1.    Distributed ACSED Employment Practices Survey to EEOs at the 16 State agencies designated 2008 ACES Winners.  Five of 16 surveys received by May 22 due date.  Initiated phone follow-up; received ten of 16 surveys by May 29.       

2.    Met with Teresa Favuzzi, Exec Dir, CA Foundation for ILCs,     & Liz Pazdral, Exec Dir, SILC, to discuss ways ACSED can support the Youth Leadership Forum which is now under CFILC.  Contacted SDAC re a YLF presentation to DAC members.

3.    Third edition of ACSED's A Review of the Employment of PWDs in California State Government is prepared.  It reviews quarterly data from SPB as of 3-30-09.

4.    Carolyn Bonkowski and Lisa Brown are selected 2009 Summer Picnic Co-chairs.

5.    May meeting of Training Symposium Work Group cancelled, moved to June.

6.    Contacted CA U.S. Senator Feinstein to express support for inclusion of long term care services & supports for PWDs/seniors in any proposed health care revisions.

7.    Attended Disability Capitol Action Day at Capitol, 5-27.  Submitted comments at Conf Budget Comm on effect of budget cuts on PWDs & disability services.

8.    Les Treece-Sinclair, ACSED Prez, appointed by Senate Rules Comm. As Member of     the Governor's Committee for Employment of People     with Disabilities & assigned     to Agency Liaison Subcommittee.  GC members asked for suggested changes to AB 925 [GC's enabling legislation], ACSED provided input.

9.    Catherine Campisi, longtime ACSED member, has been appointed by Governor as member of the newly established CA Commission on Disability Access.

Next ACSED Mtg: June 11, 12 noon - 1:30 pm, @ State Council on D.D., 1507 21st St., corner of 21st & O., Ste 210, 2nd Fl, Members & Guests Welcome [limited phone participation available].

#6, 5-2009

QUICKNEWS

A Summary of ACSED Activities & Events

1.    Established work group and held two meetings to develop possible ACSED Training Symposium for 2009 or 2010.  Event may also include Membership Mtg.  Work Group includes APSEA, DOR, SPB and CCROC.   

2.    Completed development of ACSED Employment Practices Survey, cover memo and SPB/DOR support memo and distributed same to EEOs at 16 State agencies designated 2008 ACES Winners.  Purpose: to identify practices that enabled agencies to achieve highest disability employment rates.      

3.    Participated in a meeting hosted by DOR and spearheaded by CA Health Incentives Improvement Project [CHIIP] and SDSU/Interworks Institute to develop online training for State managers [with a focus on hiring/promoting PWDs].   

4.    Developed revised proposed ACSED DAC Survey, instructions and cover memo; submitted these to SPB for review and comment.  The survey will assess Disability Advisory Committees [DACs], which are required in State departments and help determine best practices, training and guidance needs.

5.    Provided input at a public meeting conducted by DOR to receive input on 2010 State VR Plan, Statewide Needs Assessment and American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

6.    Held first Board Mtg. of 2009/10 term in April and welcomed Liz Pazdral, Executive Director, State Independent Living Council, as new ACSED Recording Secretary.

Next ACSED Mtg: May 14, 12 noon - 1:30 pm, @ State Council on D.D., 1507 21st St., corner of 21st & O., Ste 210, 2nd Fl, Members & Guests Welcome [limited phone participation available].

Questions? Comments?  Contact Les Treece-Sinclair, 916-686-1632 or

This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

[#5, 4-2009]

Projects and Activities

Prepared and distributed the comprehensive report Review of the Employment of Persons With Disabilities [PWDs] in California State Government. This document was used in the May 16 “Let’s Make A Change” Event and follow-up EO S-4-05 implementation plan activities.  It was updated later in the year.

Served on the Design Team for the May 16 State Personnel Board [SPB] and Department of Rehabilitation’s [DOR] “Let’s Make A Change Event” which was intended to develop a set of recommendations that will serve as the basis for an implementation plan for Executive Order [EO] S-4-05 [making the State a model employer of PWDs]. Participated in the Event itself.  Subsequently served on the Multi-Department Task Force reviewing the May 16 Event input and developing proposed action recommendations.  Then submitted a substantial set of comments on the May 16 draft recommendations.

QUICKNEWS

A Summary of ACSED Activities & Events

1. Organized panel presentation on Making State Service Into a Model Employer of PWDs for the ACSED Annual Mtg. scheduled for March 12.  
2. Distributed information on upcoming ACSED Annual Mtg. to ACSED members, SDAC, ACES Winners, CA Civil Rights Officers Association, and others.  Also posted on ACSED website.
3. Responded to DOR request for suggestions on how to spend federal "stimulus" money the department anticipates receiving.
4. Prepared ACSED Annual Report for 2008 and Legislative and Long Term Care Study Update for 2009.
5. ACSED Annual Mtg. held March 12 at MVP Sports Bar.  Attended by 30 people.
6. 2009 ACSED Board of Directors elected at Annual Mtg., will take office at April Board Mtg.
7. Reviewed and responded to SPB's comments on ACSED's draft survey and cover memos to be sent to 16 ACES winners to document how they achieved high disability representation rate.
8. Met with SPB to discuss ACSED's draft survey to assess Disability Advisory Committees [DACs], which are required in State departments; then reviewed and responded to SPB's comments and suggested changes.
9. Invited by DOR to join an effort spearheaded by CA Health Incentives Improvement Project [CHIIP] and SDSU/Interworks Institute to develop online training for State managers [with a focus on hiring/promoting PWDs].

Next ACSED Mtg: Apr 1, 1 pm - 3 pm, @ State Council on D.D., 1507 21^st St., corner of 21^st & O., Ste 210, 2^nd Fl, Members & Guests Welcome [limited phone participation available].

Compiled by Les Treece-Sinclair, 916-686-1632 or e-mail Les via the "Contact Us" link (located in the top right corner of every page).

[#4, 2/3-2009]

The U.S. House of Representatives has passed the "American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009", which would spend over $800 billion dollars in an attempt to stimulate the U.S. economy.  This bill, now in the Senate, has been soundly criticized by Republican [and a few Democratic] Senators.  They feel it doesn't contain sufficient tax cuts and it spends too much on things that won't help the economy.