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CENTER FOR DISABLED FEARS LOSS OF FUNDING.


Byline: Anne Burke Daily News Staff Writer

On a warm day on the tree-shaded grounds of Tierra del Sol, three men till soil for a vegetable and flower garden. Inside the ceramics workshop, two other people shape clay pots.

In a restaurant-size kitchen, another wipes a stainless steel stainless steel: see steel.
stainless steel

Any of a family of alloy steels usually containing 10–30% chromium. The presence of chromium, together with low carbon content, gives remarkable resistance to corrosion and heat.
 counter.

Here, on the grounds of an old Catholic convent in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains San Gabriel Mountains, S Calif., E and NE of Los Angeles, running c.50 mi (80 km) westward from Cajon Pass. San Antonio Peak (10,080 ft/3,072 m) is the highest of the range. Citrus fruits are raised on the southern foothills. , 325 adults who are developmentally disabled or suffering from cerebral palsy cerebral palsy (sərē`brəl pôl`zē), disability caused by brain damage before or during birth or in the first years, resulting in a loss of voluntary muscular control and coordination.  are learning to get along in the world. Some even hold down wage-paying jobs.

But there is worry at Tierra del Sol, which will celebrate its 25th anniversary in June, and other private, nonprofit agencies providing day programs to adults in need.

``There's nothing but a big question mark hanging over the heads of half the people here,'' said Steve Miller The name Steve Miller might refer to:
  • Steve Miller (musician), leader of the eponymous Steve Miller Band
  • Steve Miller, Australian musician, of The Moodists and The Sputniks
  • Steve Miller, UK chillout music producer better known as Afterlife
, executive director of the foundation, where much of the annual $3.5 million budget that supports the facility comes from public funds See Fund, 3.

See also: Public
, including Medicaid.

Like directors of similar agencies, Miller is worried about budget proposals calling for Medicaid money to be allocated to states as block grants instead of entitlements to people with developmental disabilities developmental disabilities (DD),
n.pl the pathologic conditions that have their origin in the embryology and growth and development of an individual. DDs usually appear clinically before 18 years of age.
.

He fears that when the state divides up block grant money, developmentally disabled people will get shortchanged in favor of people who need acute hospital care.

``The services right now are guaranteed, but the block grant would not include entitlements to services for the developmentally disabled,'' he said.

Many of Tierra del Sol's participants used to live at the Camarillo State Hospital and Developmental Center, now targeted for closure.

In addition to teaching life skills, Tierra del Sol trains the developmentally disabled for food service, gardening, janitorial and other jobs. At night they return home to their families or small, group homes.

Sharon Cambern, who is autistic autistic /au·tis·tic/ (aw-tis´tik) characterized by or pertaining to autism. , came to Tierra del Sol about a dozen years ago after a decade at Camarillo State Hospital.

Her mother, Pat Cambern of Studio City, is past president of Tierra del Sol's board of directors. She said her daughter has made such great strides at Tierra del Sol that she soon will become a volunteer worker at a senior citizen center.

At Tierra del Sol, ``she is treated with dignity. Her teachers care about her and her feelings and wishes. They protect her and nurture her,'' Cambern said.

Cambern said that if the government quits paying for her daughter to attend Tierra del Sol, she probably would keep her at home during the day. But it would not be easy.

``This is like having a forever toddler, and I'm getting up there in age,'' Cambern said. ``I think that the quality of a civilization is measured by how well they treat their elderly and disabled.''

CAPTION(S):

Photo

PHOTO Instructor Arevik Matevosian, second from left, works with Billy Paul
''For the British saxophonist also named Billy Paul, see the Wizzo Band.


Billy Paul (born Paul Williams on 1 December, 1934) is a Grammy Award-winning American soul singer, most known for his vocals on the 1972 number-one single "Me and Mrs. Jones".
, Liz Lamen Lamen can refer to several things:
  • a variant spelling of Ramen, the Japanese noodle food
  • Lamen (island), a small island off the coast of Epi, Vanuatu
  • Lamen Bay, the adjacent bay on the island of Epi, Vanuatu
  • Lamen (magic), a type of magical pendant
 and Zula Cristobal.

Phil McCarten/Daily News
COPYRIGHT 1996 Daily News
No portion of this article can be reproduced without the express written permission from the copyright holder.
Copyright 1996, Gale Group. All rights reserved. Gale Group is a Thomson Corporation Company.

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Publication:Daily News (Los Angeles, CA)
Date:Apr 29, 1996
Words:477
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