Here is my speech for the Press Conference last week

Hello, I’m Vanessa Castro. For decades, the people of the United States have been fighting for equal rights and justice for themselves, whether in race, gender or disabilities. Here we are in 2010, and we are still fighting for equal rights. The right for seniors and people with disabilities to choose to live in their own homes.

I first came to Berkeley in 1999 and attended U C Berkeley. One of the main reasons why I love Berkeley and have continued living here is because of In Home Supportive Services Program and my workers. If I didn’t have my IHSS workers, I would not have been able to eat, use the bathroom, shower, get dressed, go to school, and have a normal independent life.

It is insensitive and unconstitutional that Governor Schwarzenegger wants to cut the IHSS program that allows the elderly and people with disabilities to live independently in their own home, where they are loved and cared for. The Supreme Court issued the Olmstead decision in 1999. It said, people with disabilities cannot be segregated from their communities. This means that if Governor Schwarzenegger relegates us to nursing homes, he will be breaking the law. Just yesterday on the news, there was a segment that an employee in a nursing home beat up one of the elder residents. Is that what Governor Schwarzenegger wants to happen to me and the rest of us? Why can’t the state realize that it will be a lot more expensive to force people into nursing homes than to continue *having* In Home Supportive Services workers come to our homes?

Lots of people might ignore me because I have difficulty speaking, but the state and the governor can’t ignore the fact that they will be destroying and ruining people lives and putting us all in danger if we are forced into nursing homes. I am a Berkeley resident, a graduate from the University of Berkeley, an artist, and a member of society. I have had many successes in my life. My latest success is that I just wrote, illustrated, and self published a children’s book. I would not be as successful as I am without my IHSS workers. So I hope the state and Governor Schwarzenegger will find it in their hearts not to cut the IHSS program and demolish our lives. We are real people with families, friends, careers, goals, and dreams, and we absolutely refused to be locked up and institutionalized in nursing homes.

Listen to Dan on the radio

http://yourcallradio.blogspot.com/

Arnie Ville made the Channel 5 news

Arnie Ville is getting lots of publicity. Check it out on the channel 5 news! Let us know what you think.


http://cbs5.com/video/?id=67066@kpix.dayport.com

If anyone has anymore ideas how to help us educate and spread the word about Arnie Ville and how the budget cuts will effect all of us, let us know. We want to hear your thoughts and opinions.

Hannah is on KPFA

Happy 4th of July weekend Everybody!

While America is celebrating their independence this weekend, The group, CUIDO, at Arnie Ville is still fighting for their own independence to remain in our own homes. Yesterday, there was a press conference at Arnie Ville in hopes to attrack more attentiion about the budget cuts and what Goveror Schwarzenergger is doing is wrong, unsenceable, and illegal. Thank you everybody for coming out and supporting us. We had a great turn out yesterday, and wee greatly appeciated it!!!!!!!!!!!

This morning Hannah on KPFA talking about Arnie Ville. You can listen to her at this link.

http://kpfa.org/archive/id/62307

If you haven't checked out our new Arnie Ville's website, here it is.

http://sites.google.com/site/arnieville2/

Press Conference is tomorrow

Arnie Ville is having another press conference tomorrow, Friday, July 2nd at 12:00. Please join us!!!!!!!!!!!! we need tons of people, so please bring your friends, families, neighbors, kids, etc... I will be speaking along with Adrienne Lauby, and Sheela Gunn-Cushman. We hopee to see all of you there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Arnie Ville's Website

Arnie Ville now has its own website. Check it out!!!!!!

http://sites.google.com/site/arnieville2/

The Latest from Arnie Ville

Sorry gang, I haven't been blogging because my internet was down for days.

Some news: Nick Feeldman wrote an article about Arnie Ville and how these budget cuts are going to effect us, and we are talking about getting it published in some of the major newspapers such as the L.A. Times and the Sacramento Bee. The article might be out by this Thursday. We'll let you know which newspaper to look at.

During CUIDO's meeting, we decided to hold a 2nd press conference at
noon on Friday, June 2. It is hoped that (Country) Joe McDonald will
come. A person from SEIU will speak. The message of the conference is
that, though Americans celebrate this country's independence on the 4th,
we are still fighting for ours.