Fw: Important Oct. 19th hearing

[Some of you may know of this already, but I'm sending it out to some who might not. There are serious cuts being made tlot that pays for workers to help keep people with disabilities and elderly people safe and healthy at home. Whatever this Judge decides could delay these cuts and allow for more time to organize against them. Please show up if you can. I know it is hard to show this early when you have a disability, but if you can, please do. -- Pamela Kay Walker]

October 19, Oakland: Hearing re In-Home Supportive Services Cuts

On Monday, Judge Claudia Wilkin will hear the request for an injunction to block cuts to IHSS eligibility and services. Please be there if you can, and bring IHSS recipients and caregivers - this can make a difference to the Judge.

The latest California Budget eliminates IHSS for people with a Functional Index Score less than 2, and cuts any domestic service when a person's Functional Index Rating for the service is less than 4. Set to start on November 1, these cuts are devastating to individuals who rely on IHSS for care and safety. The suit contesting the cuts was filed on October 1
by 8 organizations, including Disability Rights California, National Senior Citizens Law Center.

Please show your support. The hearing is at 10 a.m., but arrive early for the security check, and make sure everyone has a valid ID. Hearing is in Courtroom 2, 4th floor of the Federal Court Building, 1301 Clay Street, Oakland.

Make sure you allow enough time to go through security--be there by 9:30 or so (may have to remove shoes etc..) and make sure that everyone in attendance has a valid ID.

If you have questions, please call me at (510) 332-4669.

- Wendy

Monday, Oct. 19
10 a.m. (arrive by 9:30 and bring valid ID)
Federal Court Building
1301 Clay Street
Oakland
4th Floor
Courtroom 2
(room subject to change)

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thanks, pam! we just got the word that a judge has issued an stay. I don't know what that includes. But it does include the proposed $2 an hour cut in the home attendant pay. This cut would mean we here would get more than $400 less a month! I just checked and this cut is blocked for the present by another law suit.

I don't know if the fingerprinting is included. They want to require all home attendants AND ALL CLIENTS be fingerprinted. And all home attendants have to get a background check. The fingerprinting costs $75 a person... Paid by the person! I have two attendants on paper. In the real world the crip /"client" will have to pay for this cost because attendants are paid pitifully low and are often very transient. Alot of crips piece work several attendants together. You are starting to see the problems! And even before someone can get fingerprinted and background checked to start working, she has to attend an "orientation" session to even find out how to get fingerprinted, etc. meanwhile the crip is without an attendant! All this to get a low paying job! moreover, this applies to theattendants who have worked for years! I need both Linda and mikee at all times . So I will have to go to the orientation session with them! it is not clear whether the crip has to pay for his fingerprinting! And we have not even touched the BIG BROTHER aspect of all of this!

In Freedom,
Frank Moore