator” know, as well as those that voted against it, that it needs to be passed. If it does not pass, it will knock out many privileges that many of us may use, such as the 250% CWD program. This will significantly decrease employment rate of people with disabilities. This failing the senate (or the governor) is a significant drawback to opportunities for people with disabilities.

Please, write our governor and your senators to support this bill. It could be of utmost importance in the future.

It goes for a “second third-reading” on Monday. It needs to pass, otherwise we may all be screwed as Californians Working with Disabilities.

California’s Senate has voted to pass the AB1113 measure. It now goes to the “Enrollment” process. Here is where a “Resolution of Differences” process occurs, in which both houses (House of Representatives and Senate) must agree on the amendments to law. If they can not agree, the bill is referred to a two-house resolution committee, until an agreement can be made.

If an agreement is made on the current legislation, as amended, then it will go straight to the Governor of California (Schwarzenegger). At this point, the Governor has three choices:

• Sign the bill into law
• Allow the bill to become law without his signature
• Veto (refuse it)

If the Governor vetoes the bill, it will go back to both the Senate and the House of Representatives. Then, they must vote a two-thirds “Yes” vote in order to override the Governor’s veto.

Assuming the bill passes the enrollment and resolution processes, we will have to write our Governor in support of this bill so that it will be signed into law.

• When: September 11, 2007
• Where: Redwood Coast Regional Center
• Time: 3:30pm to 5:00pm
• Agenda:
  1. Come meet Jeannie Russell the new service coordinator.
  2. Update on SDS
  3. When should we have the next focus meeting?
  4. Nicky will discuss the class she attends at Community Resources for Independence.
  5. Marty Omoto’s town hall meeting.
• Please Bring a snack to share.

If you want to attend please call Nicky Fabyunkey at the Regional Center as soon as possible!

California has an initiative called “250% California Working Disabled” which allows the potential to earn up to 250% of federal poverty level (about $2,128 per month) without affecting Medi-Cal benefits.

California legislation is now voting on Assembly Bill 1113, which further expands Californian’s Working with Disabilities’ opportunities. It allows for the following:

• Lets workers using this Medi-Cal program marry or partner with whomever they choose.
• Lets workers using this program at age 65 stay in the program and continue to work.
• Makes this program permanent so workers can rely on it when planning work or changing jobs.
• Lets workers using this program save all their earnings for a rainy day without restrictions!
• Lets workers keep their IRAs and other retirement accounts when going back to other Medi-Cal programs.
• Lets workers have up to 18 months between jobs to stay in this program.

Without the passage of AB1113, the 250% California Working Disabled program will expire on September 1, 2008.

AB1113 needs your support. Contact your state senator immediately and tell them what is important to you! If you need to find your state senator, you can find who to contact here: www.legislature.ca.gov/port-zipsearch.html

A legal settlement in Oakland requires schools in California to provide assistance to children with diabetes. These nurses in schools will be trained to monitor blood-sugar levels and administer insulin when needed. Federal law requires that the same equal opportunities in education are afforded to both students with disabilities (which includes diabetes, according to the new settlement).

California, currently, has a ratio of a single nurse for more than 2,250 students while federal guidelines require one nurse per 750 students.

Source: Story provided by USA Today and can be found here: http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2007-08-09-diabetes-school_N.htm

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