The announcement of a California budget deal has not stopped pleas for the state to spend more on social services, as advocates for people with disabilities came to the state Capitol Wednesday, angry after additional funding for services was left out of the $115.4 billion deal. Read more.

Fresno City College and Fresno State programs teach independent living skills to young adults with intellectual disabilities. Students learn how to budget, maintain a schedule and take public transportation to jobs in the community. The two-year programs also open the door for students to take college classes. Read more.

Fifty-seven miles would be tough to walk, and even tougher with your brother on your back.
Hunter Gandee, 15, is sore and tired after carrying his 8-year-old brother, Braden, for 57 miles in Michigan to raise awareness for cerebral palsy, he told ABC News today.
Hunter’s trek began Friday and he finally crossed the finish line Sunday afternoon. He began walking from Braden’s elementary school in Lambertville, Michigan, and ended 57-miles later at the University of Michigan’s Pediatric Rehabilitation Center in Ann Arbor. See more.

Children with autism spectrum disorder who are in Medi-Cal managed care plans are not getting the care they need, according to children’s health advocates.

A specific autism therapy — applied behavior analysis, known as ABA therapy — became a Medi-Cal benefit in September 2014. But according to figures released last month by the Department of Health Care Services, as of May 5, fewer than 1,123 children have received behavioral health treatment services, which include ABA therapy. Read more.

Early Start Denver Model, developed with help from UC Davis researcher, proves successful two years after application Parent-led program, now offered internationally, is for children age 12-48 months showing signs of autism. At age 6, children still showed gains in IQ and language and reduction of autism symptoms, new study shows. Read more.

A new study shows concerning results about guardianship/conservatorship. Results show that full guardianship is the most common recommendation made to parents of children with disabilities. Read more.

When Marty Sheets, who was born with Down syndrome, was about 4, a doctor told his parents that because of his disability he would never even learn to tie his own shoes.
Back home, Sheets learned how to do it that same day.
“He was a gentle person,” said his father, David Sheets. “But one thing about Marty, he had determination.” Read more.