RA

ISE

YOUR

Eastern Los Angeles Regional Center

2014 Community Report

VOICE

What’s Inside

3 Our Mission

4 Partnerships

5 -11 Voices of Empowerment

12-13 Raise Your Voice

14 Demographics

15 Fiscal Report

16 Management Team

2

Our Mission

Eastern Los Angeles Regional

Center is committed to serving

individuals with developmental

disabilities and their families

by promoting partnerships which

empower them to achieve

meaningful lifestyles in

their communities.

3

Partnerships

Board of Directors

The Eastern Los Angeles Regional Center Board of Directors is committed to en-

suring that the mission of the agency is carried out. The BOD is made up of vol-

unteers from our community, parents, individuals with disabilities, professionals,

and others with specific skills and knowledge who provide guidance and leader-

ship for the agency.

Consumer Advisory Committee

The Consumer Advisory Committee is committed to expanding their member-

ship, spreading the word about self-advocacy, and playing a leadership role

within ELARC and at the state level.

Family Advisory Committee

The Family Advisory Committee is comprised of family members of individuals

served by ELARC. They work together with the agency to review relevant policy,

discuss issues of importance to family members, and keep up to date on activi-

ties of the agency.

Vendor Advisory Committee

The Vendor Advisor Committee provides recommendations, guidance, and tech-

nical assistance to ELARC’s Board of Directors. They meet to review and discuss

both the agency and state issues that impact service providers in our community.

4

Voices of Empowerment

Each year, the Eastern Los Angeles Regional Center

publishes the Community Report in an effort to in-

form consumers, vendors, and other stakeholders

about how we are serving and advocating for indi-

viduals with developmental disabilities. This Com-

munity Report offers personal stories of how ELARC’s

services have impacted and enriched the lives of the

individuals we serve, reveals how budgetary re-

strictions at the state level have created challenges

for regional centers, and provides detailed infor-

mation about our provision of services during 2014.

This report’s theme is Raise Your Voice, which re-

flects ELARC’s dedication to advocacy and empow-

erment of its consumers.

5

Sean

6

For eighteen years, Victoria Chen and her family have benefit-

ted from ELARC’s services. Her son Sean is a warm and friendly

24 year old who enjoys art classes and church activities. Alt-

hough Sean is eager to socialize and is active in his community,

Autism Spectrum Disorder makes it difficult for him to express

himself verbally. Ms. Chen vividly recalls the challenges she

and her family faced during the early days of Sean’s diagnosis

and states that she is grateful for the ways in which ELARC has

served her family over the years.

“Regional Center helped my son and my family through difficult times of uncertainty about

his future to where we are today. ELARC’s support has helped Sean reach his potential and

has given me time to support my other children,” says Ms. Chen. Sean has been a partici-

pant in the Self-Determination Pilot Project at ELARC which allowed him the authority and

freedom to determine and obtain the technology, support, and tutorial services to aid him in

his communication and social skills.

“ELARC’s

support has

helped Sean

reach his

potential.”

Two years ago, Sean successfully graduated from

Arcadia High School. When an individual with de-

velopmental disabilities transitions from the educa-

tional system, ELARC serves as part of a team that

includes the individual, the family, the school, and

other relevant agencies to determine and secure

necessary services. Continuation of these services

will enable Sean to live an empowered life through-

out adulthood.

Miguel

7

Miguel is a 21-year-old ELARC consumer who loves In-N-

Out Burger, dancing, and going to the mall. ELARC has

served Miguel and his family since he was born. Down Syn-

drome, Autism Spectrum Disorder, and multiple seizures cre-

ate significant challenges for Miguel. Through the efforts of

ELARC as well as his parents’ own advocacy work, Miguel

has been able to receive speech therapy, occupational ther-

apy, and physical therapy. When Miguel was a child, ELARC

was able to create contracts with two childcare facilities in

order that they could become vendors with ELARC and pro-

vide Miguel with the type of childcare services he specifically

needed. Due to his diagnoses and multiple surgeries, Miguel

has also had several health issues. “We almost lost him many times,” says his mother, Terry

Munoz. “We were initially told he would not survive his birth.” Ms. Munoz states that be-

cause of ELARC’s services, Miguel was able to learn how to walk by age 5.

Miguel’s story is

one of many

voices that must

be heard so that

ELARC may

continue to

support and

empower the

Developmentally

Disabled

population.

For over two decades, ELARC has served Miguel and his par-

ents by creating connections and supports as well as encourag-

ing the importance of self-advocacy. His mother will head to

Sacramento this year to raise her voice about funding shortfalls

and share Miguel's story with state representatives. In addition to

anticipating a lower number of available services for her son

once he turns 22 next year, Ms. Munoz states that she and her

husband are very concerned about how decisions surrounding

the state’s budget for the developmentally disabled will impact

the services ELARC is able to facilitate. Miguel’s story is one of

many voices that must be heard so that ELARC may continue to

support and empower the developmentally disabled population.

Miguel now participates in Special Olympics. Ms. Munoz

states that although her son faces significant challenges, he has

learned to help himself in many ways, including doing small

chores such as throwing his trash away, putting his clothes in the

hamper, and getting food items for himself.

Sebastian

Sebastian

8

At just fifteen years of age, Sebastian is an accom-

plished artist. With multiple art exhibitions under his

belt, and excellent marks at Los Angeles County

School for the Arts, Sebastian is leading a full and

productive life. His mother, Lida Chavez, states,

“Sebastian is very hard working and respectful of

others. All of his teachers love him.”

Although Sebastian reached all of the typical devel-

opmental milestones as a baby, his parents and his

preschool teacher became concerned about his

communication and socialization skills when he was

almost two years old. After several assessments, Se-

bastian was eventually diagnosed with Autism Spec-

trum Disorder. “As a mother, I worried about my son.

I never expected to have a child with a disability,”

says Ms. Chavez. From the earliest days of Sebas-

tian’s diagnosis, ELARC was able to provide thera-

peutic services in the home, including socialization

and Adaptive Skills Training. Sebastian also currently

receives speech therapy through his school. Ms.

Chavez is grateful for the role ELARC has played in

Sebastian’s life. “I can’t see families with disabled

children not having the Center’s help due to cuts in

funding. I feel supported by Regional Center,” says

Ms. Chavez.

In addition to being an artist, Sebastian is also interested in computer anima-

tion, photography, travel, and is currently writing a book.

“As a

mother,

I worried

about my

son. I never

expected to

have a child

with a

disability.”

9

...ELARC’s role

in the community

is critical in the

effort to deliver

relevant and

appropriate

services to families

impacted by

developmental

disabilities.

Diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder at age seventeen,

Andrew has been an ELARC consumer for just four years. Alt-

hough this sort of news is never easy for a parent to hear about

his or her child, Andrew’s mother Diane Lasell states, “This was

a welcomed diagnosis because we had struggled to understand

Andrew’s learning differences and behaviors through his entire

school career.” Expressive speech disorder, ADHD, and specific

learning disabilities have presented Andrew with many challeng-

es in the classroom. However, Andrew was able to successfully

graduate from high school two years ago.

Ms. Lasell states that she discovered that although there are some academic accommoda-

tions available to students like Andrew, most of them are not easily attainable. “They’re

available to a person who can self-advocate and aggressively pressure administrators into

providing services—that is not my son.” Thankfully, Andrew has had ELARC working as his

family’s partner, aiming to empower him and the developmentally disabled population.

Like most 21 year olds, Andrew enjoys going to the movies,

seeing his friends, and playing videos games. Andrew also really

enjoys going to work. Thanks to a job coach provided through

ELARC, he enjoys his part time job at a grocery store where he

can interact with others and gain useful career skills.

Ms. Lasell states, “These people, given the appropriate

supports and training, can become productive tax-paying

members of society.”

Andrew is one such example of how ELARC’s role in the

community is critical in the effort to deliver relevant and

appropriate services to families impacted by developmen-

tal disabilities.

Andrew

Sofia

10

Sofia is a happy nine year old girl who loves music, playing

piano, lots of hugs, and going for car rides. Her father, Tony

Borrego, states, “Her persistence is incredible. If she wants

something, she will do everything in her power to get it.” Sofia

has been an ELARC consumer for almost eight years. Because

Sofia was born in another state which was lacking in appropri-

ate resources for her and her family, her parents created an in-

home intensive care unit for their daughter. “Sofia needed

speech therapy, occupational therapy, feeding therapy and

physical therapy. She was immobile and fed through a tube,”

recalls Mr. Borrego. Since moving to ELARC’s catchment area

when Sofia was about a year old, she and her family have sig-

nificantly benefited from California’s Lanterman Act and the

Thriving is

exactly what

ELARC’s

services have

enabled Sofia

to do.

services that regional centers provide. Mr. Borrego states, “It was a huge relief when we

moved back to California...and Sofia was able to get all of the services that she needed.”

Thanks to ELARC’s facilitation of services for Sofia, she is able to walk independently and

uses some sign language to communicate. Sofia was diagnosed with intellectual disability

and Pierre Robin Sequence. Mr. Borrego states, “Sofia does not have a clear diagnosis. She

has multiple disabilities, developmental, and physical de-

lays. She is nonverbal and is primarily fed by gtube for her

nutrition…she still has a long way to go.” The state budget

cuts that have occurred since Sofia began receiving re-

gional center services are very disconcerting for parents

and caregivers of consumers like Sofia. “If the state does

not restore those cuts, there will be consequences to those

with developmental disabilities who depend on these ser-

vices to learn, to survive and to thrive,” says Mr. Borrego.

Thriving is exactly what ELARC’s services have enabled

Sofia to do. These services, along with her own strong will

and determined personality have allowed this young girl to

walk, play her piano, and progress in her life.

Daniel & Nestor

11

Daniel and Nestor are brothers. Daniel is nineteen

years old and Nestor is twenty-one years old. Although

they are both ELARC consumers with Autism Spectrum

Disorder, these brothers are very different individuals.

Their mother, Josefina Nieves, states, “Nestor has lan-

guage but his challenges are social interactions. Daniel

has limited language but can communicate his needs

and wants.” Daniel enjoys coloring and painting. Alt-

hough his limited language can make independent

“The timely and

quality services

my children

receive make a

significantly

positive impact on

their lives and our

community.”

Daniel and Nestor are individuals. ELARC seeks ways of

not only providing services for its consumers, but also em-

powering each of them to live a life that reflects their

unique personalities, desires, and goals.

Because of the community integration services facilitated

by ELARC, Nestor is very knowledge about public trans-

portation and knows how to get where he wants to go. Ms.

Nieves states, “This made a huge difference in his life.”

activities in the community a challenge, his mother states that he has a very happy

personality and loves to play. Nestor is more serious, takes pleasure in the outdoors

and exercising, and is currently a student at California State University Northridge.

Ms. Nieves is grateful for the services that ELARC has provided her sons over the

years, including early intervention services, independent living programs, and social

skills training, among others. “The timely and quality ser-

vices my sons receive have made a significantly positive

impact on their lives and our community,” she says.

Raise Your Voice

12

ELARC is not only linking individuals with de-

velopmental disabilities to the services they

need, but is also empowering consumers to ful-

ly and inclusively live in their communities.

Contracted by the State of California through

the Department of Developmental Services,

ELARC is just one of the 21 Regional Centers in

the state. Each spring, ELARC heads to Sacra-

mento in order to lobby state representatives by

sharing with them the needs of the develop-

mentally disabled population and how appro-

priate funding critically and directly impacts the

lives of consumers through such important is-

sues as staff retention and quality, moderate

caseloads, contracts with service providers, em-

ployment and training opportunities for con-

sumers, stable programming, and much more.

Empowering

consumers to

fully and

inclusively

live in their

communities.

Over the years, budget cuts at the state level have significantly im-

pacted how regional centers are able to provide services. In order to

best serve regional center consumers, a restoration of funding is

needed now. ELARC, along with California’s other regional centers,

will continue to lobby state representatives by requesting a 10% fund-

ing increase and 5% subsequent annual increases until the regional

center system is reformed and funding has been recaptured.

Raise Your Voice

13

Consumers, vendors, and ELARC staff will share how funding reform

will directly impact individuals with developmental disabilities, and

consequently, the community at large.

Empowerment and promoting self-advocacy

is a significant part of how ELARC serves its

consumers. ELARC’s Information and Training

Unit has held workshops to educate consum-

ers and vendors about how California’s legis-

lative process works, how to contact law mak-

ers, and perhaps most importantly, reminding

them the power of voting. Through these

workshops, consumers have learned about is-

sues that are relevant to them, how to prepare

for a visit or phone call with a state repre-

sentative, and how to communicate the im-

pact of ELARC’s services in their lives through

sharing their personal stories.

In partnership with consumers and their fami-

lies, ELARC encourages them to raise their

voice, let their stories be heard, and advocate

for themselves in order to live fulfilled, mean-

ingful lives.

Encouraging

consumers to

raise their

voice and let

their stories

be heard.

2014 Demographics

14

Diagnosis

Epilepsy EP 602 6.7%

ASD & Epilepsy ASD / EP 133 1.5%

Autism Spectrum Disorder

(ASD) ASD 3,567 39.9%

Other Developmental Disorder OD / OD+ 1,042 11.7%

Epilepsy & Cerebral Palsy EP / CP 399 4.5%

Cerebral Palsy CP 462 5.2%

ASD & Epilepsy & Cerebral

Palsy

ASD / EP /

CP 14 0.2%

Intellectual Disability Only ID ONLY 2,693 30.1%

ASD & Cerebral Palsy ASD / CP 30 0.3%

Total 8,942 100.0%

Ethnicity

Asian 1,284 12.5%

Hispanic 7,154 69.6%

Other 397 3.9%

White 1,049 10.2%

Multi Ethnic 243 2.4%

African-American 147 1.4%

Total 10,274 100.0%

Ages Cases Percentage

< 3 1,233 12.0%

3 - 4 525 5.1%

5 - 17 3,627 35.3%

18 - 21 986 9.6%

22 - 54 3,365 32.8%

55 + 538 5.2%

10,274 100.0%

Asian1,28412.5%

Hispanic7,15469.6%

Other3973.9%

White1,04910.2%

Multi Ethnic2432.4%

African-American1471.4%

ELARC Consumers by Ethnicity

Asian Hispanic Other White Multi Ethnic African-American

< 31,233

12.0%

3 - 4525

5.1%

5 - 173,627

35.3%

18 - 21986

9.6%

22 - 543,365

32.8%

55 +538

5.2%

ELARC Consumers by Age Group

< 3 3 - 4 5 - 17 18 - 21 22 - 54 55 +

EP

602

6.7%

ASD / EP

133

1.5%

ASD

3,567

39.9%OD / OD+

1,042

11.7%

EP / CP

399

4.5%

CP

462

5.2%

ASD / EP / CP

14

0.2%

ID ONLY

2,693

30.1%

ASD / CP

30

0.3%

ELARC Consumers by Diagnosis

EP ASD / EP ASD OD / OD+ EP / CP CP ASD / EP / CP ID ONLY ASD / CP

2014 Fiscal Report

15

Total Overall Expenditures - FY 2013/14

Operating Exp. 3,635,118 2.1%

Salaries & Related Exp 16,819,874 9.8%

Purchase of Service 151,965,197 88.1% TOTAL 172,420,189 100.0%

POS Details -

FY 2013/14

Category

Paid

Amount

CCF & ICF 24,421,569 16.1%

Adult Day Programs 27,276,986 17.9%

Habilitation Programs 4,553,450 3.0%

Transportation 4,862,299 3.2%

Prevention 8,218,419 5.4% Behavior Mgmt

Consultant 9,275,607 6.1% In-Home Respite

Services (parents) 519,533 0.3% In-Home Respite

Services (agency) 8,890,829 5.9% Supported Living

Services 17,452,738 11.5%

Medical Care 2,092,395 1.4%

Adaptive Skills Trainer 11,844,467 7.8% Community

Integration Services 8,100,278 5.3%

Other Services 20,499,183 13.5%

Com. Placement Plan 2,990,112 2.0%

Self Determination 967,332 0.6%

Total 151,965,197 100.00%

Operating Exp. 2.1%

Salaries & Related Exp. 9.8%

Purchase of Service 88.1%

ELARC Total Overall Exp. FY 2013/14

Operating Exp. Salaries & Related Exp Purchase of Service

16.1%

17.9%

3.0%3.2%

5.4%6.1%0.3%

5.9%

11.5%

1.4%

7.8%

5.3%

13.5% 2.0% 0.6%

ELARC Total Purchase of Services -FY 13/14

CCF & ICF Adult Day Programs Hablitation Programs

Transportation Prevention Behavior Mgmt Consultant

In-Home Respite Services (parents) In-Home Respite Services (agency) Supported Living Services

Medical Care Adaptive Skills Trainer Community Integration Services

Other Services Com. Placement Plan Self Determination

ELARC Management Team

Gloria Wong, Executive Director

Felipe Hernandez, Chief of Consumer Services

Patricia Alvarez, Chief of Administrative Services

Carmen Vasquez, Manager of Early Intervention Services

Elin Nozaki, Manager of Assessment & Special Services

Frances Jacobs, Manager of Community Services

Jesse Valdez, Manager of Federal Programs

Mary Maynard, Manager of Human Resources

Mailing Address: PO Box 7916, Alhambra, CA 91802-7916

ALHAMBRA OFFICE

(Main office)

1000 S. Fremont Ave.

Alhambra, CA 91803

(626) 299-4700

WHITTIER OFFICE

13215 Penn St. , Suite 410

Whittier, CA 90602

(562) 698-0146

www.elarc.org

info@elarc.org

Eastern Los Angeles Regional Center