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CDCAN REPORT #168-2011: Sandy Varga, long-time beloved and widely respected disability and senior rights advocate, dies

Varga was chair of the Los Angeles County Personal Assistance Services Council Governing Board.

Article | September 25, 2011 - 9:48am | By Marty Omoto

CDCAN DISABILITY RIGHTS REPORT

CDCAN Logo CALIFORNIA DISABILITY COMMUNITY ACTION NETWORK
REMEMBERING THE LIVES OF MICHAEL PATRICK O'RIORDAN (Passed Away 1 Year Ago Today)
: Advocacy Without Borders: One Community – Accountability With Action – California Disability Community Action Network Disability Rights News goes out to over 55,000 people with disabilities, mental health needs, seniors, traumatic brain & other injuries, veterans with disabilities and mental health needs, their families, workers, community organizations including those in Asian/Pacific Islander, Latino, African American communities, policy makers and others across California. Please consider joining the CDCAN mailing list for updates directly to your inbox.

To reply to this report write: MARTY OMOTO at martyomoto@rcip.com WEBSITE: www.cdcan.us TWITTER: martyomoto

Note: my email was down for the past few days — apologize for delay in getting back to people and delay in getting reports out. Transferred everything to new computer — so things will be back to semi-normal now. Sort of. — Marty Omoto

SANDY VARGA, WIDELY RESPECTED AND BELOVED LOS ANGELES DISABILITY RIGHTS ADVOCATE PASSES AWAY
WAS CHAIR OF LA COUNTY'S PERSONAL ASSISTANCE SERVICES COUNCIL - THE COUNTY'S EMPLOYER OF RECORD FOR IN-HOME SUPPORTIVE SERVICES WORKERS IN LA COUNTY

SACRAMENTO, CALIF (CDCAN) [Last updated 09/25/2011 09:48 PM] - Sandy Varga, a widely respected and beloved Los Angeles based disability rights advocate passed away in her home Sunday (Septebmer 25th), according to Janet Heninritz-Canterbury, a long time friend. Varga was chair of the governing board of the Personal Assistance Services Council of Los Angeles County - the entity that is the employer of record for the county's In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) workers. [CDCAN Note: I knew Sandy Varga and counted her as a good friend. This news is shocking and sad - we have lost a tremendous advocate and friend. I will write more about Sandy later, but cannot do so right now. I cannot believe this news. She will be missed forever and we all owe her a lot for the work she did for all of us - Marty Omoto].

Vargas was a longtime advocate on a wide range of disability and senior rights issues, including In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS), Medi-Cal, transportation and other critical supports and services that help people to remain in their own homes and communities. The news shocked and stunned advocates and friends across Los Angeles and the State.
Heinritz-Canterbury, who is also a longtime disability and senior rights advocate and served with Varga on the Personal Assistance Services Council of Los Angeles County in announcing Vargas' passing, expressed disbelief at her passing, writing that "... I don't know what to say--I'm still can't believe it...I am so sad."

Heinritz-Canterbury reported that Varga's family "...loved her so much and they depended on her strength for so many things and this is very hard for them" and that she also, as a friend and fellow advocate "...depended on her strength and will miss her constant reassurance and support. I will miss her unique and always spicy assessments of politicians, meetings, legislative debates--just about anything she talked about. "

CDCAN will report on services for Varga.

HELP!!! VERY URGENT!!!!!

PLEASE HELP CDCAN CONTINUE ITS WORK!!!

FEBRUARY 22, 2012 – YOUR HELP IS NEEDED NOW

Photo of Marty Omoto CDCAN Townhall Telemeetings, reports and alerts and other activities cannot continue without your help. To continue the CDCAN website, the CDCAN News Reports sent out and read by over 55,000 people and organizations, policy makers and media across California and to continue the CDCAN Townhall Telemeetings which since December 2003 have connected thousands of people with disabilities, seniors, mental health needs, people with MS and other disorders, people with traumatic brain and other injuries to public policy makers, legislators, and issues.

Please send your contribution/donation (make payable to "CDCAN" or "California Disability Community Action Network"):

CDCAN
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Many, many thanks to all the organizations and individuals for their continued support that make these reports and other CDCAN efforts possible. [Note: As of June 26th due to major problem with my computer and email, I have to use this old format of the CDCAN Reports that unfortunately does not have the list of people and organizations who have generously contributed and supported CDCAN in the past year and in recent weeks and months. I should have computer problem repaired sometime this week hopefully - Marty Omoto]

Paypal on the CDCAN site is not yet working – will be soon.

MANY, MANY THANKS FOR CONTINUED SUPPORT THAT MAKE THESE REPORTS, ALERTS, TOWNHALLS POSSIBLE TO: WESTSIDE REGIONAL CENTER, LANTERMAN REGIONAL CENTER, CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF ADULT DAY HEALTH CENTERS, VENTURA COUNTY AUTISM SOCIETY, RESPITE, INC., LOS ANGELES RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY SERVING DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED ADULTS LARC RANCH, FEAT OF SACRAMENTO, EASTER SEALS OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, EMMANUEL AND FAMILY, PEOPLE FIRST OF SAN LUIS OBISPO, BOB BENSON, the Pacific Homecare Services, Toward Maximum Independence, Inc (TMI), Friends of Children with Special Needs, Southside Arts Center, San Francisco Bay Area Autism Society of America, Hope Services in San Jose, FEAT of Sacramento (Families for Early Autism Treatment), Sacramento Gray Panthers, Bill Wong, Tri-Counties Regional Center, Life Steps, Parents Helping Parents, Work Training, Foothill Autism Alliance, Arc Contra Costa, Pause4Kids, Training Toward Self Reliance, Californians for Disability Rights, Inc (CDR) including CDR chapters, CHANCE Inc, Strategies To Empower People (STEP), Harbor Regional Center, Asian American parents groups, Resources for Independent Living and many other Independent Living Centers, several regional centers, People First chapters, IHSS workers, other self advocacy and family support groups, developmental center families, adoption assistance program families and children, and others across California.

As of January 13, 2012 - some friends donated a new laptop computer which will soon be up and running. Thanks so much - using a lap top with several keys missing or not working makes typing reports very difficult! Many thanks to Anna and Albert Wang.

About the Author

Marty Omoto

Executive Director of California Disability Community Action Network

CDCAN Disability Rights News goes out to over 55,000 people with disabilities, mental health needs, seniors, traumatic brain & other injuries, veterans with disabilities and mental health needs, their families, workers, community organizations, including those in Asian/Pacific Islander, Latino, African American communities, policy makers and others across California.

Everyone Must Read

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December 1, 2011 - 5:55pm

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