News Release PicturesFor those who are not familiar with Assembly Bill 896, which proposes to
close California's institutions for people with developmental disabilities,
more information is available from this Inclusion Daily Express web page:
 Pat Napoliello, Mike Clark, Assemblymember Aroner, Jim Kester, Barbara Bromley, Elissa Gershon
 Nell Claraty "I saw the ocean for the first time."
 Assemblymember Aroner
 Jim Kester
 Pat Napoliello
 Elissa, Pat, and Mike Clark
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Dion Aroner is Chair of the Assembly Human Services Committee, where she oversees state programs targeted to the most vulnerable populations, including foster care, CaIWORKS, services for disabled Californians, and childcare. In the 2001-2002 session Aroner has introduced legislation addressing hospital seismic safety, the death penalty, energy conservation, services for people with developmental disabilities, housing, foster family recruitment, and access to work for disabled Californians. She is the author of AB 896, which would overhaul the developmental disabilities funding system.
Barbara Bromley is the parent/conservator of an adult with severe developmental disabilities and significant medical needs. Her son, Shawn, lived in a developmental center for 29 years, moving into a small group home after a 12 year struggle with the local regional center. Since that time, Shawn has made great progress in motor and speech skills, including receiving a speech communication device. He loves his home and has developed new hobbies of cooking and gardening. Dr. Bromley is Vice-Chairperson of the Developmental Disabilities Board, Area Board XI. She is a Professor of Education at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, and focuses her work on training future special education teachers.
Nell Claraty was born in 1918, during the great flu epidemic that raged through San Francisco. When Nell was 11 years old, her parents could no longer care for her and put her in Sonoma Developmental Center. Nell was at Sonoma from age 11 to age 78. In 1999, Nell was approached with a wonderful plan to move to the community. She now lives in a bright and cozy apartment 2 blocks from the Santa Cruz boardwalk where she saw the ocean for the first time.
Dr. Michael Clark serves as the Executive Director of Kern Regional Center in Bakersfield, CA. He also occasionally teaches educational psychology and research methods classes in the School of Education at California State University, Bakersfield. In the recent past, he has served as President of the National Down Syndrome Congress, President of the Association of Regional Center Agencies and Chair of the American Association of Mental Retardation, Region II. Dr. Clark says that his most important qualification for working with people with developmental disabilities is that he is the father of Marnie, his daughter who is 18 and has Down syndrome.
Elissa Gershon is a Staff attorney with Protection & Advocacy, Inc. in Oakland. She has worked as a lawyer with people with developmental disabilities for 8 years. She decided to become a disability rights lawyer after working and volunteering with people with disabilities at a camp, in group homes, in the Special Olympics, and on sea kayaking trips. Her current work focuses on helping people with developmental and other disabilities get the services they need to live in their own homes in the community.
Ellen Goldblatt has been a senior attorney with Protection & Advocacy since 1985 and has a brother-in-law with a developmental disability. A major focus of her work has been ensuring that people have the opportunity to move from institutional settings to homes in the community where they can participate in social and economic life. Ms. Goldblatt was lead counsel on the class-action lawsuit Coffelt v. DDS which resulted in the movement of over 2,000 people from California's institutions to the community and substantial improvements to the developmental disabilities system. She also works in the policy arena to enhance California's system of evaluating the quality of community services to focus on actual life outcomes for the persons served.
Jim Kester, a longtime advocate to gain the best services for his son, David Kester, served 20 years in the Air Force and 20 years with the 3M Company. David moved into Porterville State Hospital in 1962, moving to Camarillo DC in 1968. He was appointed by Governor Deukmajian to the Camarillo Advisory Board for 12 years. Jim served as President of the Parent Group at Camarillo and was a representative on the state-wide DC parent group, CASH-PCR. David moved out of Camarillo to a community group home in 1993. Jim was recently elected President of the Tri-Counties Regional Center Board and hopes to help all the DC residents move into the community if they want to move.
Pat Napoliello is the current President of Arc California. Pat is a Dental Hygienist by profession, raising three daughters and her son, Joseph. Joseph, diagnosed with Angelman's Syndrome, has been the inspiration for her 21 years of advocacy. Leading parent support groups, volunteering for the local, state and national Arc and creating the most inclusive educational opportunities for Joseph have been among her greatest achievements. Pat has devoted much of her life to ensuring equal access to opportunities that maximize the potential of people with developmental disabilities. Joseph just recently moved into his own apartment with a live-in attendant and supported living services.
My name is Michael Pasquini. I use a wheelchair and need help with everyday tasks. For over 30 years, I lived in Sonoma DC. It was scary living at Sonoma and there were so many bosses over my life. Now I am free to make my own choices. Since 1992, I have lived in the community in my own apartment with help everyday from my supported living agency.
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