Action Alert: Contact the Governor to Restore Funding for Social Recreational Programs for People with Developmental Disabilities! |
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In 2009, when California was in the midst of a severe recession, the state made devastating cuts to many programs that affected people with developmental disabilities, such as autism, cerebral palsy, intellectual disabilities, and epilepsy. They called these cuts “temporary."
One significant cut was to restrict regional centers from funding camp and social & recreational programs for individuals with developmental disabilities. This led to terrible consequences, including increasing racial and ethnic disparities and poorer health outcomes.
In the time since, the state has restored nearly all of the cuts to people with developmental disabilities, except for one major area.
They never restored the funding for vital camp and social & recreational programs.
You can find out more HERE on our Restore Social Rec website.
The California State Senate and Assembly has put in their budget proposals for the restoration of social and recreational programs and camps for people with developmental disabilities served by regional centers.
But this is not yet law. We need the governor to approve the restoration of social rec and camps.
WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP?
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1. Click the link below, then click on "HAVE COMMENT"
2. Put in your name and email address
3. Choose your subject: Budget Proposal 2021-22
4. Click “Continue”
5. Click on “Pro”
6. In message, tell the Governor to restore funding for social rec and camp for people served by regional centers. Tell him why this is important to you or your family. It only needs to be a couple of sentences.
7. Share this message with other self-advocates and families!
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2. Call the Governor
You can also call the Governor's office at 916-445-2841. Tell the person answering that you are calling to urge the Governor to restore funding for social and rec and camp for people served by regional centers. It will only take 1 minute!
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Special SDP Connect
Wednesday, June 9, 4:30 - 6 PM
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A weekly information-sharing Zoom meeting for Self-Determination Program participants from everywhere in California, family members, independent facilitators, FMSs, regional center staff, service providers, and anyone else who is interested in moving the SDP forward!
Each meeting will last an hour and a half. The first 15-30 minutes will be a presentation on a different topic followed by questions and answers from attendees at the meeting. We will stop each meeting after an hour and a half, but we will be back the following week to provide more assistance.
Please note: Because of the statewide rollout of the Self-Determination Program on July 1, we will have SDP Connect every week through July 7.
This week's topic: More State Budget Updates & Continuing the Countdown to Self-Determination!
In the first half hour, we'll talk about the most recent updates to the state budget and how they might affect both the restoration of social and recreational programs as well as the Self-Determination Program. We'll also address getting ready for the rollout of the SDP, which is just one month away! After that, we'll take your questions and receive feedback from others on the call.
We will be using Zoom's translation feature during this SDP Connect. When you enter the Zoom webinar, please be sure to select the language you wish to hear at the bottom of the Zoom screen, even if you are only interested in hearing the original English version of the call. We will offer technical assistance at the beginning of the call.
The Zoom meeting ID is 873 6463 5352.
The Zoom meeting password is 123456.
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Positions available at DVU to lead our outreach and leadership training efforts |
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SUMMARY: Disability Voices United, a California disability advocacy organization, is seeking individuals with a passion for disability rights and diversity to join its small staff. These positions will direct our new projects related to outreach and leadership training for diverse people with disabilities and family members and reducing racial and ethnic disparities. Candidates are expected to have experience with developing and leading trainings in the disability community targeted toward self-advocates and families as well as a background in the developmental disabilities system in California. Highly preferred that the candidates are persons with a disability and/or a family member.
WHO WE ARE: Directed exclusively by individuals with disabilities and family members, Disability Voices United is a statewide California disability rights organization that advocates for choice, control and self-determination, meaningful outcomes that matter to us, and systems that are equitable and accountable to us. We have a small and dedicated paid staff and a very active volunteer board of directors.
DEADLINE TO APPLY: Open until filled. Applications received by June 13, 2021 will be considered for first round of interviews.
HOW TO APPLY: Fill out the Google form application by clicking HERE. You will need to attach a resume. If you have any problems with the Google form, or need accommodations in applying, please contact [email protected].
JOB TYPE: Full time or part time, work from home. Some evenings and weekends will be required. After health emergency ends, travel in California will be required about 25% of time.
LOCATION: The organization is statewide and has a virtual office, so staff may live anywhere in California and work from a home office. We are a small organization and will not be able to offer assistance with relocation.
Disability Voices United is an equal opportunity employer. We hire without regard to race, color, disability, national origin, religion, age, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, medical condition, marital status, or any other protected characteristic.
PURPOSE OF THE POSITIONS: The Director and Assistant Director will lead projects to provide leadership training and develop a leadership network among people with disabilities and family members. The positions will recruit and nurture Emerging Leaders from underserved communities in California, including self-advocates and family members from communities of color, rural communities, and low-income communities. These Emerging Leaders will receive training and will be matched with Experienced Leader mentors. The trainings will focus on leadership skills, public speaking, and active participation on boards and committees, including understanding agendas, data, and budgets, among other areas. The staff will support these Emerging Leaders as they seek out leadership opportunities in their communities and statewide, within and outside of the developmental services system.
Director of Outreach and Leadership Training
SALARY: Depending upon experience:
Full Time: $50,000-$60,000 annual salary; Part Time: $25,000-35,000 annual salary, plus benefits, including health insurance (for full time only), and paid time off
JOB RESPONSIBILITIES
The Director reports to the President and will be responsible for:
Programmatic
- Design a statewide leadership training program for self-advocates and family members served by California’s 21 regional centers and their family members, including creating presentations, identifying trainers, developing the training curriculum, developing the training schedule, moderating the trainings, and other tasks
- Identify emerging leaders – people with disabilities and family members – throughout the state, with particular emphasis on communities of color, communities who speak languages other than English, and rural communities
- Support these Emerging Leaders through their training and development and in identifying leadership opportunities within their communities
- Communicate regularly with Emerging Leaders to evaluate their experiences during and after trainings, address any questions or concerns, and connect them with the necessary resources to be successful
- Recruit Experienced Leaders to serve as mentors to the emerging leaders and facilitate and nurture relationships between the two groups
- Help to create and facilitate the Equity Leadership Collaborative, a group that will bring together both emerging and experienced leaders to share resources, build power, strategize, and make change
- Organize convenings of the Equity Leadership Collaborative including developing agenda and materials. With President and board members, co-facilitate the convenings
- Serve as liaison to the Department of Developmental Services (DDS), community-based organizations, and regional centers
- With Assistant Director, compile evaluations of trainings and analyze results of convenings and produce reports to document findings
- Other responsibilities as assigned
Administrative/Supervisorial:
- Supervise Assistant Director
- Track hours for reporting to funding agencies
- With Assistant Director, track progress of project for funders on online platforms
- With Assistant Director, develop application process for emerging leaders and create recruitment strategy
- Attend weekly staff meetings and monthly board meetings
- Other responsibilities as assigned
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- At least an associate's (AA) degree in a related field
- Excellent communicator, facilitator, and writer in English and Spanish; fluency required in both languages
- Highly organized with experience in planning trainings, particularly around leadership
- At least two years of professional experience in the disability community
- Familiarity working with populations of diverse races and ethnicities, abilities, languages, and methods of communication
- Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite including Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Excel
HIGHLY PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor's or advanced degree in a related field from an accredited college or university
- At least four years of professional experience in the disability community
- Knowledge of other resources throughout California available to individuals with developmental disabilities, including regional centers, special education, and IHSS
- Contacts with other disability organizations and/or within disability communities
- Contacts with multi-ethnic organizations and/or within multi-ethnic communities
- Life experience as a person with a disability OR direct experience as a family member of a person with a disability
- Experience working with persons with disabilities
- Experience working with persons from diverse and underserved communities
- Familiarity with the ethos of cultural humility
TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS
After pandemic restrictions are lifted, travel around California will be required. Ability to travel occasionally for activities such as out-of-town meetings, training, or outreach activities up to 25% of the time.
Assistant Director of Outreach and Leadership Training
SALARY: Depending upon experience:
Full Time: $35,000-$45,000; Part Time: $17,500-$23,000, plus benefits, including health insurance (for full time only), and paid time off
JOB RESPONSIBILITIES
The Assistant Director reports to the Director and will be responsible for:
- Support Director in creating statewide leadership training program for self-advocates with developmental disabilities and family members
- Help to design training schedule and promotional materials and presentations
- With Director, develop application process for emerging leaders and create recruitment strategy
- Assist with communication with Emerging and Experienced Leaders
- Plan all logistics of online leadership trainings and convenings, including getting out invites, setting up Zoom meetings, and managing meetings
- When in-person activities resume, coordinate all logistics of meetings and convenings including securing sites, and arranging travel, meals, audio/visual, and other needs
- Assist with analyzing results of convenings and produce reports documenting findings
- With Director, track progress of project for funders on online platforms
- Attend weekly staff meetings and monthly board meetings
- Other responsibilities as assigned
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- At least a high school diploma or general education degree (GED)
- Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite including Word, Outlook, and Excel
- Experience with coordinating meetings and webinars on Zoom
- Excellent communicator familiar with working with populations of diverse races and ethnicities, abilities, languages, and methods of communication
HIGHLY PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Associate's degree OR Bachelor's degree in a related field
- Ability to read, write and speak a second foreign language fluently, or fluency in American Sign Language
- Contacts with other disability organizations and/or within disability communities
- Contacts with multi-ethnic organizations and/or within multi-ethnic communities
- Life experience as a person with a disability OR direct experience as a family member of a person with a disability
- Experience working with persons with disabilities
- Experience working with persons from diverse and underserved communities
TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS
After pandemic restrictions are lifted, travel around California will be required. Ability to travel occasionally for activities such as out-of-town meetings, training, or outreach activities up to 10-20% of the time.
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Disability Voices United works for:
- Choice and control over our lives
- Meaningful outcomes that matter to us
- Systems that are equitable and accountable to us
Please consider donating today to support our important work!
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