[Nfbc-info] Fw: [nfb-talk] Parents Rights Legislation Passes inCalifornia

Tue Aug 31 19:50:09 UTC 2010

This is awesome news. Blind parents, and parents with other disabilities for
that matter, now have legal backing in cases in which our custody of our
children is threatened because of our disability. Let us celebrate, but let
us not forget that no legislation can change the hearts and minds of
individuals. Let us redouble our efforts to educate social workers, hospital
employees, judges, and the greater public that blindness in itself does not
prevent a person from being able to raise a happy, successful child. On that
note I'm providing a link to a publication recently released by the NFB
blind parents' group. It was written for the benefit of social workers and
other such persons, but is a good read for everyone who is interested in the
blind parents' issue. 

http://www.nfb.org/images/nfb/Publications/brochures/BlindParents/ParentingW
ithoutSight.html

This was a crucial step, now let us keep moving forward. 
Angela
-----Original Message-----
From: nfbc-info-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfbc-info-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Mary Willows
Sent: Tuesday, August 31, 2010 12:32 PM
To: NFB of California List
Subject: [Nfbc-info] Fw: [nfb-talk] Parents Rights Legislation Passes
inCalifornia

----- Original Message -----
From: "Michael Bullis" <mabullis at hotmail.com>
To: "'NFB Talk Mailing List'" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, August 31, 2010 8:37 AM
Subject: [nfb-talk] Parents Rights Legislation Passes in California

> Below is a press release shortly before the Governor of California signed
> SB1188 this month.
>
>
>
> California essentially passed Legislation mirroring Maryland's law passed 
> by
> the NFB in 2008.  Congratulations to California and let's think about 
> other
> States where this can be passed.  Note the groups in support are getting
> more mainstream and that's good for the Legislation and for our cause.
>
>
>
> Mike Bullis
>
>
>
>
>
> Proposed family court law will help parents with disabilities retain
> custody, visitation rights
>
>
>
>
>
> Contact: Glenn Sacks
>
> Executive Director
>
> Fathers and Families
>
> Phone: 818-349-2155
>
> E-Mail: glennsacks at fathersandfamilies.org
>
>
>
> Margaret Jakobson-Johnson
>
> Advocacy Director
>
> Disability Rights California
>
> Phone: 916-497-0331
>
> E-Mail: Margaret.Jakobson at disabilityrightsca.org
>
>
>
> Sacramento, CA - According to Senator Rod Wright's office, too often 
> parents
> with disabilities face discrimination in custody or visitation matters.
> Wright's proposed bill, SB 1188, now on Governor Schwarzenegger's desk, 
> adds
> a section to the California Family Code stating that a parent's disability
> "may not form the basis for an order granting custody or visitation to
> another party."
>
>
>
> Parents with disabilities face discrimination Maria Santiago and her
> ex-husband shared 50-50 custody of their 12-year-old daughter until he
> claimed his ex-wife was too disabled to care for her. She said, "I have a
> physical disability but I have been an exemplary mother. It's devastating
> for families to be wrenched apart by an ex-spouse seeking an unfair
> advantage in a divorce." Santiago got back the 50-50 shared custody of her
> daughter only after a difficult court battle.
>
>
>
> Many California parents with disabilities are unfairly forced to the 
> margins
> of their children's lives, because family court laws allow disability to 
> be
> used as a way to deny custody or visitation. This inequity is based on
> unfounded fears that disability somehow negates parenting capacity and
> skills, even when the mother or father with a disability successfully
> parented the children for many years prior to a separation or divorce.
>
>
>
>
>
> Why the Bill is important
>
>
>
>
>
> Glenn Sacks, executive director of Fathers and Families, explained why the
> new legislation is necessary: "It is estimated that nationally, one in six
> parents has a disability. They're poorer on average than nondisabled
> parents, so often cannot fight long, expensive court battles."
>
>
>
> Margaret Johnson, an attorney who is the advocacy director for Disability
> Rights California and a parent with a disability, said: "Parenting is a
> fundamental right and this bill will help to ensure that parents with
> disabilities do not face discrimination. By increasing the burden of proof
> on the parent who raises disability as an issue, rights of disabled 
> parents
> are protected and unnecessary litigation is avoided."
>
>
>
> Ella Callow, an attorney and director of legal programs for the National
> Center for Parents with Disabilities and their Families, pointed out,
> "California's laws relating to parents with disabilities are very unfair."
>
>
>
> Timothy Sayre, a San Diego father, hopes that SB 1188 will help parents 
> like
> him. His ex-wife moved his three children out-of-state in 2002 but, as 
> part
> of a visitation agreement, they spent summers with him. Sayre became
> disabled two years ago, and spent much of this spring battling to maintain
> his summer parenting time. He concluded, "I use a wheelchair but I can 
> still
> parent. Do my children love and need me less because I use a wheelchair?"
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Michael Bullis
>
>
>
> Executive Director,
>
>
>
> Maryland Department of Disabilities Technology Assistance Program
>
>
>
> 410-554-9245 office
>
>
>
> 443-286-9001 cell
>
>
>
> 410-554-9237 fax
>
>
>
> 800-832-4827 tole free
>
>
>
> 866-881-7488 TTY
>
>
>
> email mbullis at mdtap.org
>
>
>
> website www.mdtap.org
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Find us on FACEBOOK ic_fbk_36
>
<http://www.facebook.com/pages/edit/?id=100230390023684#!/pages/Baltimore-MD
> /Maryland-Technology-Assistance-Program/100230390023684>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> nfb-talk mailing list
> nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-talk_nfbnet.org 

_______________________________________________
Nfbc-info mailing list
Nfbc-info at nfbnet.org
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbc-info_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
Nfbc-info:
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbc-info_nfbnet.org/fowlers%40syix.co
m