The Free Lunch is Over

I do not mean the delightful school lunches, but the wonderful social-recreation programs and camps that have been funded at state expense for so many years. All of us know the value of these programs for both the children and their families.  They have provided a needed respite for parents and a chance to give siblings special time with their parents that are so often taken up in therapy appointments for their brothers and sisters. For the children, they have provided a chance to develop self-confidence and self-esteem. Lasting friendships have been formed. They have developed many life skills such as showering on their own, choosing what foods they will eat, and sharing a room. Many have grown from being campers to take on the responsibility of being “coaches” as they move into young adulthood. The trailer bill to last year’s state budget bill has sadly, for the foreseeable future, ended it all.

So what do we do now? Firstly we must all accept that this is now state law. It is not that your Regional Center does not see the importance of social-recreational activities; it is that state law prohibits them from funding it. It is also important to remember that the cuts made in last year’s trailer bill were agreed to by a stakeholders group which included parents.  If the agreed upon cuts are not made, the legislature will find other ways to recover the money. There is even talk about a bill that will take away the right to appeal. The good news is that the services were not permanently cut. They were “suspended” until the Individualized Budget could be developed. When this happens, these services will return to a menu of choices within a budget would be somewhat less than the total amount currently being allocated for services.

So What Can You Do Right Now?

1. Repeatedly is to urge your State Assemblyman and Senator to find a way to keep the needed cuts while allowing choice for families and adults.
2. Accept the limitations of government funded programs, unless of course you actually believe California will return to budget surpluses in the near future.
3. Pool your resources. I remember sitting around a table with a group of parents in Australia. They told me about the "respite co-ops" they ran and the "OT" groups that parents staffed after school in the parks. They were grateful for the excellent services that their children received in schools, but had accepted the limitations of the government to do all that was needed.
4. Work with us to restore the highest value family programs like summer camp.
   Through a lot of effort on the part of our dedicated staff, we were able to secure a site for camp that was $300 less than comparable alternatives. Unfortunately this was not enough to make the camp affordable for the minimum number of families we need. So we really need to "get creative".
   • Give us some fresh thinking on your ideas for camps, and school holiday programs that might be even less expensive
   • Get creative in saving for these special activities every day:
     • Suggest money towards camp as a Holiday or Birthday gift for your child
     • Open a savings account with your child and put some of their allowance toward camp
     • Have your child create a "Camp Can" for your car and instead of spending for designer coffee drinks and fast food, save for those special experiences our families cherish the most.
5. Help us network. Let us know about any grants or foundations that you have contact with so that we can apply for assistance. Keep us posted on corporations that we might approach for support.
6. Actively pursue more fund raising options.  Script programs with supermarkets and other stores. Sponsor a "bubble bank" at local merchants.

As a closing message I want to return to a very import perspective given to me from 8,000 miles away. The Australian families I visited with commented that their friends in California seemed to be so busy advocating for services they believed their children deserved, that they were missing the opportunity to just be with them. I have thought about this over the years, but even more so now that we are facing these cuts.

How can we help families pool their resources to build a community like the one I visited in Australia? And how can you be provided the services that are needed at a cost that families can afford now that the State can no longer fund them.