Assemblyman Lackey joins developmental disabilities community for day-of-action

LANCASTER- As part of a statewide Day-of-Action, Assemblyman Tom Lackey and hundreds of advocates rallied at Desert Haven Enterprise in Lancaster, calling on Governor Jerry Brown to increase funding to support state services for individuals with developmental disabilities.

Joining Lackey in the call to action was former NFL and UCLA Star Wendell Tyler, whose son receives services through state-funded programs.

“More than 270,000 Californians with disabilities seek services from state-funded centers which allow them to live independently through community-based programs,” Lackey stated. “…California owes it to them to keep the promise we made to them. However, after years of neglect and failing to make funding a priority, the state has failed to keep that promise. ”

“Everyday is a struggle for our family,” stated Wendell Tyler. “As we have seen a decline in the programs and support provided by the state, the challenge of meeting my son’s needs have become tremendous. He is fortunate to [have] family support to fall back on, but not all the individuals receiving these services have that luxury.”

Advocates for California’s developmentally disabled, including Assemblyman Lackey, have called for a 10 percent funding increase for regional centers.

Some community-based programs provided from this funding are paratransit, day and work programs, supported employment, supported living services and others.

In addition to the rally held in Lancaster, similar rallies were also held across the state Thursday, Dec. 10, in Sacramento, San Diego, Berkeley, Bakersfield and Redding.

Assemblyman Lackeyrepresents the 36th Assembly District, which contains portions of Kern, San Bernardino and Los Angeles counties, including the communities of Lancaster, Palmdale, Quartz Hill, Acton, Littlerock, Lake Los Angeles, Pearblossom, Mojave, Rosamond, California City, Phelan and Piñon Hills.

[Information via news release from the office of Assemblyman Tom Lackey.]

–