Consumer Advisory Committee
The nine-member committee
is responsible for providing the center’s Board of Trustees
with recommendations on matters important to consumers.
The committee generally meets on the 1st Tuesday of each
month at 2 p.m. at the regional center’s main office
in Van Nuys. The committee chairperson serves as a member
of the Board of Trustees.
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2009- CAC members: (Top row left to right) Gus Adams,
Keith Bonchek, Curtis Wang, and Robert Taylor.
Bottom Row Liz Lyons, Randy Horton,
Cathy Horton, Pam Aiona, and Beth Brodie.
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Consumer Advisory Committee
2009-2010 Training/Presentation Calendar
January 2010 - Disability Rights California (Scott Barron)
February 2010 - The Metropolitan Transit Authority, The TAP Card (MTA) (Randy Horton)
March 2010 - "Leadership Through Personal Change" DVD (Robert Taylor)
April 2010 - Ten Things to Know About Your Regional Center(Liz Lyons)
May 2010 - Housing (Susan Pittman)
Consumer Advisory Committee
July Meeting Updates
The Consumer Advisory Committee will be dark in July. On behalf of the Consumer Advisory Committee they want to wish all of the Clients and their family’s of North Los Angeles County Regional Center the best 4th of July.
By
Eugene Baily
Remarks by Randy Horton, the new CAC Chairperson for FY 2009-10
I want to use this opportunity to thank Pam Aiona for her hard work for serving as chair for Fiscal Year 2008-09.
Now I want to introduce myself as the new chairman for this committee.
My name is Randy Horton or some people know me as “the wheelchair cowboy.” Let me tell you a little bit about myself. I am an unflagging advocate, for myself and for others. I could not function as an advocate without my voice true technology.
I am a disabilities rights activist who fought for the Americans with Disabilities Act ( ADA ). Going to Washington D.C. , I fought to make Greyhound buses accessible. I will use this opportunity as chairman to encourage my other colleagues to fight for their rights.
I’m happily married and living as a couple with my lovely wife. I will be here for you. The meeting is open for everybody. Your suggestions are welcome.
Thank you,
Randy
Consumer Advisory Committee
June Meeting Updates
by Eugene Baily
June a time for summer, a time for vacations and summer fun. So the Consumer Advisory Committee with getting their meeting on the first of June. Randy Horton opens his final meeting of his term at a little after 2:00 PM.
The committee first wish Liz Lyons a Happy Birthday and had Cake and Ice Cream with everyone. The committee also added one new idem to the agenda, a report on MTA Bus Fairs changes for 2010-11 by Robert Taylor.
I wanted to give my thanks to Liz Lyons and Robert Taylor for their service on the Consumer Advisory Committee for past 6 years as members and officers. Randy Horton will give his presentation at the Board Dinner on June 12 th.
The presentation on “Choosing Service and Supports” was held over to the August meeting; do to transportation problems for Mr. Scott Barron.
Randy Horton gave a report on the May 12 th NLACRC’s Board of Trustees Meeting.
The committee reviewed and approve the CAC’s Critical Calendar for FY 2010-11.
The Consumer Advisory Committee had discussions on both of the Training / Presentation Calendar for FY 2010-11 and also for the Goals for FY 2010-11, the committee made some changes and adds some things to the calendar.
Robert Taylor gave a report on the DDS CAC Meeting held on May 11 & 12, 2010.
Liz Lyons also gave a report on the ARCA CAC Meeting held on May 28, 2010.
The Consumer Advisory Committee reviewed the agenda for Board of Trustees meeting on June 9, 2010. Sandra Rizo and I went over the agenda with them.
Randy Horton closed the meeting at 3:28 P.M and reminded at Pam Aiona would be the Chairperson and Curtis Wang will be Vice Chairperson, starting at August 3, 2010.
People First of California
People First of California, Inc. (PFCA) strives to serve all people with developmental challenges throughout California, primarily through People First members and chapters. PFCA serves as a role model for people with developmental disabilities in personal empowerment, leadership, and advocacy. PFCA is also a resource to professionals in the developmental disabilities service system and provides the general community with education on subjects useful and beneficial to people with developmental disabilities.
People First of California, Inc. is determined to: increase personal and economic independence and capabilities; defend civil rights; and eliminate prejudice and discrimination of people with developmental disabilities.
People First of California has a unique philosophy. People with developmental disabilities are the only people to empower other people with developmental disabilities. Only the people, who are part of a certain culture, can "empower" people of that culture; to become strong, they have to make the decisions and do the work of their movement, themselves. It is the same way for the Self-Advocacy movement. Professionals and people without developmental disabilities cannot control the People First movement.
This is what self-advocacy is about, people helping their peers to learn to speak up for themselves, learn about their rights and responsibilities, learn how to make decisions and solve problems, and be contributing members of their community. People need heroes who have "walked in their shoes." We know that there are people with developmental disabilities in every town, who have taken those first steps, who can be heroes and leaders for their peers.
If people with developmental disabilities stand together in unity, speak with one voice and push forward, our vision for the future will be—our own! Professionals or people without developmental disabilities cannot do it for us. Only people with developmental disabilities can truly know what is most important for other self advocates. People First of California has five basic guiding principles:
- Run BY and For people with Developmental Disabilities
- Know you rights and responsibilities
- Speak up for yourself
- Solve problems and make decisions for yourself
- Contribute to your community
Keith Bonchek serves as the Outreach Coordinator for People First of California (PFCA) for Southern California. He is a consumer from North Los Angeles County Regional Center (NLACRC), serves on a board with NLACRC and is a recent graduate of Partners In Policymaking. In his capacity with PFCA, Keith is actively involved in establishing new chapters and training groups to become self advocates. As well, he trains the staff of various organizations about self advocacy and PFCA. Keith is able to communicate this message with passion and humor as he has Cerebral Palsy, is hearing impaired and struggles with others disabilities, but refuses to allow these setbacks to keep him for assisting others.
To learn more about People First of California, please call 818-854-7345 or visit PFCA website www.peoplefirstca.org . People First of California offers their services free of charge. The 11 th through the 13 th of June 2010, People First of California will be hosting a statewide convention in Sacramento. The conference will feature a wide variety of speakers and fun activities for all to enjoy.
Board the Train, with Tickets or TAP Card
by Robert Taylor
Metro, aboard the buses has just created a new brochure, on how you must pay your fare or tap your TAP Card, when you go aboard a Metro Rail Train, and this is how it works:
For Paper One-Way Tickets, you buy separate tickets for every train you're going to board, and every ticket can be used only once. Here's an example: If you ride from the Red Line to the Blue Line, you buy two tickets, from the Gold Line to the Red Line, and to the Blue Line, you buy three tickets, and from the Red Line in one direction and back again, you buy two tickets.
For A TAP Card with a Monthly, Weekly or Day Pass , you tap the turnstile or validator every time you board a train. Here's an example: From the Red Line to the Gold Line, you Tap as you enter the Red Line, and again at the Gold Line before you board (a total of two taps), from the Green Line to the Blue Line to the Red Line to the Gold Line, you tap as you enter the Green Line, and again at each additional line before boarding (a total of four taps).
Coming Soon they will be TAP One-Way tickets for sale, here's how it is going to work: You buy separate tickets for every train you're going to board. You tap one ticket on the turnstile or validator before boarding each train, and each ticket can be used only once. Here's an example: From the Red Line to the Blue Line, you buy two tickets; you tap one ticket as you enter the Red Line, and you tap the other at the Gold Line before you board, and from the Gold Line to the Red Line to the Blue Line, you buy three tickets, you tap one as you enter the Red Line, and you tap another at each additional line before boarding.
And finally, here's a money-saving tip for Consumers, buy a Day Pass on your TAP card if you plan to board four or more trains, or transfer to buses, in a day.
If you have any questions, you can go to Metro's website at: www.metro.net, or call: (800) 464-2111, and speak to someone in: Customer Service for help, or call TAP, at: (866) 827-8646, or go to their website at: www.taptogo.net , and they can help you.
Change to Public Library Hours
by Robert Taylor
As of December 11, 2009, the Libraries in the City of Los Angeles, have changed times, due to the budget situation the City of Los Angeles, is going through. Please, go to: www.lapl.org , for the new times your public library, will be open, Thanks!
How to become a committee member
In order to become a member of the Consumer Advisory Committee,
an individual must be a primary consumer (client) of the
regional center. No prior committee experience is required.
For more information or for an application, please contact
Jennifer Kaiser at (818) 756-6118 or by e-mail at jennifrk@nlacrc.org.
Thank you!
FAQ
