The Arc of California

06/19/2026

In case you missed it! Here is a link to the recording of our Caring Conversation with Pam Blanton and Jamie Martin of Partners4Housing: https://youtu.be/wn6Flg5s7PY

This webinar has a lot of very good information about housing for people with disabilities. If this is a topic that is of interest, please watch it. Thank you to our host Felisa Strickland, who does an amazing job moderating these important conversations for caregivers.

One of the biggest concerns many caregivers face is this question:...

06/16/2026

One of the biggest concerns many caregivers face is this question:
“What will happen when my loved one can no longer live at home?”
Join our FREE Caring Conversations webinar on Thursday, June 18 at 10:00 a.m. (PST) exploring housing options and future planning for adults with disabilities.

Parent-educator Felisa Strickland will host a conversation with Pam Blanton, Founder & CEO of Partners4Housing, who has more than 30 years of experience helping families navigate affordable housing, benefits, shared living models, and long-term support solutions.

REGISTER NOW: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/mer66cf

06/15/2026

California joined several states in filing a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Education after it gutted millions of dollars in grants intended to train special education instructors:

The latest education news updates from EdSource.

06/15/2026

Important Budget Update! Today, hearings in the Assembly and Senate are underway to negotiate the Legislature's budget proposal to the Governor Gavin Newsom. YOUR ADVOCACY EFFORTS ARE WORKING!

Most notably, the Legislature (Assembly and Senate) rejected the Governor’s proposal to reduce the Medi-Cal asset limit to just $2,000 for an individual and $3,000 for a couple. Instead, the Legislature proposes a significantly higher asset limit of $21,000 beginning July 1, 2027.

The Legislature also rejected proposed cuts to IHSS and included funding for the Be Home Soon California initiative to strengthen home and community-based services. It also proposed to delay cuts to Medi-Cal Dental (Denti-Cal) until July 2027. While the Legislature has released its budget proposals, negotiations with Governor Newsom are underway and the final outcome has not yet been determined.

READ THE FULL UPDATE HERE:

On June 11, the California Legislature released its updated 2026–27 budget proposals, rejecting many of the Governor's most harmful proposed cuts affecting older adults and people with disabilities. The Legislature will negotiate this updated budget proposal with the Governor.

06/10/2026

Thank you to ABC10 news for coming out to the press conference and rally yesterday with Assemblyman Jeff Gonzalez and California Association of Public Authorities for In-Home Supportive Services to sound the alarm over the Governor Gavin Newsom's proposed asset caps on eligibility for Medi-Cal and IHSS.

We urge the Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas to REJECT the Governor's proposal to bring back harmful asset caps that will require people with disabilities and elderly people to live in poverty in order to access their healthcare and in-home support services.

Have no more than $2,000 in saves or assets would even cover a security deposit for rent. This is unacceptable!

There are better ways to balance the budget than on the backs of people with disabilities and seniors.

California lawmakers have until June 15 to approve a state budget, ...

06/10/2026

Thank you to Assemblyman Jeff Gonzalez for joining the disability community and speaking out yesterday about the very harmful Medi-Cal and IHSS asset caps being proposed in the Governor's May Revise of the State Budget. There are only a few more days left for the Governor and Legislature to negotiate on a final budget. The Senate rejected these asset caps that would cause hundreds of thousands to lose their vital Medi-Cal and IHSS services, but the Assembly did not. We need ALL members of our community, inlcuding allies, to call, email and post a message on social media to Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas urging him to adopt the Senate budget proposal and REJECT the proposed asset limits on Medi-Cal and IHSS.
📧 Email: [email protected]
📞 Call: 916-319-2029

Link to sample email, call script, and social media posts: https://tinyurl.com/294k584p

Every call and email helps lawmakers understand how these cuts would impact people with disabilities, older adults, and families across California.

Please TAKE ACTION today and SHARE this post so others can join us.

06/08/2026

The federal government has withheld $1.3 billion in Medicaid funding from California, including more than $1.1 billion from the In-Home Support Services that helps older adults and people with disabilities live safely and independently.

In a new statement, The Arc of California Executive Director Jordan Lindsey explains why isolated cases of fraud should not be used to justify actions that could weaken essential services that millions of Californians rely on every day.

Read the full statement:
🔗 https://thearcca.org/the-arc-of-california-raises-concerns-over-federal-government-withholds-1-3-billion-in-ihss-funding-from-california/

06/08/2026

❓ What happens when $1.3 billion in federal funding for Medi-Cal and IHSS is withheld from California❓

The federal government has withheld $1.3 billion in Medicaid funding from California, including more than $1.1 billion from the In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) program that helps older adults and people with disabilities remain safely in their homes and communities.

In a new statement, The Arc of California Executive Director Jordan Lindsey addresses the growing use of "waste, fraud and abuse" narratives to justify actions that could weaken essential healthcare and support services. While accountability and oversight are important, isolated cases of misconduct should not be used to threaten programs that millions of Californians rely on every day.

For people with disabilities, Medi-Cal and IHSS are not luxuries. They provide access to healthcare, personal care services, therapies, medications, and the support needed to live independently.

Read Jordan Lindsey's full statement and learn why The Arc of California is raising concerns about the potential impact of these funding withholdings.

🔗 https://tinyurl.com/mw95xn68

06/05/2026

🚨 TAKE ACTION TODAY: BEFORE JUNE 15 DEADLINE 🚨

No one should have to live in poverty to keep their healthcare.

Governor Newsom's proposed budget would bring back strict Medi-Cal and IHSS asset limits, allowing individuals to have no more than $2,000 in savings and couples no more than $3,000.
Think about that for a moment.

A person with a disability could lose healthcare and in-home support services simply because they have a small emergency savings account, money set aside for a wheelchair repair, transportation, housing costs like a security deposit, or other basic needs.

These harmful limits would force Californians to choose between financial security and the services they rely on to live safely and independently in their communities.

The California Senate has rejected these asset caps. Now we need Assembly leadership to do the same.

📢 CONTACT CALIFORNIA STATE ASSEMBLY Speaker Robert Rivas TODAY AND URGE HIM TO:
✅ Adopt the Senate's budget proposal
✅ Reject proposed Medi-Cal and IHSS asset caps
📧 Email: [email protected]
📞 Call: 916-319-2029

Link to sample email, call script and social media messages: https://tinyurl.com/294k584p

Every call and email helps lawmakers understand how these cuts would impact people with disabilities, older adults, and families across California.

Please TAKE ACTION today and SHARE this post so others can join us.

Disability should not come with a poverty requirement.

06/02/2026

🗳️ Happy Election Day, California!

Today is your opportunity to make your voice heard.

People with disabilities, family members, caregivers, direct support professionals, and allies make up one of the largest voter blocs in California and across the nation. When we vote, policymakers pay attention. When we participate, we help shape decisions that affect disability services, education, health care, employment, housing, transportation, and community inclusion.

As you cast your ballot, consider the candidates and issues that will impact people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. Our collective voice has the power to influence policies and create stronger, more inclusive communities for everyone.

Need help voting today?

✅ Find your polling place
✅ Check your voter registration status
✅ Track your ballot to make sure it was received and counted
✅ Access voting and accessibility resources

Visit the California Secretary of State's Elections page:
https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections

Find your polling place:
https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/polling-place/

California also offers same-day voter registration at voting locations if you still need to register. Check the website for identification requirements.

Every vote matters. Every voice matters. Together, we can help build a California where people with disabilities are included in every decision that affects our lives.