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15400 Sherman Way, Suite 170
Van Nuys, CA 91406
tel: 818–778–1900
fax: 818-756-6140
Jan. 22, 2008

Consumer Advisory Committee
The nine-member committee is responsible for providing the center’s Board of Trustees with recommendations on matters important to consumers. The committee generally meets on the 1st Tuesday of each month at 1:30 p.m. at the regional center’s main office in Van Nuys. The committee chairperson serves as a member of the Board of Trustees.

CAC committee Back row (left to right): Curtis Wang, Monroe Jones, Robert Taylor, and Duane Joslin.
Front row (left to right):Elizabeth Lyons, Pam Aiona, and Randy Horton

Message from the Committee Chairperson Robert M. Taylor
I'm Robert M. Taylor, Chairperson of the NLACRC Consumer Advisory Committee. Today our consumers have issues such as: Transportation, Crime Prevention, Emergency Preparedness, Housing, Health Care, Self-Directed Services, and even Day Programs, and in this Committee, we are working on these issues, so that consumers can speak out on them, and have a voice on what they have to say on it. That's why as your Chairperson, Consumers come first in making those decisions. Without consumer input, they can't get anywhere to accomplish them, so we meet every month to bring solutions to those issues so from there, consumers can put them into their productive lives. We encourage you to come to one of our meetings to see what we do as consumers, and to make a difference in the lives of others. We hope to see you there!

Current topics and issues under committee discussion
_ Self-directed services
_ Improving transportation services
_ Expansion of recruitment efforts

How to become a committee member
In order to become a member of the Consumer Advisory Committee, an individual must be a primary consumer (client) of the regional center. No prior committee experience is required. For more information or for an application, please contact Jennifer Kaiser at (818) 756-6118 or by e-mail at
jennifrk@nlacrc.org. Thank you!

The Importance of Voting
Several CAC members have written articles about why they feel it is important to vote at the upcoming elections.


Voting is Empowerment
by Eugene Baily

It is a new year, a time for new hopes and new ways to use your empowerment. 2008 is also an election year.

The Consumer Advisory Committee here at North Los Angeles County Regional Center wants to strongly encourage all our consumers to get out and vote. We as Californians will have two opportunities over this year to have opinions heard, once in February with the Primary Election and once again in the General Election in November.

There are many local, statewide and national issues and candidates to be informed about. The Consumer Advisory Committee hopes that all consumers become more informed and go and vote.


The Reason to Go Out and Vote
by Duane Joslin

We, here in America, are one of the few who can lend a hand in deciding who leads our country. And we, as Americans with disabilities, have to make sure that the gains we have made stay with us and also see that our leaders are ones that we want and need. So, please remember to go out and vote in February and November.


Disability Should Not Be a Barrier to Work and Vote on Election Days
by Randy Horton

I want to use this medium to encourage my colleagues to volunteer their time to work and go out to vote. Even though I'm physically challenged it does not stop me to work on election day as a poll clerk and cast my vote. I have been doing this job for the past five years and I really enjoy it. It was a good experience for me and I would like my colleagues to have a similar experience. Also, I want to encourage my colleagues to go out to vote for their choice because our vote is our voice. If we fail to vote, our voice will not be heard. In fact, those that do us no good will be elected. This is a great opportunity for us all to cast our vote in the forthcoming elections. Our disability should not stop us to out to vote.


A Time to Vote
by Robert Taylor

Greetings to all, I'm Robert M. Taylor, CAC Chairperson, wishing all consumers a happy and prosperous New Year of 2008, hoping that your dreams come true this year. This year we have an election that can change the course of history for all consumers. By going to the polls and voting, you will have a voice that can get consumers what they need and want, so I encourage all consumers this February and in Novemebr, to look at the issues that consumers can decide on, and then cast your vote for those issues, so your voice can be heard loud and clear. Your vote as consumers count, so don't forget to vote this February and in November. You'll make the right decision, I assure you that!


CAC committee member Duane Joslin.


Meet New CAC Member
Duane Joslin

Hello. My name is Duane Joslin and I am a new member of the Consumer Advisory Committee. I have cerebral palsy. I have been a client of the regional center for a long time since I have been one. I have some very good experiences one such was my being elected to the board of trustees for the center, of which if you come on this committee you some day could end up on. My experience from being out in the world comes from a vast source of experiences that I have, one such was being in a youth group called Demolay which is sponsor by the Masonic Lodge, also being a mason, but way back before that being in Cub Scouts. But you do not need all those but if you do have any experiences or just feel like I do, which is to speak for those who can not, then ask your counselor or call (818) 756-6118. It is also the number for if you want to join the board. Well that is all. I hope you enjoy reading this.

John Swicegood


Dear Consumer Advisory Committee:
I was a chairman for 6 yrs. And it was a pleasurable experience, to help the consumers to get out into the community to make their life better. We all had to meet a lot of challenges, but we learned how to handle it.I really appreciate the Consumer Advisory Committee for making me stronger.

Sincerely,
John Swicegood

Consumer Advisory Committee Members Fiscal year 2007-08

Pam Aiona
Randy Horton
Monroe Jones
Duane Joslin
Elizabeth Lyons
Robert Taylor, Chair
Curtis Wang
(1 open position)


2007 & 2008 CAC Meeting Schedule

(Tuesdays from 2 to 3:30 p.m.)

Jan. 8, 2008
Feb. 5, 2008
Mar. 4, 2008
Apr. 1, 2008
May 6, 2008
June 3, 2008

 Eugene Baily

Greetings
It is 2008 and the Consumer Advisory Committee (CAC) here at North Los Angeles County Regional Center. Hope everyone had a great holiday season.

Now that the CAC's web page is up and I'm writing this update to let consumers know just some of the issues and some of the plans and goals for 2007.

The CAC will be using this web page to inform the regional centers, consumers, and their families on upcoming and ongoing issues. They are transportation, housing, and other Board of Trustees issues as they come up. It is our hope that this web page will be a major tool to get that information out to our consumers and families.

On behalf of the CAC, I want to wish all of our consumers and families the best in this new year.

Eugene Baily