Annual tree lighting set for Thursday at SDC

The Sonoma Developmental Center (SDC) will hold its annual Tree Lighting Ceremony from 3:30 to 5:00 p.m., this coming Thursday, Dec. 1, on Harney Circle, outside the SDC gymnasium. Everyone is encouraged to come and join in the festivities and vote for the top three decorated trees.

The large tree on the lawn outside the gym will be adorned with lights and ceremoniously lit at 5:00 p.m. The Peace On Earth Sign that has been a tradition at the Center for many years will also be lit -- you'll be able to see it from Arnold Drive at the four way stop sign.

In addition to the big tree, there will be approximately twenty smaller trees lining the sidewalk on Harney Circle that are being decorated by various programs and departments throughout the facility. This year all those in attendance at Thursday's festivities will be voting for their favorite tree.

Forecasters are calling for a 100% chance of snow for the event -- you won't want to miss it, or the warm refreshments and seasonal carolers. Come rain or shine -- and definitely snow! (Inclement weather moves the party inside the gym.)

If you have questions or need more information about the Tree Lighting Ceremony, contact JJ Fernandez, Public Information Officer at SDC at (707) 938-6643.

Rebuttal to Channel 5 News Report on Sterilizations

On November 10, 2011, the local CBS affiliate station in Sacramento aired a story on sterilizations at State developmental centers in years past. The following post comes in reaction to the story and is from Parent Hospital Association board president Kathleen Miller. You can read more about the news story that prompted this commentary at The Life Penalty: Sterilizing California.

As a former Social Worker at Sonoma Developmental Center and current President of the Parent Hospital Association for the center I find that it is important to me to respond to the recent Channel 5 news report about sterilizations that took place at what was then Sonoma State Hospital years ago. I do not deny in any way the wrong that was done to those individuals who were subject to sterilization against their will and without their knowledge or consent many long years ago. That this happened, not only at what was then Sonoma State Hospital, but also across the whole country in the 1930s, 1940s is a human tragedy. However, it is a tragedy that has been reported in the news on many occasions and one that is no longer appears to be happening. There are many current stories of budget cuts and all types of abuse to report on the population of California’s most vulnerable population of developmentally disabled citizens, many of whom can not even speak on their own behalf. Why do we not see those in the news?

Frankly, in some ways the latest news story on channel 5 offends me. The link of Sonoma to Nazi Germany seems to suggest that Sonoma was unique in its prejudices and quest to prevent reproduction in target populations. In fact the hospitalization up of individuals not in need of such, and “treatments” that would now be clearly viewed as inhuman today was wide spread and not limited to one hospital or even one state as the news story suggests. Further, in my experience as a Social Worker at the center, Sonoma is a particularly loving and accepting community. Every time we on the staff would bring residents to share in local Sonoma events the residents were met with acceptance, respect, and inclusion. Therefore it pains me to see both the center and Sonoma painted an in unfair and negative light.

More important to me however, is the harm done to the center and the current residents of Sonoma Developmental Center by this untimely story. The story about past wrongs should not reflect on the Sonoma Developmental Center of today. The center has, despite recent severe cuts, continued to provide quality care for California’s most vulnerable. Sadly, it does reflect. Any negative publicity, no matter how seemingly unrelated to the excellent care residents receive today, casts the centers in a negative light. Those in positions of political power who wish to close the centers and privatize the care industry use it to strengthen their case.

The losers in this war are people like my son who calls Sonoma Developmental Center home. There is no news story about how he was kicked out of his private for profit community home when his mental illness became more acute. No one bothered to report how he almost died as a result of the drug regimen he received at an acute psych center ill equipped to deal with developmentally disabled individuals. For that matter- how much coverage did the recent deaths of five individuals as the result of a fire occurring in a local community home receive?

I understand that every day news channels must be faced with difficult choices of what stories to report. What I still do not understand is why this story and why now? This story has certainly been reported in the news on many previous occasions. It added nothing new except the face of a man who had the sterilization procedure 65 years ago. Many of our developmentally disabled family members are at risk today! We who love them are engaged in a fight for the chance of our loved ones to have a choice about where and how they live. They are at risk of losing that choice. The recent news story only adds to that risk.

Kathleen Miller
Board President, Parent Hospital Association

News updates from PHA for the SDC community

The weather in Sonoma Valley has been beautiful lately, and this past Saturday was no exception. If you were able to attend the General Meeting, you'll know how stunning the Sonoma Developmental Center campus looks on a warm and sunny Fall day.

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At Saturday's meeting, board member Bev Austin provided statistics on admissions, placements, and other changes in the number of people living at SDC. In summary: The residential population at SDC on September 1, 2010 was 615 individuals. One year later, on September 1, 2011, the number of residents was 567. Details will be included in the next issue of The Eldridge Gazette. (Download a copy here when it is available.)

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SDC's 3rd Annual Christmas Tree Lighting festivities are scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 1, from 3:30 to 5:00 p.m. There will be carolers, hot cocoa, many beautiful and creative trees, and there is even talk of a SNOW MACHINE! Stay tuned for more details and updates -- you might remember that last year's party had to be postponed and then ultimately canceled due to sickness at the Center.

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The next PHA general membership meeting will include a panel of people with experience of the closure of Agnews Developmental Center and promises to be very informative. Mark your calendar for 10 a.m., Saturday, January 14, 2012. General meetings are held in McDougall Hall on the SDC campus.

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Planning is underway at SDC for temporarily moving some residents next year to accomodate fire sprinkler system upgrades and sewer line repairs. Check the next issue of The Eldridge Gazette for preliminary shedule and units affected. All needs of the residents are being carefully considered, and plans will necessarily be adjusted as the work start dates get closer, so stayed tuned for more details.

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Sonoma Developmental Center got a mention in the Sonoma Index-Tribune last month (see Flying high for the 'big one', by Sandi Hansen) for its participation in a Valley-wide earthquake drill as part of the 2011 Great California ShakeOut. It is good to be prepared with a plan when the inevitable happens...

Save the date for Heroes with Heart 2012

Preparations are underway for the 7th Annual Parent Hospital Association Heroes with Heart fundraising event to be held on Saturday, March 31, 2012, at the Vintners Inn Event Center in Santa Rosa.

We'll be returning to our signature theme "An Evening in the Emerald Isle" in an elegant new venue located just off Highway 101 in Sonoma County that we think everyone will enjoy.

Our annual fundraiser allows us to raise much needed funds to meet our mission and insure that the developmentally disabled receive the care and resources they need and deserve.

Your support and involvement are crucial to helping us to meet our financial goals. We hope you will join us for an enjoyable evening which includes a hosted reception, silent and live auction, multi-course dinner and socializing with good friends. And if you would like to make a night of it, you can reserve a night stay in beautiful wine country right there at the Vintners Inn. (Call 707-575-7350 to reserve a room. Ask for the PHA room block.)

To be sure that you are on our mailing list to receive further details, send an email with your details and questions to info@parenthospitalassociation.org.

Even if you cannot attend the event in March, there are many ways you can assist us -- as an event sponsor, with a donation to the auction, by purchasing an ad for the program, or by volunteering. Let us know how we can help you help us -- and together we will continue to help those less able than ourselves.

Urge Washington to reform care for disabled

VOR is urging the Obama administration to reform the care system for people with developmental disabilities. They have set up a petition to the White House and are asking everyone who can to add their name in support. If a significant number of people voice their concern about this important issue, White House staff will review it, ensure it’s sent to the appropriate policy experts, and issue an official response.

Called People with Intellectual Disabilities - Crisis in Care, the petition reads as follows:

Title
We petition the Obama administration to reform the care system for people with developmental disabilities to prevent additional tragedies.

Petition Description
The care system for many thousands of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (ID/DD) is in crisis. Facility closures, service cuts, increasing abuse and an overall lack of oversight are symptoms of the crisis. The system is falling short - our country must protect one of its most vulnerable populations. How can it meet the needs of the 200,000+ individuals waiting for services? Highly publicized tragedies involving people with ID/DD in all settings speak to the urgent need for a solution. Proposed cuts to Medicaid, a life-line for the majority of people with ID/DD, and related policies which eliminate, rather than expand, services will only make the present crisis worse.

Advocates must set biases aside and unite. Elected-officials must act. The need is urgent.

To sign the petition, click here (http://wh.gov/bBY). You will be required to create a WhiteHouse.gov account. Please don't be put off by this procedure - it involves just a few steps. This is to ensure that only individuals (and not computers) are signing the petition. You will be asked to copy a series of numbers and/or letters, which you can change if you have difficulty reading it. A valid email address is also required.

The deadline for signing is December 1, 2011. Please also forward this information on to anyone else who you think would join in this effort.

A little good news for today

Here's a story about Justin, a high school student at Greece Athena High School in Rochester, New York, who happens to be autistic.  It's a report that made the CBS evening news and it will make you smile (and maybe cry).