Dear FACT Family, It is both an honor and a privilege to join FACT as your new Executive Director. I am humbled at the opportunity to serve in this position and to work with and alongside each of you to provide the very best of service to our clients. For more than 17 years, FACT has provided help and hope to individuals with disabling conditions while nourishing the traditional values of community integration, self-advocacy, and tailored solutions for our clients,…
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By Zoey Giesberg, MSW When I first learned I have autism, it felt like a simultaneous blessing and a curse. As I have previously written, I spent most of my childhood feeling like an outsider due to things I couldn’t control and figured I was slowly going mad because no one would give me a straight answer of why I was the way I was. So it’s easy to imagine that the news of my diagnosis was a huge relief…
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On June 22nd, 2017, the United States Senate unveiled its plan to revamp healthcare in America. The controversial American Health Care Act, as discussed in the past, narrowly passed in the House of Representatives in early June and moved into the Senate for revisions. After two weeks in committee, where committees controversially dismissed public hearings, the Senate’s revised bill debuted with the new name Better Care Reconciliation Act. The Better Care Reconciliation Act comes with huge revisions to the House version…
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California’s state budget has been a hot topic for the disability community for the past decade. In 2009, disability services were dealt a huge blow when the state cut funding for regional centers to cover social and recreational services and put caps on respite services. In almost a decade of economic recovery, these services have not been restored despite hard lobbying by the disability community. However, this year’s budget has made some progress in allowing respite services to be restored…
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Lania Glaude, Esq., CPA, Board President of FACT – Family Adult and Child Therapies today announced that the agency has hired its next Executive Director. She is Felita Jones, MPA, EdD, who comes to FACT with a wealth of experience and educational credentials, including significant experience and study in autism spectrum disorders and developmental disabilities. Dr. Jones is passionate about the field of autism services and about the individuals and families affected by the range of developmental disabilities. On receiving…
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At the end of May 2017, the White House released its proposed budget for the federal government. While this budget is not likely to be implemented because Congress writes the final budget regardless what the White House wants, the White House proposed budget has historically been seen as highlighting what programs and policies President Donald Trump will prioritize while in office. The current proposal has come under fire from many sources from public bureaucracies to advocacy organizations, but FACT would like to share…
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Exciting and Challenging Times at FACT….. The summer is setting in, the days are longer and hotter, and there is so much news to share and respond to. First, I just returned from Washington DC, and I can confirm that the atmosphere there is as uncertain and unpredictable as it is back home. But the good news I took away is the huge body of very well intentioned, well-schooled and good hearted people that work within the massive federal bureaucracy.…
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Despite the rising rates of childhood diagnoses of autism, many autistic people are often not identified as being on the spectrum until adulthood. While there is a growing amount of research dedicated to autistic adults, some are speculating that many autistic adults have learned coping strategies in order to fit in and thus making it harder for professionals to detect their condition. The British Psychological Society examines this phenomenon in reviewing the first major study addressing adult autistic behavior. Let us…
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Although not often discussed, mental health has a great effect on disabled people’s lives and how they see the world. Also, often not discussed enough is how pop culture has similar effects for everyone. Netflix’s newest blockbuster show “13 Reasons Why” has brought discussion of mental health (particularly suicide and depression) into public discussion and has elicited controversy about how the show handles this sensitive topic. The Los Angeles Times recently asked several educators about how they have handled talking about…
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One of the hallmarks in raising children with disabilities is ensuring they have appropriate educational supports. This often involves negotiating with schools about special education and creating and enforcing Individualized Education Plans (IEPs). But how can we make sure our kids get their needs met so they can thrive? The Invisible Disability Project offers an unique approach to negotiating with special education and IEPs here, and let us know what you think!