OCRA advisory committee provides leadership - PAI Newsletter, Issue 72, 2000

OCRA advisory committee provides leadership

The Office of Clients' Rights Advocacy (OCRA), which provides clients' rights advocacy services for consumers at California's 21 regional centers and at Napa Developmental Center, owes many of its policy decisions to its advisory committee. As part of OCRA's start-up, PAI conducted a statewide recruiting campaign during the fall of 1998. From applications received, PAI's board of directors selected the OCRA advisory committee members.

Advisory committee members take a break from policy making. From left to right: Jeanne Molineaux, OCRA director; Dan Meadows, advisory committee member; Linda Landry, liaison between PAI's board of directors and OCRA's advisory committee; and advisory committee members Maria Jimenez, Barbara Nelson, Nancy Clyde, Edward Young, Ron Allan and Harvey Lapin.

Members represent wide diversity

PAI's board chose members by their individual qualifications, while recognizing that they will represent a large, geographically and ethnically diverse group of people. Serving on the seven-member committee are three consumers of regional center services and four parents of people with developmental disabilities. Advisory committee members are: Ronald Allan, Exeter; Nancy Clyde, Sacramento; Maria Jimenez, Chula Vista; Harvey Lapin, Northridge; Dan Meadows, Stockton; Barbara Nelson, Fortuna; and Edward Young, San Francisco.
Committee sets criteria

The advisory committee has been instrumental in helping OCRA make policy decisions. For example, the advisory committee first developed priorities for OCRA to use in setting intake criteria. OCRA now uses those priorities, along with regional center priorities and community concerns, to determine which cases to take on. The advisory committee also developed the Consumer Satisfaction Survey that OCRA sends to its consumers. The survey helps to assure that:

• OCRA provides services appropriately; and

• Results are what consumers and their families wanted.
OCRA and advisory committee provide self-advocacy training

The advisory committee has also joined with OCRA staff to provide training on self-advocacy to consumer groups. It was also instrumental in providing training to new clients' rights advocates on the importance of working in partnership with people with disabilities.
Knowledge, dedication abound

Merely listing the committee's functions, however, fails to underscore its importance to OCRA. The enthusiasm, knowledge, and dedication of this group of volunteers are an inspiration. They set the level of excellence for which OCRA employees strive. You are welcome to meet with the committee for public input on the dates and locations listed below.
Meetings are open to public

The advisory committee meets four times a year. Meetings are open to the public. The rest of the schedule for 2000 is:

• Saturday, August 26 in Oakland; and

• Saturday, November 4 in Southern California.

OCRA advisory committee provides leadership
The Office of Clients' Rights Advocacy (OCRA), which provides clients' rights advocacy services for consumers at California's 21 regional centers and at Napa Developmental Center, owes many of its policy decisions to its advisory committee. As part of OCRA's start-up, PAI conducted a statewide recruiting campaign during the fall of 1998. From applications received, PAI's board of directors selected the OCRA advisory committee members.
	Advisory committee members take a break from policy making. From left to right: Jeanne Molineaux, OCRA director; Dan Meadows, advisory committee member; Linda Landry, liaison between PAI's board of directors and OCRA's advisory committee; and advisory committee members Maria Jimenez, Barbara Nelson, Nancy Clyde, Edward Young, Ron Allan and Harvey Lapin.
Members represent wide diversity PAI's board chose members by their individual qualifications, while recognizing that they will represent a large, geographically and ethnically diverse group of people. Serving on the seven-member committee are three consumers of regional center services and four parents of people with developmental disabilities. Advisory committee members are: Ronald Allan, Exeter; Nancy Clyde, Sacramento; Maria Jimenez, Chula Vista; Harvey Lapin, Northridge; Dan Meadows, Stockton; Barbara Nelson, Fortuna; and Edward Young, San Francisco. Committee sets criteria The advisory committee has been instrumental in helping OCRA make policy decisions. For example, the advisory committee first developed priorities for OCRA to use in setting intake criteria. OCRA now uses those priorities, along with regional center priorities and community concerns, to determine which cases to take on. The advisory committee also developed the Consumer Satisfaction Survey that OCRA sends to its consumers. The survey helps to assure that: • OCRA provides services appropriately; and • Results are what consumers and their families wanted. OCRA and advisory committee provide self-advocacy training The advisory committee has also joined with OCRA staff to provide training on self-advocacy to consumer groups. It was also instrumental in providing training to new clients' rights advocates on the importance of working in partnership with people with disabilities. Knowledge, dedication abound Merely listing the committee's functions, however, fails to underscore its importance to OCRA. The enthusiasm, knowledge, and dedication of this group of volunteers are an inspiration. They set the level of excellence for which OCRA employees strive. You are welcome to meet with the committee for public input on the dates and locations listed below. Meetings are open to public The advisory committee meets four times a year. Meetings are open to the public. The rest of the schedule for 2000 is: • Saturday, August 26 in Oakland; and • Saturday, November 4 in Southern California.