raise your voice - elarc
TRANSCRIPT
RA
ISE
YOUR
Eastern Los Angeles Regional Center
2014 Community Report
VOICE
What’s Inside
3 Our Mission
4 Partnerships
5 -11 Voices of Empowerment
12-13 Raise Your Voice
14 Demographics
15 Fiscal Report
16 Management Team
2
Our Mission
Eastern Los Angeles Regional
Center is committed to serving
individuals with developmental
disabilities and their families
by promoting partnerships which
empower them to achieve
meaningful lifestyles in
their communities.
3
Partnerships
Board of Directors
The Eastern Los Angeles Regional Center Board of Directors is committed to en-
suring that the mission of the agency is carried out. The BOD is made up of vol-
unteers from our community, parents, individuals with disabilities, professionals,
and others with specific skills and knowledge who provide guidance and leader-
ship for the agency.
Consumer Advisory Committee
The Consumer Advisory Committee is committed to expanding their member-
ship, spreading the word about self-advocacy, and playing a leadership role
within ELARC and at the state level.
Family Advisory Committee
The Family Advisory Committee is comprised of family members of individuals
served by ELARC. They work together with the agency to review relevant policy,
discuss issues of importance to family members, and keep up to date on activi-
ties of the agency.
Vendor Advisory Committee
The Vendor Advisor Committee provides recommendations, guidance, and tech-
nical assistance to ELARC’s Board of Directors. They meet to review and discuss
both the agency and state issues that impact service providers in our community.
4
Voices of Empowerment
Each year, the Eastern Los Angeles Regional Center
publishes the Community Report in an effort to in-
form consumers, vendors, and other stakeholders
about how we are serving and advocating for indi-
viduals with developmental disabilities. This Com-
munity Report offers personal stories of how ELARC’s
services have impacted and enriched the lives of the
individuals we serve, reveals how budgetary re-
strictions at the state level have created challenges
for regional centers, and provides detailed infor-
mation about our provision of services during 2014.
This report’s theme is Raise Your Voice, which re-
flects ELARC’s dedication to advocacy and empow-
erment of its consumers.
5
Sean
6
For eighteen years, Victoria Chen and her family have benefit-
ted from ELARC’s services. Her son Sean is a warm and friendly
24 year old who enjoys art classes and church activities. Alt-
hough Sean is eager to socialize and is active in his community,
Autism Spectrum Disorder makes it difficult for him to express
himself verbally. Ms. Chen vividly recalls the challenges she
and her family faced during the early days of Sean’s diagnosis
and states that she is grateful for the ways in which ELARC has
served her family over the years.
“Regional Center helped my son and my family through difficult times of uncertainty about
his future to where we are today. ELARC’s support has helped Sean reach his potential and
has given me time to support my other children,” says Ms. Chen. Sean has been a partici-
pant in the Self-Determination Pilot Project at ELARC which allowed him the authority and
freedom to determine and obtain the technology, support, and tutorial services to aid him in
his communication and social skills.
“ELARC’s
support has
helped Sean
reach his
potential.”
Two years ago, Sean successfully graduated from
Arcadia High School. When an individual with de-
velopmental disabilities transitions from the educa-
tional system, ELARC serves as part of a team that
includes the individual, the family, the school, and
other relevant agencies to determine and secure
necessary services. Continuation of these services
will enable Sean to live an empowered life through-
out adulthood.
Miguel
7
Miguel is a 21-year-old ELARC consumer who loves In-N-
Out Burger, dancing, and going to the mall. ELARC has
served Miguel and his family since he was born. Down Syn-
drome, Autism Spectrum Disorder, and multiple seizures cre-
ate significant challenges for Miguel. Through the efforts of
ELARC as well as his parents’ own advocacy work, Miguel
has been able to receive speech therapy, occupational ther-
apy, and physical therapy. When Miguel was a child, ELARC
was able to create contracts with two childcare facilities in
order that they could become vendors with ELARC and pro-
vide Miguel with the type of childcare services he specifically
needed. Due to his diagnoses and multiple surgeries, Miguel
has also had several health issues. “We almost lost him many times,” says his mother, Terry
Munoz. “We were initially told he would not survive his birth.” Ms. Munoz states that be-
cause of ELARC’s services, Miguel was able to learn how to walk by age 5.
Miguel’s story is
one of many
voices that must
be heard so that
ELARC may
continue to
support and
empower the
Developmentally
Disabled
population.
For over two decades, ELARC has served Miguel and his par-
ents by creating connections and supports as well as encourag-
ing the importance of self-advocacy. His mother will head to
Sacramento this year to raise her voice about funding shortfalls
and share Miguel's story with state representatives. In addition to
anticipating a lower number of available services for her son
once he turns 22 next year, Ms. Munoz states that she and her
husband are very concerned about how decisions surrounding
the state’s budget for the developmentally disabled will impact
the services ELARC is able to facilitate. Miguel’s story is one of
many voices that must be heard so that ELARC may continue to
support and empower the developmentally disabled population.
Miguel now participates in Special Olympics. Ms. Munoz
states that although her son faces significant challenges, he has
learned to help himself in many ways, including doing small
chores such as throwing his trash away, putting his clothes in the
hamper, and getting food items for himself.
Sebastian
Sebastian
8
At just fifteen years of age, Sebastian is an accom-
plished artist. With multiple art exhibitions under his
belt, and excellent marks at Los Angeles County
School for the Arts, Sebastian is leading a full and
productive life. His mother, Lida Chavez, states,
“Sebastian is very hard working and respectful of
others. All of his teachers love him.”
Although Sebastian reached all of the typical devel-
opmental milestones as a baby, his parents and his
preschool teacher became concerned about his
communication and socialization skills when he was
almost two years old. After several assessments, Se-
bastian was eventually diagnosed with Autism Spec-
trum Disorder. “As a mother, I worried about my son.
I never expected to have a child with a disability,”
says Ms. Chavez. From the earliest days of Sebas-
tian’s diagnosis, ELARC was able to provide thera-
peutic services in the home, including socialization
and Adaptive Skills Training. Sebastian also currently
receives speech therapy through his school. Ms.
Chavez is grateful for the role ELARC has played in
Sebastian’s life. “I can’t see families with disabled
children not having the Center’s help due to cuts in
funding. I feel supported by Regional Center,” says
Ms. Chavez.
In addition to being an artist, Sebastian is also interested in computer anima-
tion, photography, travel, and is currently writing a book.
“As a
mother,
I worried
about my
son. I never
expected to
have a child
with a
disability.”
9
...ELARC’s role
in the community
is critical in the
effort to deliver
relevant and
appropriate
services to families
impacted by
developmental
disabilities.
Diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder at age seventeen,
Andrew has been an ELARC consumer for just four years. Alt-
hough this sort of news is never easy for a parent to hear about
his or her child, Andrew’s mother Diane Lasell states, “This was
a welcomed diagnosis because we had struggled to understand
Andrew’s learning differences and behaviors through his entire
school career.” Expressive speech disorder, ADHD, and specific
learning disabilities have presented Andrew with many challeng-
es in the classroom. However, Andrew was able to successfully
graduate from high school two years ago.
Ms. Lasell states that she discovered that although there are some academic accommoda-
tions available to students like Andrew, most of them are not easily attainable. “They’re
available to a person who can self-advocate and aggressively pressure administrators into
providing services—that is not my son.” Thankfully, Andrew has had ELARC working as his
family’s partner, aiming to empower him and the developmentally disabled population.
Like most 21 year olds, Andrew enjoys going to the movies,
seeing his friends, and playing videos games. Andrew also really
enjoys going to work. Thanks to a job coach provided through
ELARC, he enjoys his part time job at a grocery store where he
can interact with others and gain useful career skills.
Ms. Lasell states, “These people, given the appropriate
supports and training, can become productive tax-paying
members of society.”
Andrew is one such example of how ELARC’s role in the
community is critical in the effort to deliver relevant and
appropriate services to families impacted by developmen-
tal disabilities.
Andrew
Sofia
10
Sofia is a happy nine year old girl who loves music, playing
piano, lots of hugs, and going for car rides. Her father, Tony
Borrego, states, “Her persistence is incredible. If she wants
something, she will do everything in her power to get it.” Sofia
has been an ELARC consumer for almost eight years. Because
Sofia was born in another state which was lacking in appropri-
ate resources for her and her family, her parents created an in-
home intensive care unit for their daughter. “Sofia needed
speech therapy, occupational therapy, feeding therapy and
physical therapy. She was immobile and fed through a tube,”
recalls Mr. Borrego. Since moving to ELARC’s catchment area
when Sofia was about a year old, she and her family have sig-
nificantly benefited from California’s Lanterman Act and the
Thriving is
exactly what
ELARC’s
services have
enabled Sofia
to do.
services that regional centers provide. Mr. Borrego states, “It was a huge relief when we
moved back to California...and Sofia was able to get all of the services that she needed.”
Thanks to ELARC’s facilitation of services for Sofia, she is able to walk independently and
uses some sign language to communicate. Sofia was diagnosed with intellectual disability
and Pierre Robin Sequence. Mr. Borrego states, “Sofia does not have a clear diagnosis. She
has multiple disabilities, developmental, and physical de-
lays. She is nonverbal and is primarily fed by gtube for her
nutrition…she still has a long way to go.” The state budget
cuts that have occurred since Sofia began receiving re-
gional center services are very disconcerting for parents
and caregivers of consumers like Sofia. “If the state does
not restore those cuts, there will be consequences to those
with developmental disabilities who depend on these ser-
vices to learn, to survive and to thrive,” says Mr. Borrego.
Thriving is exactly what ELARC’s services have enabled
Sofia to do. These services, along with her own strong will
and determined personality have allowed this young girl to
walk, play her piano, and progress in her life.
Daniel & Nestor
11
Daniel and Nestor are brothers. Daniel is nineteen
years old and Nestor is twenty-one years old. Although
they are both ELARC consumers with Autism Spectrum
Disorder, these brothers are very different individuals.
Their mother, Josefina Nieves, states, “Nestor has lan-
guage but his challenges are social interactions. Daniel
has limited language but can communicate his needs
and wants.” Daniel enjoys coloring and painting. Alt-
hough his limited language can make independent
“The timely and
quality services
my children
receive make a
significantly
positive impact on
their lives and our
community.”
Daniel and Nestor are individuals. ELARC seeks ways of
not only providing services for its consumers, but also em-
powering each of them to live a life that reflects their
unique personalities, desires, and goals.
Because of the community integration services facilitated
by ELARC, Nestor is very knowledge about public trans-
portation and knows how to get where he wants to go. Ms.
Nieves states, “This made a huge difference in his life.”
activities in the community a challenge, his mother states that he has a very happy
personality and loves to play. Nestor is more serious, takes pleasure in the outdoors
and exercising, and is currently a student at California State University Northridge.
Ms. Nieves is grateful for the services that ELARC has provided her sons over the
years, including early intervention services, independent living programs, and social
skills training, among others. “The timely and quality ser-
vices my sons receive have made a significantly positive
impact on their lives and our community,” she says.
Raise Your Voice
12
ELARC is not only linking individuals with de-
velopmental disabilities to the services they
need, but is also empowering consumers to ful-
ly and inclusively live in their communities.
Contracted by the State of California through
the Department of Developmental Services,
ELARC is just one of the 21 Regional Centers in
the state. Each spring, ELARC heads to Sacra-
mento in order to lobby state representatives by
sharing with them the needs of the develop-
mentally disabled population and how appro-
priate funding critically and directly impacts the
lives of consumers through such important is-
sues as staff retention and quality, moderate
caseloads, contracts with service providers, em-
ployment and training opportunities for con-
sumers, stable programming, and much more.
Empowering
consumers to
fully and
inclusively
live in their
communities.
Over the years, budget cuts at the state level have significantly im-
pacted how regional centers are able to provide services. In order to
best serve regional center consumers, a restoration of funding is
needed now. ELARC, along with California’s other regional centers,
will continue to lobby state representatives by requesting a 10% fund-
ing increase and 5% subsequent annual increases until the regional
center system is reformed and funding has been recaptured.
Raise Your Voice
13
Consumers, vendors, and ELARC staff will share how funding reform
will directly impact individuals with developmental disabilities, and
consequently, the community at large.
Empowerment and promoting self-advocacy
is a significant part of how ELARC serves its
consumers. ELARC’s Information and Training
Unit has held workshops to educate consum-
ers and vendors about how California’s legis-
lative process works, how to contact law mak-
ers, and perhaps most importantly, reminding
them the power of voting. Through these
workshops, consumers have learned about is-
sues that are relevant to them, how to prepare
for a visit or phone call with a state repre-
sentative, and how to communicate the im-
pact of ELARC’s services in their lives through
sharing their personal stories.
In partnership with consumers and their fami-
lies, ELARC encourages them to raise their
voice, let their stories be heard, and advocate
for themselves in order to live fulfilled, mean-
ingful lives.
Encouraging
consumers to
raise their
voice and let
their stories
be heard.
2014 Demographics
14
Diagnosis
Epilepsy EP 602 6.7%
ASD & Epilepsy ASD / EP 133 1.5%
Autism Spectrum Disorder
(ASD) ASD 3,567 39.9%
Other Developmental Disorder OD / OD+ 1,042 11.7%
Epilepsy & Cerebral Palsy EP / CP 399 4.5%
Cerebral Palsy CP 462 5.2%
ASD & Epilepsy & Cerebral
Palsy
ASD / EP /
CP 14 0.2%
Intellectual Disability Only ID ONLY 2,693 30.1%
ASD & Cerebral Palsy ASD / CP 30 0.3%
Total 8,942 100.0%
Ethnicity
Asian 1,284 12.5%
Hispanic 7,154 69.6%
Other 397 3.9%
White 1,049 10.2%
Multi Ethnic 243 2.4%
African-American 147 1.4%
Total 10,274 100.0%
Ages Cases Percentage
< 3 1,233 12.0%
3 - 4 525 5.1%
5 - 17 3,627 35.3%
18 - 21 986 9.6%
22 - 54 3,365 32.8%
55 + 538 5.2%
10,274 100.0%
Asian1,28412.5%
Hispanic7,15469.6%
Other3973.9%
White1,04910.2%
Multi Ethnic2432.4%
African-American1471.4%
ELARC Consumers by Ethnicity
Asian Hispanic Other White Multi Ethnic African-American
< 31,233
12.0%
3 - 4525
5.1%
5 - 173,627
35.3%
18 - 21986
9.6%
22 - 543,365
32.8%
55 +538
5.2%
ELARC Consumers by Age Group
< 3 3 - 4 5 - 17 18 - 21 22 - 54 55 +
EP
602
6.7%
ASD / EP
133
1.5%
ASD
3,567
39.9%OD / OD+
1,042
11.7%
EP / CP
399
4.5%
CP
462
5.2%
ASD / EP / CP
14
0.2%
ID ONLY
2,693
30.1%
ASD / CP
30
0.3%
ELARC Consumers by Diagnosis
EP ASD / EP ASD OD / OD+ EP / CP CP ASD / EP / CP ID ONLY ASD / CP
2014 Fiscal Report
15
Total Overall Expenditures - FY 2013/14
Operating Exp. 3,635,118 2.1%
Salaries & Related Exp 16,819,874 9.8%
Purchase of Service 151,965,197 88.1% TOTAL 172,420,189 100.0%
POS Details -
FY 2013/14
Category
Paid
Amount
CCF & ICF 24,421,569 16.1%
Adult Day Programs 27,276,986 17.9%
Habilitation Programs 4,553,450 3.0%
Transportation 4,862,299 3.2%
Prevention 8,218,419 5.4% Behavior Mgmt
Consultant 9,275,607 6.1% In-Home Respite
Services (parents) 519,533 0.3% In-Home Respite
Services (agency) 8,890,829 5.9% Supported Living
Services 17,452,738 11.5%
Medical Care 2,092,395 1.4%
Adaptive Skills Trainer 11,844,467 7.8% Community
Integration Services 8,100,278 5.3%
Other Services 20,499,183 13.5%
Com. Placement Plan 2,990,112 2.0%
Self Determination 967,332 0.6%
Total 151,965,197 100.00%
Operating Exp. 2.1%
Salaries & Related Exp. 9.8%
Purchase of Service 88.1%
ELARC Total Overall Exp. FY 2013/14
Operating Exp. Salaries & Related Exp Purchase of Service
16.1%
17.9%
3.0%3.2%
5.4%6.1%0.3%
5.9%
11.5%
1.4%
7.8%
5.3%
13.5% 2.0% 0.6%
ELARC Total Purchase of Services -FY 13/14
CCF & ICF Adult Day Programs Hablitation Programs
Transportation Prevention Behavior Mgmt Consultant
In-Home Respite Services (parents) In-Home Respite Services (agency) Supported Living Services
Medical Care Adaptive Skills Trainer Community Integration Services
Other Services Com. Placement Plan Self Determination
ELARC Management Team
Gloria Wong, Executive Director
Felipe Hernandez, Chief of Consumer Services
Patricia Alvarez, Chief of Administrative Services
Carmen Vasquez, Manager of Early Intervention Services
Elin Nozaki, Manager of Assessment & Special Services
Frances Jacobs, Manager of Community Services
Jesse Valdez, Manager of Federal Programs
Mary Maynard, Manager of Human Resources
Mailing Address: PO Box 7916, Alhambra, CA 91802-7916
ALHAMBRA OFFICE
(Main office)
1000 S. Fremont Ave.
Alhambra, CA 91803
(626) 299-4700
WHITTIER OFFICE
13215 Penn St. , Suite 410
Whittier, CA 90602
(562) 698-0146
www.elarc.org
Eastern Los Angeles Regional Center