Disability Rights California

“Draft is presented to the finance committee for review and recommendation to the full board for review and approval prior to filing. Auditors, the executive director and administrative services director are available to answer questions. 990 training materials are provided.”

“Conflict of interest policy, questionnaire and statement are completed by each board member annually, and reviewed by the executive director. The executive director, administrative directors, program directors, managing attorneys, office managers and other staff as determined by the executive director also annually and as determined necessary complete a conflict of interest disclosure form. A vendor list of major purchases/services is provided to staff.”

“CEO, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, & TOP MANAGEMENT:The Board of Directors annually evaluates the Executive Director. The Board reviews external market comparability data and determines the appropriate compensation. For the top management, each position is placed in a competitive salary scale approved by the Board, based upon grant requirements, external market rates, internal comparisons, and salary increases are based on the employee's annual performance review.OTHER OFFICERS AND KEY EMPLOYEES:EACH POSITION IS PLACED IN A COMPETITIVE SALARY SCALE APPROVED BY THE BOARD, BASED UPON BOTH THE EXTERNAL MARKET RATES AND INTERNAL COMPARISONS, AND SALARY INCREASES ARE BASED ON THE EMPLOYEE'S ANNUAL PERFORMANCE REVIEW.”

“AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST.”

“Other program services 4: other program services to promote the rights of, and advocacy for, persons with disabilities. Other programs include: protection & advocacy of individual rights, protection & advocacy for traumatic brain injury, protection & advocacy for beneficiaries of social security, protection & advocacy for assistive technology, protection & advocacy for voting access, state of california health & human services agency department of state hospitals, the state bar of california legal services trust fund program - iolta trust fund and the state bar of california legal services trust fund program - equal access, us department of education client assistance program, and calmhsa, work incentives planning and assistance.”

“$6,073,336 - Office of Clients' Rights Advocacy$3,064,554 - Protection & Advocacy for Developmental Disabilities$2,940,491 - Protection & Advocacy for Individuals with Mental IllnessEach day, our work makes a difference. We fight to end discrimination, stop abuse, and advocate for critical services. Each victory, however small, helps ensure Californians with disabilities can enjoy the freedoms and protections others enjoy. Created by the governor in 1978 as part of the national protection and advocacy system we have worked for 37 years to create a barrier-free, inclusive, diverse world that values each individual and his or her voice and where all people with disabilities enjoy the power of equal rights and opportunities, dignity, choice, independence, and freedom from abuse, neglect, and discrimination.We take to heart our mission statement, which is to advocate, educate, investigate, and litigate to advance and protect the rights of Californians with disabilities. We accomplish our work in a number of ways, including representing clients at hearings; filing lawsuits; providing materials, information, training and referrals; promoting self-advocacy; advocating for public policy changes; and conducting investigations and monitoring service delivery. In 2015, DRC impacted hundreds of thousands of individuals through impact litigation and investigations of abuse and neglect, directly served 25,736 individuals, and provided information and training at over 807 events to underserved communities giving over 40,005 people tools to enforce their rights. Through our work we advanced the civil rights of people with disabilities in areas such as prevention of abuse and neglect, healthcare and other benefits, discrimination, education, mental health services, and services for people with developmental disabilities.About Our ServicesWe provide advocacy services throughout California. Staff in our four regional offices located in Sacramento (including a Fresno satellite office), Oakland, Los Angeles, and San Diego pursue class action and other impact litigation as well as individual representation to address wrongs, implement rights, and prevent abuse and neglect. Our Office of Clients Rights Advocacy secures services and supports for individuals with developmental disabilities who are consumers of Californias regional center system through individual representation, outreach and training, and investigation of rights violations. Staff at each of Californias five state psychiatric hospitals in our Office of Patients Rights respond to patient complaints and work to ensure that hospitals and facilities follow mental health laws, regulations, and policies.DRC also provides information to thousands of Californians with disabilities about their rights and tools they need to enforce them. Our Peer and Self-Advocacy staff help people learn about their rights and teach them how to be their own advocates. Our Multi-Cultural Affairs advocates ensure that individuals from language and ethnic distinct communities receive information and training in languages they can understand.In addition to representation, education, and investigations, DRC effects positive systemic change through our public policy work. Our legislative and public information staff advocate to change laws and policies to end discrimination, foster equality, and protect access to health, education, and other benefits. Examples of our Advocacy WorkOur largest programs are: advocacy programs for individuals with developmental disabilities (performed by our Office of Clients Rights Advocacy offices and our Protection and Advocacy for Developmental Disabilities grant); advocacy programs for individuals with psychiatric disabilities (performed by our Office of Patients Rights and our Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness grant); and advocacy programs for individuals with other disabilities as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (performed by our Protection”

“Services to Individuals with Psychiatric DisabilitiesOur services to individuals with psychiatric disabilities are provided by attorneys and advocates in our four regional offices, patients rights advocates at each of the five state psychiatric hospitals, and peer self-advocates who provide training in 26 facilities located throughout the state. We directly provided services on approximately 10,441 requests for assistance from Californians with psychiatric disabilities and affected the lives of thousands more through training, technical assistance to county patients rights advocates, public policy advocacy, and systemic reform litigation. One of the most basic human rights, is the right to be free from abuse and neglect. Gabriel Nava who has lived in a state hospital for more than a decade, had to have most of his teeth extracted. Thats because the hospital took so long to repair his teeth after he reported problems. He asked for partial dentures, but was on a waiting list for years. He had trouble eating and drinking. Gabriel wasnt the only one with dental issues. He and other residents asked DRC to investigate why they couldnt get full and partial dentures. The investigation showed it was easier for California prisoners to get dentures than psychiatric patients at state hospitals. One resident who didnt have teeth or dentures, reportedly choked to death when he was accidently given a regular meal tray. We worked with state officials to revamp the statewide dental program including bringing in an outside dental consultant. So far seven of our nine clients, including Gabriel, have received full or partial dentures. I feel so much better, he said, Now I can eat.Our Peer/Self Advocacy program contacted the Mexican Consulate to see if we could help people with mental health disabilities advocate for themselves regarding health insurance coverage for people with mental health disabilities. The government of Mexico referred us to a program called The Ventanilla de Salud. It provides on-site assistance and outreach to low-income and Hispanic immigrant families who may be unfamiliar with the United States health system. Its implemented through 50 Mexican consulates in the United States and local health organizations. We shared information about DRC services, self-advocacy, stigma reduction and mental health parity to people renewing visas for work and others. Presentations were held in San Francisco and Fresno and each drew between 40 and 50 people.Services to Individuals with Physical, Learning, and Sensory DisabilitiesAttorneys and advocates in our four regional offices provide services to individuals with physical, learning, and sensory disabilities. Last year, we directly provided services on over 1,610 requests for assistance from Californians with physical, learning, and sensory disabilities and affected the lives of thousands more through training, public policy advocacy, and systemic reform litigation.Katie Bassilios has a disability that makes it difficult for her to walk farther than 50 feet. She has an assigned parking space behind her apartment complex. But she cant use it because she has difficulty getting to it. So she has to park on the street in front of her home. But when space isnt available shes forced to park elsewhere and walk farther than is comfortable for her. Katie asked Torrance to designate a space in front of her apartment building as disabled parking by painting the curb blue. The cost was minimal. While state law allows cities to designate parking for people with disabilities who have a placard, Torrance has a general policy not to provide it. In fact, the city has denied all requests in residential areas since 1999, and denied Katies. Instead, the city painted the space in front of her apartment green, which established a 20-minute parking limit during business hours, except weekends and holidays. That didnt help Katie, who goes to and from work five days a week. She contacted DRC and we filed a complai”