Press Releases
1/4/2012
State Independent Living Council Pays Tribute to Disability Rights Leaders"SILC continues to promote its vision by recognizing disability rights leaders throughout the month of January making SILC's vision of "access to independence and equality" more of a reality."
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11/30/2011
Independence Continues to be a Costly Gift for Some Even During the HolidaysSAN DIEGO, CA - During this busy time of year, Access to Independence Executive Director Louis Frick is reminded daily of the value of personal assistance services for people with disabilities.
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11/17/2011
SILC Quarterly MeetingThe governor-appointed California State Independent Living Council (SILC) will meet in San Diego to identify and address areas for improvement and build on current strengths related to the SILC's mission: "Creating policy and system change for independent living."
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10/18/2011
SILC Chair Heightens Awareness of TBIOctober 11, 2011, Monterey County, California - SILC Chairperson Elsa Quezada, a long time advocate integrating persons with Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) into the Independent Living Network ensured her neighbors and community members understood the crisis facing people with TBI. "...our community with TBI is only growing," writes Quezada, "In California alone, nearly 28,000 veterans have returned home with a TBI, an increase of 60 percent since 2000."
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08/19/2011
SILC seeks Nevada County input on aging with a disabilityAugust 19, 2011, Sacramento, California - The governor-appointed State Independent Living Council (SILC) will focus its quarterly meeting in Grass Valley next month on aging with a disability in California's rural communities, and is seeking input from stakeholders including the disability community.
View the article from The Union here: http://www.theunion.com/article/20110819/BREAKINGNEWS/110819769/1053&parentprofile=1053
06/06/2011
Grant Funds Build a Force for Future ChangeJune 6, 2011, Sacramento, California - To build a powerful, effective, and ongoing force for future change, Independent Living Centers in Berkeley, Fresno/Central Valley, Orange County, San Diego, and Van Nuys/San Fernando Valley will receive $75,000 a year in Title VII B funds.
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06/02/2011
SILC Member 'Actual Disabled Person'Michael Agyin is in the first photograph of this article about how people with disabilities in California have become one of the main faces of our ongoing budget battle.
View the article from Captol Weekly here: http://www.capitolweekly.net/photos/flickr_photoset.php?_c=zv8hjr7y3bt9f3&pi=xu9b3xcjzk1sjr&id=72157626745888517&done=.zv8hkd7fg599n1
05/26/2011
SILC Chooses Strategic Planner to Advance Community-Based ServicesIn line with Goal 1 from the 2011-2013, Advancing Olmstead: People with disabilities choose from a variety of options for community-based living; The SILC announces selection of a strategic planning facilitator.
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03/13/2011
Innovative Events Support Leadership within Independent LivingAlong with Departments of Rehabilitation (DOR), Aging (CDA), Health Care Services (DHCS), and in partnership with the California Health and Human Services Agency (HHS), the SILC is co-sponsoring several events this Spring designed to enhance Independent Living Leadership in California. March 25 focuses on leadership to keep people in their own homes, May 4th SILC members receive legislative training and visit the legislature, and May 5th and 6th builds unity to increase focus and funding. All the events will be in Sacramento.
The March 25 event is hosted by DHCS in their first floor training rooms. The Leadership Workshop is a unique and valuable opportunity for invited community members to personally meet and talk with leaders from organizations who are actively engaged, or who hope to become involved, in Aging & Disability Resource Connections, California Community Transitions Lead Organizations, and Local Contact Agencies for Minimum Data Set 3.0 Section Q referrals -- all State managed programs to help people remain in their own homes. The networking and community-building will also provide an opportunity for regional discussions to identify areas where participating organizations can better coordinate services in responding to the needs of seniors and people with disabilities.
May 4th SILC members will gather in the morning for training presented by our Legislative Analyst, Raul Arambula, and SILC members Eddie Rea and Teddie Joy Remhild, regarding the Legislative Process within California. Members will have time in the afternoon to make visits to the capitol.
May 5th and 6th at the Courtyard Marriott Cal Expo, invited community members will attend "Advancing Leadership in Independent Living: Envisioning the Future of Independent Living in California." California State University Sacramento has worked with DOR, SILC, and others to plan this event. Participants will have an opportunity to collaborate on an approach for launching a state plan for independent living, to develop effective organizational change models to meet future needs, and employ communication techniques to advance each other's role. The program incorporates real world scenarios to create a solid base for discussions. Focus areas include Change Management, Collaboration, Innovation/Strategic Thinking, and Communication.
For more information about these events, please contact the SILC offices at 916-445-0142.
01/05/2011
Governor Schwarzenegger Makes Final Appointments As Term Ends Sunday NightContinuing his support for the California Independent Living Network, the SILC received one new appointment and four reappointments late Sunday. There is no salary for these appointments to the council and none of the appointments require State Senate confirmation.
The newest SILC member is Michael Agyin. Mr. Agyin, 32, a registered Democrat, of Los Angeles worked as a job coach for The Marriott Foundation, Bridges Los Angeles since 2009 and as deaf festival consultant for Los Angeles Councilmember Tony Cardenas since 2008, where he previously served as a special project assistant from 2005 to 2006. Agyin worked in neighborhood and community services for the Office of Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa from 2008 to 2009, as program assistant for the Campaign for College Opportunity from 2006 to 2007 and as a public ally fellow for Public Allies from 2006 to 2007.
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12/26/2010
Youth Positive Images This Holiday SeasonSILC wishes you joy and warmth during this holiday season, a time when Dicken’s Tiny Tim reminds us about the importance of independent living and disability rights philosophies
Since Victorian times, Western society has idealized the sentimental image of disability as a pitiful child in desperate need of help. A more powerful image for young people with disabilities is promoted by Silicon Valley Independent Living Center (SVILC), in collaboration with the California Foundation for Independent Living Centers (CFILC), the Department of Rehabilitation, with funding allocated by the SILC.
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12/10/2010
SILC Elects New OfficersSILC elected new officers this week to continue the work of sustaining SILC’s long-standing, community-focused projects strengthening Independent Living in California.
SILC’s board elected the following new officers:
- Chairperson – Elsa Quezada
- Vice Chairperson – Susan Madison
- Past Chairperson and State Rehabilitation Council Representative – Teddie-Joy Remhild
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11/10/2010
SILC Observes Veteran's Day*
SILC) is proud to observe this Veterans Day (November 11) with a salute to all of our brave Veterans and a tribute to those who have given their lives so that America remains free.
Central Coast Center for Independent Living, in partnership with the California State Department of Rehabilitation and with funding allocated by the SILC, honors our Veterans every day. CCCIL was awarded ARRA funds to improve independent living services to persons living with traumatic brain injury, in particular, Veterans.
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05/14/2010
Governor Schwarzennegger's Office Supports Independent Living Leadership
Friday, May 14, 2010 the Governor's Appointments' office announced ( press release in microsoft word @ 61 kb or rich text format 39 kb) the appointments of Miguel Duarte, Eli Gelardin, Ben Jauregui, and Jessica Lorenz to the State Independent Living Council. In addition, J. Daniel Boomer, Elsa Quezada, Eddie Rea, Teddie-Joy Remhild, Marco Rodriguez, and David Tripp were reappointed for another term. These appointments are timed well to craft the funding allocation plan for the 2011-2013 State Plan for Independent Living. Those in attendance at the May, 2010 quarterly meeting in Santa Barbara were sworn in by Santa Barbara County Supervisor Janet Wolf. This additional leadership will assist the SILC to meet its Mission, and will better serve the community of persons with disabilities in California.
2/20/2010 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Governor Schwarzenegger Announces Appointments to SILC
Jesse Boomer, 60, of Elk Grove, has been appointed to the State Independent Living Council. He is a currently a member of the State Council on Developmental Disabilities and assists with the grant review process of the council’s Planning and Program Development Committee. Since 1998, Boomer has served as a special education consultant with the California Department of Education. From 1988 to 1991, he worked as a Program Analyst at the United States Office of Special Education in Washington, D.C. Boomer began his career almost 20 years ago as a member of numerous councils and commissions at the University of Oregon including the National Association of Developmental Disabilities Councils, Oregon State Developmental Disabilities Planning Council, the Oregon Commission on the Handicapped and the Oregon Council of the Blind. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no salary. Boomer is a Democrat.
Kevin Broadwater, 43, of Laguna Hills, has been appointed to the State Independent Living Council. Since 2005, he has served as senior vice president of the legal and compliance department of Pacific Investment Management Company. From 1994 to 2005, Broadwater was counsel at Seward & Kissel and, from 1992 to 1994, was an attorney at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Prior to that, he was an associate with Dechert, Price and Rhoads from 1989 to 1992. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no salary. Broadwater is a Republican.
Robert Ludlow Jr., 69, of Santa Cruz, has been appointed to the State Independent Living Council. He has served on numerous councils including past chair of the San Lorenzo Unified School District Board of Education, Santa Cruz Commission on Disabilities and the Santa Cruz City Housing Advisory Commission. Ludlow has been a lawyer in self-practice since 1967 and was an associate with Lucas, Wykoff, Miller, Stanley and Scott from 1965 to 1967. In 1970, he formed the Law Offices of Ludlow, Kreutzmann, Thompson, Fitzwater and Bowles and practiced law there until 1986. Ludlow was also a member of the Tri-County Criminal Justice Commission from 1968 to 1970. As an attorney, he devotes his practice exclusively to disabled rights advocacy and advocates on behalf of people with disabilities. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no salary. Ludlow is a Democrat.
Susan Madison, 58, of Escondido, has been appointed to the State Independent Living Council. She has served on numerous councils including the Citizens’ Review Committee on Disability Access and the Phoenix Mayor’s Commission on Disability Issues and is former chair of the Arizona State Independent Living Council. Since 2007, Madison has served as disability services coordinator for the city of San Diego. Additionally, she has been a disability consultant and trainer for non-profit organizations including Access to Independence of San Diego and Arizona State Independent Living Council since 1990. From 2006 to 2007, Madison was coordinator for the San Diego Disability Action Coalition and, from 2005 to 2006, was associate director for the Center for an Accessible Society. From 2000 to 2005, she was project manager for the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities and also, in 2000, participated in a public policy fellowship for the National Council on Disability. Prior to that, Madison was executive director for the Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities from 1997 to 1999 and was director of education and prevention at the Center Against Sexual Abuse in Phoenix from 1990 to 1997. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no salary. Madison is registered decline-to-state.
Patricia O’Sullivan, 48, of San Jose, has been appointed to the State Independent Living Council. She has been a member of the State Rehabilitation Council since 2002 and the Governor's Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities since 2003. O'Sullivan has served as the global disability program manager for Agilent Technologies since 2000, where she is responsible for accessibility and accommodation programs for 19,000 employees worldwide. She has owned CoCo Diva, a chocolatier company, since 1989 and Patty O’Sullivan Consulting Services since 2007. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no salary. O’Sullivan is a Democrat.
Cherie Phoenix, 48, of Thousand Oaks, has been appointed to the State Independent Living Council. Most recently, she served as executive director for the Brain Injury Center in Ventura County from 2005 to January 2008. Phoenix is a member of the board of directors of the Tri-Counties Independent Living Resource Center, Incorporated headquartered in Santa Barbara, the Ventura County Nonprofit Leadership Council and the Ventura County Department of Public Health Vulnerable Populations Disaster Planning Task Force. She previously served as chair of the Thousand Oaks Disabled Access Appeals & Advisory Board and was a member of the California Traumatic Brain Injury Advisory Board. Phoenix served as office manager at University Elementary School in Thousand Oaks from 2001 to 2004 and served two terms as president of the PTA from 1998 to 2000. This position does not require Senate confirmation there is no salary. Phoenix is a Democrat.
Elsa Quezada, 55, of Salinas, has been appointed to the State Independent Living Council. Since 1991, she has been the executive director of the Central Coast Center for Independent Living where she also served as program coordinator from 1988 to 1990. Quezada worked at Community Rehabilitation Services Independent Living Center in East Los Angeles as executive director from 1982 to 1988 and services coordinator from 1981 to 1982. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no salary. Quezada is a Democrat.
Eduardo Rea, 19, of Fresno, has been appointed to the State Independent Living Council. He is currently enrolled at American River College. Rea is a volunteer for the California Foundation for Independent Living Centers, past member and current staff of the California Youth Leadership Forum and member of the Association of Youth Leadership Forums. He has also been a student commissioner for the State Department of Education’s Advisory Commission on Special Education and co-founder of the California Youth Leadership Forum Alumni Alliance. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no salary. Rea is registered decline-to-state.
Marco Rodriguez, 42, of Elk Grove, has been appointed to the State Independent Living Council. Since 1991, he has been a financial advisor for the Principal Financial Group. Rodriguez is president of the Mexican Cultural Center of Northern California. He is a past member of the National Council on Disability, former chair of the Sacramento Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and former president of the board of directors for Mexican-American Alcoholism Program Incorporated. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no salary. Rodriguez is a Republican.
David Tripp, 57, of Orleans, has been appointed to the State Independent Living Council. He has served on the council since 2003 and has also served on the State Rehabilitation Council since 2007. Since 1998, Tripp has worked for the Hoopa Valley Tribal Council as a program manager for the Hoopa Yurok Vocational Rehabilitation Program. Prior to that, he was a coordinator for the Klamath-Trinity Branch Campus for the College of the Redwoods from 1993 to 1997 and education director for the education department of the Karuk Tribe of California from 1991 to 1992. Tripp is a part-time associate faculty member at College of the Redwoods, where he teaches courses in psychology, sociology and Native American studies. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no salary. Tripp is a Democrat.
08/09/2007 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SILC Announces New Executive Director
David Wilder, Chair of the California State Independent Living Council (SILC) announced the appointment of Ms. Elizabeth Pazdral as the Executive Director of SILC. Ms. Pazdral, who will begin her duties on September 1, currently works as a Community Resources Development Specialist in the State Department of Rehabilitation.
“We are very pleased to have Ms. Pazdral bring a wide variety of skills to SILC”, stated Wilder in making the announcement. “She not only has hands-on experience in working with people with disabilities at the local level as Executive Director of the Community Resources for Independent Living in Hayward, CA, and Independent Living Services Manager in Los Angeles, but she also has the state level experience.” In addition, Ms. Pazdral has worked as a Vocational Counselor and taught socialization and enrichment skills to people with mental illness and/or history of substance abuse, and adults with developmental disabilities in Vancouver, British Columbia and Auburn, Washington.
“It is an honor to advance the vision of this Council which represents several of the important disability communities in California,” stated Pazdral when accepting the position.
“We are committed to working collaboratively for independent living that is inclusive of all underrepresented people, creates new leaders, and champions the Olmstead decision.”
SILC is a 17 member independent state agency established in 1996 in response to requirements in the federal Rehabilitation Act in order to retain federal funding for independent living services in California. Together with the State Department of Rehabilitation, SILC develops and approves the multi-year State Plan for Independent Living and monitors its implementation. It also coordinates activities with the State Rehabilitation Council and conducts quarterly meetings around the state to secure input from the public on disability and independent living issues and advises the Governor on those issues.
06/12/2007 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Governor Schwarzenegger Appoints Anthony
Sauer Director of Department of Rehabilitation
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today announced the appointment
of Anthony Sauer as director of the Department of Rehabilitation
(DOR) under the Health and Human Services Agency.
”Anthony’s extensive background in advocacy and facilitating services for individuals with disabilities makes him the perfect fit for this position,” said Governor Schwarzenegger. “I look forward to working with him to further the efforts of the Department of Rehabilitation which plays such a vital role in our communities.”
Since 2003, Sauer has served as executive director for the Nevada-Sierra Regional In-Home Supportive Services Public Authority. In this capacity, he manages the recruiting and training of over 1,000 workers who provide services to people with disabilities and seniors as well as oversees the workers’ health insurance programs for the Authority. From 2001 to 2003, Sauer served as deputy director of external affairs for the DOR. Previously, he was the executive director for the FREED Center for Independent Living from 1990 to 2001, where he administered the state and federally funded independent living center and led advocacy efforts to facilitate services for people with disabilities. Prior to that, Sauer founded a successful cabinet making business which he owned from 1979 to 1992.
He currently serves as chair of the Assessment and Transition Workgroup under the Health and Human Services Agency Olmstead Advisory Committee. Sauer is a member of the California Association of Public Authorities Legislative Committee and a former member of the Building Standards Commission. He also previously served as co-chair of the Communications and Information Technology Workgroup under the California Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Task Force.
”I am deeply honored Governor Schwarzenegger has chosen me to serve in this immensely important role,” said Sauer. “I look forward to using my passion for disability advocacy for independent living to assure the voices of people with disabilities are heard.”
Sauer, 46, of Grass Valley, was paralyzed from the waist down at the age of 18 after a motorcycle accident. He earned a Masters degree in management and disability services from the University of San Francisco and was a fellow in the Health Leadership Program at the Sierra Health Foundation and University of Southern California Marshall School of Business. He is a graduate of the Independent Living Center Mid-Management Training Program presented by Cornell University. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $142,965. Sauer is a Democrat.
The DOR assists Californians with disabilities in obtaining and retaining employment and maximizing their ability to live independently. The department provides vocational rehabilitation services and provides ADA technical assistance and training to eligible Californians. DOR funds 29 Independent Living Centers which offer information and referral services to assist individuals with disabilities in living active, independent lives. The vocational rehabilitation services provided by DOR are designed to get Californians with disabilities prepared for employment and include training, education, transportation and job placement.