The World Games are Coming to Los Angeles - July 2015

Founded in 1968 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, the Special Olympics movement has grown to more than 4.4 million athletes in 170 countries. With support of more than 1.3 million coaches and volunteers, Special Olympics delivers 32 Olympic type sports events and more than 94,000 competitions and games through out the year. The first international Special Olympic Summer Games was held in July of 1968 at Solider Field in Chicago, Illinois. Many athletes participant in floor hockey, swimming and track and field just to name a few of the competitions. In 1971, the U.S. Olympic Committee gave approval for the word Olympic to be used by the United States and the first ever Law Enforcement Torch Run was held in Wichita, Kansas. In 1989, Special Olympics launched Unified Sports, in which people with intellectual disabilities and those with no disabilities could play in the competition games together. In January, 1997 Special Olympics decide to start its Healthy Habits program in which athletes would get free hearing, dental, vision and nutritional education. 1998, Special Olympics celebrated its 30th anniversary with the “Sargent Shiver International Global Messenger” program. 12 men and women held the position of Global Messenger for a two year term. In 2000, the Campaign for Special Olympics sets unprecedented goals to raise more than $120 million dollars in a 5-year period. In 2005, the “Ringer” starring Johnny Knoxville had over 150 Special Olympics athletes participating in the movie. In September 2011, it was announced that Los Angeles California would host the Summer World Games in 2015. The Special Olympics World games are coming to Los Angeles, California on July 25, 2015 – August 2, 2015 athletes from around the world will be participating in the World games in Los Angeles. Athletes compete in many different sports such as Bocca, Basketball, Track and Field, Swimming and many other events. The Special Olympics World Games will be played at UCLA, USC, Downtown Los Angeles, Long Beach and Encino. There will be the torch run starting in Sacramento and ending at the Los Angeles Coliseum. For times to see the torch run, please check www.la2015.org. The SCLARC Consumer Advisory Committee will be cheering the athletes as “Fans in Stands” on July 25, July 27, July 28, July 29, July 30 and July 31, 2015. For more information, please contact the Consumer Advocate Desiree Boykin at (213) 743-3071 or by email desireeb@sclarc.org.

May 21 - World Day for Cultural Diversity

May 21, 2015 is World Day for Cultural Diversity. It is an observance to help people learn the importance of cultural diversity and harmony. Why is diversity important? It provides a lesson for all of us to be okay with the things that make us individuals: race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, physical and mental abilities, language and understanding and accepting people for who they are. Learning about other cultures helps us relate to one another and be okay with different perspectives.

Background of World Day of Cultural Diversity:

The General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) adopted the Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity in Paris, France, on November 2, 2001. It was the 249th resolution adopted at the 57th session of the United Nations General Conference. Although the declaration was the culmination of years of work, it was adopted in the wake of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. This reaffirmed the need for intercultural dialogue to prevent segregation and fundamentalism.

The year 2002 was the United Nations Year for Cultural Heritage. At the end of that year, on December 20, 2002, the General Assembly of the United Nations declared May 21 to be the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development. The General Assembly emphasized links between the protection of cultural diversity and the importance of dialogue between civilizations in the modern world. The World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development was first observed in 2003.

What are your thoughts on diversity and how it makes our world such a cool place?

Celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the ADA

When Senator Tom Harkin, a Democrat from Iowa, delivered his farewell speech on the Senate Floor on December 12, 2014, he mentioned continuing to champion the cause of equality for all Americans. Then he declared, “I’m retiring from the Senate, but I’m not retiring from the fight.” While many of us do not know Sen. Harkin by name, we certainly have benefited from his chief accomplishment: authorizing the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). In introducing the bill, the Senator delivered part of his speech in sign language, a tribute to his brother who is deaf. The ADA was signed into law by President George H. W. Bush on July 26, 1990. This year, it celebrates its 25th anniversary. How does the ADA benefit those of us with disabilities? The law prohibits discrimination based on one’s disability. It prohibits employees from looking at a person, observing a disability, and thendenying that person the opportunity to participate in the same process for job qualifying that is given to other applicants. At the same time, ADA stipulates accessibility requirements – ramps, for example – on public accommodations. Under the ADA, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission defines a gamut of mental and physical disabilities: autism, bipolar disorder, blindness, cancer, cerebral palsy, deafness, diabetes, Epilepsy, Human Immunodeficiency (HIV) disorder, intellectual disability, major depressive disorder, mobility impairments requiring use of a wheelchair, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, partially or completely missing limbs, obsessive compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and Schizophrenia. The bill is divided into four titles. Title I covers employment with covered entities; that is, companies with 15 or more employees, employment agencies, labor organizations, and joint labor management. Title II forbids discrimination of the disabled in public local and state entities. Title III eliminates discrimination against the disabled in any public accommodations. Title IV requires U. S. companies to ensure services to the disabled, particularly to those who are deaf or hard of hearing. Though the courts, as well as Congress, agreed to the general purpose of the ADA—that is, to eliminate discrimination against the disabled—the interpretation of who is disabled was frequently viewed narrowly by the courts. In some cases, those who were disabled were disqualified from services, so Congress had more work to do on the ADA. Signed into law by President George W. Bush on September 25, 2008, the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments of 2008(ADAAA)more broadly defined the definition of disability, allowing many other qualified disabled persons to obtain services that they deserved. This much is certain: the passing of the ADA and the ADAAA has certainly improved the quality of life for those of us who are disabled.

Welcome to the SCLARC CAC's Blog

Dear Friends, Community Stakeholders and Consumers of SCLARC:

Welcome to the newly created SCLARC CAC blog. What is SCLARC and what is a CAC? South Central Los Angeles Regional Center (SCLARC) is a private, non-profit, community based organization which contracts with the State of California's Department of Developmental Services (DDS) to coordinate services for individuals with developmental disabilities and their families. SCLARC is one of 21 regional centers that serve communities throughout California. SCLARC's office is near downtown Los Angeles and its service area includes many surrounding cities. One of SCLARC's goals is to ensure that individuals who are eligible to receive services (consumers) are assisted in reaching their potential for the highest qualify of life in their community.

The CAC ("Consumer Advisory Committee") is a group of SCLARC consumers that meets once a month, sometimes here at the SCLARC offices or out in the community where they can socialize with their peers, such as at a restaurant. The purpose of the CAC is to help consumers, staff and community stakeholders become more aware of the issues that affect people with developmental disabilities. The group also identifies topics that are important to them, which they discuss and invite speakers to their group who can share information about their ideas, concerns and address the topics.

This blog was designed to give a forum to discuss various topics concerning people with developmental and physical disabilities. Topics will be posted to generate dialogue and get conversations flowing. So, let's start by telling us what's on your mind? Do you have information that others with disabilities in your community could benefit from? Is there a great social event for persons with disabilities in Los Angeles coming up which you would like everyone to know about and participate in? Let's hear from you!