Systems Advocacy

Efforts to affect legislation, policies and laws for changes in the system, through a partnership with the client and the community.

The Community Advisory Committee (CAC) determined the following issues for 2007-2009:

·    TRANSPORTATION - In Southern California the personal automobile is king.  It is also true that the cost of purchasing, maintaining and operating a vehicle is prohibitively costly for many people.  Often people with disabilities rely on public  transportation and need that transportation to be usable, meaning both accessible and affordable. 
     We have come a long way from the day that people with disabilities had to throw themselves out of their wheelchairs, in front of busses to illustrate the problem.  When Rosa Parks stood up to the establishment and demanded that people of color not be subjected to sitting in the back of the bus, she helped to open the door to civil rights.  People with disabilities had to engage in their own fight against the establishment for access to transportation.  That fight led to the passage of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.  This Act restricts recipients of federal financial assistance from excluding people with disabilities, and bus companies were required to add wheelchair lifts to busses. 
     ILCSC was (and continues to be) a key player in Los Angeles, as well as nationally, pushing for accessibility and affordability of public transportation.  In the early 80's the Antelope Valley Transit Authority was established, and contracted with the Antelope Valley Bus Company.  When they refused to put wheelchair lifts on their busses, the Independent Living Center of Southern California worked with the community of persons with disabilities to force the bus company to become accessible.  We have worked with the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transit Authority in the development of low floor busses and the implementation of the County coordinated Paratransit Plan required by the Americans with Disabilities Act. 
     Accessibility to public transportation is the key to independence of all persons with disabilities.  The opportunities for further education, employment, medical services, and many other needs that anyone may have in the community is controlled by that ability to have transportation.  The coordination of the Fixed Route, Access Services, Inc., Dial-A-Ride, and other paratransit services is vital to that end. 

If you would like to get involved with this and other issues, think about attending our Community Advisory Meetings.

·    HOUSING - The basic need for shelter is not lost on people with disabilities; a place to live in the community is a cornerstone to independent living.  Many advances have been made since the independent living movement developed in the 70's.  In California, the Rumford Act of 1963 was amended to include people with disabilities with protections from housing discrimination.  Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 was passed with HUD writing regulations in the early 80's, that included accessibility guidelines in federally funded housing.  The Fair Housing Act of 1968 was amended in 1988 to include protections for people with disabilities from discrimination, and included comprehensive guidelines for accessibility in almost all multi-family housing.
     On the affordability front section 23, and then the Section 8 program subsidized rent above 1/3 a persons income - these programs are intended for people with low-income, and so low-income people with disabilities also benefit.  Additional programs, such as the Section 202, 811, HOME and HOPWA, were also put into operation.  In California, the ILCSC was instrumental in establishing the Section 8 Aftercare Program.
     Unfortunately, until we as a society address the chronic 80% unemployment rate of people with disabilities, government benefits, such as Supplemental Security Income (SSI), which as of 2007 is $850 a month, or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) sets the budget limit for most people.  When the low end of rooms for rent are at $550 a month with a $550 deposit, it becomes obvious that affordability of housing is one of the major barriers to independent living for people with disabilities.  In Los Angeles County, the public housing authorities have 10 years to indefinite waiting lists and conventional, privately-owned HUD units also have lengthy waiting lists.
     Other pressures associated with accessibility of housing also limit availability of housing for people with disabilities.  Those pressures include local governments who would like to limit street parking for tenants of apartment housing, leading to apartment designs that are not accessible to people who have mobility impairments.  Often newly constructed apartments are over the garage with stairs leading to the first floor.  Even when there is an elevator in the garage, the apartments are not accessible, unless the tenant can drive or afford a car.
     The lack of adequate public transportation is also a barrier.  It does not matter how affordable or accessible the housing is, if the person cannot get to it.

If you would like to get involved with this and other issues, think about attending our Community Advisory Meetings, call (818) 785-6934.

·    ACCESS TO SERVICES - People with disabilities need the same level of access to services as people without disabilities, such as going shopping, seeing a financial advisor, etc.  However the community is not always prepared to be inclusive.  Unfortunately, unlike other good business practices, people tend to treat disability access with the approach of, "What we don't know, won't hurt us."  This has lead to friction between the community of people with disabilities and the business community.  When people with disabilities engage in their enforcement rights under the law, business sometimes feels caught off guard.  It is necessary to be able to help both those that provide goods and services, and people with disabilities with understanding the obligations and limits of accommodating people with disabilities.

If you would like to get involved with this and other issues, think about attending our Community Advisory Meetings, call (818) 785-6934.

·    INFORMATION AND TRAINING -

Training

Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act
    Overview of the EEOC regulations implementing the employment provisions of
    the ADA, includes information on interaction of California State codes.
Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act
     Overview of the Department of Justice regulations implementing the
    obligations of State and Local Government under the ADA.
Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act
     Overview of the Department of Justice regulations implementing the
    obligations of Public Accommodations under the ADA. includes information on
    interaction of California State codes.
The Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988
     Overview of the Housing and Urban Development regulations implementing the
    Fair Housing requirements as related to people with disabilities, includes
    information on interaction of California State codes.
Transportation
     Overview of the Department of Transportation Regulations in Subpart B of
    Title II of the ADA relating to Transportation as related to people with
    disabilities, includes information on interaction of California State Codes.
Disability Rights Overview
     Brief overview of federal laws protecting people with disabilities; Americans
    with Disabilities Act, Telecommunications Act, Fair Housing Act, Air Carrier
    Access Act, Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped Act, National
    Voter Registration Act, Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act, Individuals
    with Disabilities Education Act, Rehabilitation Act, Architectural Barriers Act.
Reasonable Accommodations
     Overview of the Americans with Disabilities Act and State of California Poppink
    Act requirements regarding the reasonable accommodation of employees with
    disabilities.  Practical information on the reasonable accommodation process and
    information and resources on reasonable accommodations.

For training schedule and availability of in-service training, please call the ILCSC Administration Office at 818-785-6934.

Information

Public Accommodations (goods and services)
     USDOJ ADA Homepage
    http://www.ada.gov/
California Department of Fair Employment and Housing, Unruh Act
     information
    http://www.dfeh.ca.gov/Statutes/unruh.asp
Fair Housing
     HUD Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity
    http://www.hud.gov/offices/fheo/index.cfm
    California Department of Fair Employment and Housing
    http://www.dfeh.ca.gov/Statutes/prohous.asp
Employment
     US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
    http://www.eeoc.gov/types/ada.html
    California Department of Fair Employment and Housing
    http://www.dfeh.ca.gov/Statutes/proemp.asp
State and Local Government (Benefits, Services, and Activities)
     USDOJ ADA Homepage
    http://www.ada.gov/

Founding ILCSC Board Members (left to right):
Darrell McDaniel (deceased), Lou Nau (deceased), and Bob Campbell
1976