Array
(
    [0] => Array
        (
            [id] => 17
            [date] => 2021-02-03
            [status] => Active
            [new] => 
            [title] => ACC's Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Response services bring peace and security
            [author] => Anonymous
            [article] => 
How has the Disability Disaster Access and Resources Program changed your life?  

Ever since the Thomas Fire this has been in the back of my mind being worried about the electricity going off and all of a sudden PG&E referred me to you and there was an overwhelming amount of peace. It gives you a deep peace to know you’re not subject to the whims of the weather. You can never tell about the unknown factors. You can watch the weather all you want but the reality is you need to be prepared. 

How do you feel about how ACC has helped you prepare for disasters and emergencies? How did you feel before?   

It's like a miracle happened to me. That's the way I feel. In the beginning I couldn't believe it. I didn't believe it for the first week or so. It's wonderful, I don't know how to describe it, it's beyond words at times. Before planning with ACC there was nothing and I explored everything to find assistance. Unless I had $5,000 to buy a battery there was nothing for me and I felt frustration that the winds could make them turn the power off. It's nice to be able to do something about it. Before planning it made me feel powerless. It gave me power in this situation to get the planning.  

What is different now that you have the backup battery and disaster plan?

It's peace of mind I guess. It's being proactive instead of waiting for the situation to happen and seeing what help you can find. This program is safety and gives you a nice warm fuzzy feeling.

"ACC isn't like a government agency it's like people helping people. It's real help by real people."

-Michele, Consumer of Lauren Utterback- Independent Living Advocate

        )

    [1] => Array
        (
            [id] => 11
            [date] => 2022-10-19
            [status] => Active
            [new] => 
            [title] => Disability in the News: Veterans exposed to toxins receive unencumbered access to coverage from the VA  
            [author] => Jamie Zimmerman
            [article] => 
Disability is in the news with a major win for veterans. The U.S. Senate approved providing health care and benefits for millions of veterans injured by exposure to toxins in burn pits in Iraq and Agent Orange in Vietnam. 



It has been determined that the PACT Act will now cease to force veterans to prove their disabilities and illnesses were caused by exposure to toxins in order to get medical coverage from the VA. The PACT Act is the biggest expansion of care in VA history. This change will alleviate a layer of hardship for veterans and improve access to the support they deserve.



The story of the PACT Act in the news is an example of the mission of full access that we work toward every day, amplified and utilized on a macro level. 





To read more on the PACT Act go to:



https://www.npr.org/2022/08/02/1115325176/pact-act-veterans-burn-pits-toxins-passes-senate
        )

    [2] => Array
        (
            [id] => 2
            [date] => 2025-12-07
            [status] => Active
            [new] => 
            [title] => Kyle and His Journey Towards Independence
            [author] => Jacob Lesner-Buxton
            [article] => 

In 2020, at just 35 years old, Kyle was diagnosed with a condition that caused total paralysis and was told he might never live independently again. After three years of hard work in therapy, he was determined to regain his independence. By 2024, Kyle was living in a care home costing $7,000 a month, facing the possibility of being moved to a county facility because he had no family able to care for him. He needed housing that would allow him to continue therapy, cook, maintain hygiene, and work toward walking again—but every affordable or subsidized option he found was inaccessible. Narrow doorways, small bathrooms, inaccessible kitchens—most apartments listed as “accessible” were not truly accessible. 


After a year and a half of searching, Kyle finally found one apartment that worked: first floor, with wide hallways and doorways, and a kitchen and bathroom he could actually use with his wheelchair. The rent is $3,300—still far from affordable, but half of what the care home costs. With this housing, he has been able to build a workout space, cook for himself, and continue his recovery. 


Kyle’s experience highlights a critical gap: accessible housing is almost never aligned with affordable housing. People with disabilities are often excluded from low-income options simply because they aren’t built with accessibility in mind. Independence shouldn’t cost extra—it should be a baseline. Alongside ACC, Kyle was able to apply and receive in-home care, find an apartment, and be connected with continued supports to help him with his journey towards independence.

        )

)
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