I got a note from an occasional reader who could use some assistance cutting through the bureacratic red tape that goes along with access to the panoply of social services that California offers to people with special needs. Having been held safe and snug within a warm naval embrace since I was 17 years old, I myself am uniquely unqualified to be of assistance, but I’m hoping there is someone out there that can:
Although he’s living out of state, his extended family still lives in Orange county. His 80 year old mother has sole custody a severely developmentally disabled nephew. She’s not wealthy and he’s a grad student and the state agencies are apparently not being very helpful.
His nephew has poor health along with his neurological problems and needs lots of help. He knows that there are services available—if you can wade thru the redtape.
There’s another issue: His mom lives in an area that’s been heavily Hispanized(the 92706 area code). She recieves all her bills in Spanish. She’s had electricty and things turned off when she’s had issues with what shows up on bills and can’t get answers because of the language barrier. They’ve tried simple letter writing to complain with little success.
If anyone out there can point us in the right direction – a bureaucratic trouble shootuer or way to cut through the red tape – please drop a note in the comments box or use the contact form above.
Reaching out to contacts in CA, thanks for the heads up, Lex, we’ll do what we can.
d
Hi there
I’m in California and have a severly disabled daughter. I don’t have the first clue on how to wade through bureacratic red tape. But we are receiving a few services.
The first thing they may want to do is call their local Regional Center. The RC is a tremendous help and will guide them onto other services once he has qualified. The Orange County Regional Center number is 714-796-5100. There are requirements for eligibility however. The client must have at least one of 1) Mental retardation 2) Epilepsy 3)Cerebal Palsy or 4) Autism.
There’s also another service (thats helped us a great deal). Its IHSS (In-Home Supportive Service). Because I’ve opted to stay home to take care of my daughter, I’m receiving a (small) income for that (anything helps!). I’m not sure of the details on requirements for eligibility, but the mom may want to bring that up to the regional center as well.
I wish the best of luck to the 80 year old mother. Its difficult enough just doing the smallest of chores for children/adults with disabilities. She must be quite a lady to take on this responsibility.
Lex,
Here’s a contact list for the City of 92706.
Who to call list
It’s a PDF doc.
Hope it helps.
Try Cong. BRIAN BILBRAY
1.Washington D.C. Office
U.S. Representative Brian Bilbray
227 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Phone: 202-225-0508
Fax: 202-225-2558
District Office
U.S. Representative Brian Bilbray
462 Stevens Avenue, Suite 107
Solana Beach, CA 92075
Phone: 858-350-1150
Fax: 858-350-0750
HE IS THE CONGRESSMAN FOR MIRAMAR, AND THIS FEDERAL BECAUSE OF “THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT”
“She recieves all her bills in Spanish.”
Unbelievable. Makes the blood boil. Do they want pesos or dollars?
I work down the street in the 92614 and live in the 92648.
I’m not sure of the local governing agencies for the child, other than to go down to the local county offices for Medi-cal:
http://www.medi-cal.ca.gov/
http://www.dhs.ca.gov/mcs/medi-calhome/
http://www.medi-cal.org/
However, with internet access you should be able to control most, if not all, of the regular type bills, technically from anywhere on the planet. All of my bills come straight out of my checking account. That may not be chewable for the present situation, but things like bills and statements can be sent by email to someone with a watchful eye so that they do not slip by the cracks. Also the language barrier should be an easy fix in that sense, I would consider it more of a tech support issue than a customer service issue, if it even happened to be an online issue.
May not be a huge help, but it would sure make it a bit simpler…
Here’s another thought, the caretaker is elderly, how about their Area Agency on Aging? CA does have those types of services as well, don’t they?
watching with interest and prayers for this family.
d
Thanks. Thank you all, and Lex for doing this.
Here is the Information Numbers for the Orange County Office on Aging:
(714) 567-7500
(800) 510-2020
I am sure that they have referral specialists who can assist.