As a Community, What are Our Priorities?

By Linda Andron-Ostrow, Executive Director

It was wonderful to see all who were able to attend our annual art show and casino night. Members from the GAP program hosted the event and also offered up their artistic talents through the wide range of art pieces and a comedy show. Seeing our young adults, family members, friends, interns, staff, and board members all together that night reminded me that this is the reason we call ourselves FACT family.

The strength and importance of coming together as a community came to me very clearly the next morning. I was watching channel 4 news and Darrell Steinberg was on as a guest. He is the head of the California state senate and is known to be an instrumental player in pushing important legislature. When the interviewer asked him to list his legislative priorities for the next year, autism was the first word out of his mouth. It made me wonder, as a community, what are our upcoming legislative priorities?

I found this link that is a 1 minute survey by Area Board 10 asking you to rank your legislative priorities specific for those of us who are diagnosed or are supporting someone with developmental disabilities. As a community, this is our time to tell people what we need to continue to better our future. We have seen our legislative priorities actualized through the passage of bills that gave us insurance coverage for in-home behavior and more personalized care through Self-Determination. These successes should give us great hope that if we speak up, California will listen.

As we consider what we are thankful for this week, now is a great time to demonstrate support for the community with whom you live, love, and work.