Welcome To The ACSEDonline Website!

What is ACSED?

Interested in joining an organization which promotes increased employment, retention, and upward mobility of persons with disabilities in the public sector? Interested in making a difference? Right now the Association of California State Employees with Disabilities (ACSED) (formerly known as Disabled In State Service [DISS]) needs your support. Are you available?

ACSED was formed over 27 years ago as DISS, an independent private non-profit 501(c)(3) organization in California. Directed by individuals with disabilities, its purpose is to serve as a forum to advocate and promote employment opportunities and fair treatment for persons with disabilities in state government service.

Accomplishments

Recognized by State government as an employee organization, ACSED:

• Successfully enacted AB 1643 (Jones) (Chapter 724, Stats of 2006) which will require a study of ways to open up the PERS long-term care program to individuals with disabilities who are currently denied coverage.
• Authored/sponsored state legislation requiring departments to have Disability Advisory Committees (DACs).
• Urged the State Personnel Board (SPB) to establish the Statewide Disability Advisory Council (SDAC).
• Promoted an increase in the disability employment representation rate.
• Convinced SPB to include language in recent revisions to equal employment opportunity laws to ensure protection of employees with disabilities.
• Provided input on Governor Schwarzenegger's Executive Order S-4-05 on employment of persons with disabilities in state government.

Moving Forward

Right now the need for a vigilant and active ACSED is greater than ever.

Continued pressure to dismantle the infrastructure for affirmative action in state government jeopardizes gains made by employees with disabilities. As many state agencies will eventually begin hiring to fill vacancies created during the last and current recession, there is an increased need for ensuring that applicants with disabilities are considered for these openings.

Additionally, we need to ensure that both new and existing employees with disabilities receive the reasonable accommodations they need in a timely manner.

Why Join ACSED?

ACSED is uniquely qualified to address these and other issues confronting employees and potential employees with disabilities. Organizations such as the SDAC and DACs, which ACSED/DISS helped to create, are state government entities and are subject to bureaucratic review and control. However, ACSED is a private and independent organization, which means it is able to act and respond quickly.

ACSED Can:

• Communicate directly with the Governor, Legislature, and Department Directors on disability issues.
• Serve as an independent voice promoting disability awareness throughout state government.
• Address issues that affect employees with disabilities today such as:
• Layoffs, ensuring that employees with disabilities aren't adversely affected if they should occur.
• LEAP underutilization and low disability employment rate in many state departments.
• Delays in hiring support Service Assistants and providing reasonable accommodations.
• Support the selection of persons with disabilities to appointed positions.
• Conduct conferences, training workshops, and special programs.

If you worked for state government during the last 20 years, you have benefited from ACSED/DISS and its activities even if you weren't aware of the organization.

How to Join ACSED

Now is the time for individuals, especially those who have disabilities, to join ACSED and help continue its efforts while addressing issues that are of direct interest to you. ACSED membership is payable by payroll deduction or by check.  Specific membership levels and rates are spelled out in the Membership Application.  To join ACSED do one of the following:

1. Download an application from here -->  ACSED Membership Application in MS Word 2003 format or ACSED Membership Application in PDF format .
2. Send an e-mail to one of our officers via one of the "Contact Us" links at the top or bottom of this page.
3. Write to ACSED at the address below.

Currently all applications must be signed and submitted by postal mail to:

ACSED

Post Office Box 2439

Elk Grove, CA 95759-2439

About This Site

This site is built and supported by volunteers in their spare time.  We hope you will make it a habit of frequently visiting us to keep up-to-date on issues impacting California State employees with disabilities.

Thank you for taking the time to read through this message.