IN THIS ISSUE:
DPC says “thanks” to legislative aides
You don’t have to know much about government to know that elected officials’ staff members play a crucial role in the legislative process. Working closely with their bosses, they interact with constituents, research issues, draft and coordinate legislation, resolve conflicts and a lot more—and that’s just before lunch! They’re a hard working group of professionals that often don’t get the recognition they deserve.
Knowing that, DPC members are making a special effort over the summer to recognize a few “superstar” staffers for their good work on disability-related issues during the 80th Texas Legislature’s session. They’re meeting individually to offer a plaque and big “thank you!” The following is a list of aides singled out for this special recognition.
- Gerardo Castillo (Rep. Eddie Rodriquez)
- Robin Chandler (Rep. Eddie Rodriguez)
- Ida Garcia (Sen. Leticia Van de Putte)
- Julie Haeber (Senate Finance Committee)
- Andrea Hinckson (Senate Government Reform Committee)
- Don Jones (Rep. Jose Menendez)
- Jessica Ramos (Sen. Judith Zaffirini)
- Tim Thetford (Senate Intergovernmental Relations Committee)
- Kate Volti (Sen. Eddie Lucio)
- Nancy Walker (Rep. Elliott Naishtat)
- Brent Whitaker (Sen. Judith Zaffirini)
Photo: Tim Thetford, staff person for the Senate Intergovernmental Relations Committee, worked hard to make sure a key housing bill included funding for programs that serve Texans with disabilities before it passed. DPC Housing Committee representatives Sarah Mills (left) and Amy Young gave him a plaque and a lot of appreciation for his efforts.
Geraldo, Texas newspapers report state school abuses
Within the past couple of weeks, three major Texas newspapers and none other than Geraldo Rivera produced major feature stories on reports of the widespread abuse and neglect of people with disabilities at several Texas state schools.
The Dallas Morning News, Houston Chronicle and San Antonio Express News ran one or more in-depth features about information contained in a report released July 23 by the Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS). As described by the newspapers, the report details the disciplinary records of state school employees and, in doing so, chronicles hundreds of instances of confirmed abuse or neglect of residents, many of whom have significant mental and physical disabilities.
To view the stories online, go to each newspaper’s website and search for stories on state school abuse and neglect. The web addresses and reporter names appear below.
Dallas Morning News: www.dallasnews.com
Reporter: Emily Ramshaw
Houston Chronicle: www.chron.com
San Antonio Express News: www.mysanantonio.com
Reporters: Lisa Sandberg, Janet Elliott and Amy Raskin (they all write for both papers)
Advocacy Tip:
Newspapers and TV stations gauge public interest in a topic by the number of people who conduct searches on particular issues and/or view certain stories. Advocates who would like to see more in-depth coverage of the problems facing people with disabilities in state schools and other large institutions would do well to register their interest by going to the stories online. It’s also a great idea to write the reporters with thanks, support and encouragement if you think they’re doing a good job.
Meanwhile, the July 14 episode of the Fox program Geraldo At Large featured the story of Hasib Chishty, a Denton State School resident who was severely injured by an employee in 2002. The employee confessed to being high on drugs when he beat the teenager to near death. Geraldo’s brother, Craig Rivera, reports on the Chishty family’s efforts to get justice and assistance for the young man, who continues to live at the state school. The video is available online under Craig’s Clips: Patient Abuse at www.foxnews.com/geraldo/index.html.
About the Disability Policy Consortium
The DPC is made up of a diverse assortment of disability advocacy groups that have joined forces to advance the rights, inclusion and independence of Texans with disabilities. Each member organization contributes its unique perspective and resources to the collective effort to promote effective public policy for a variety of issues important to people with disabilities and their families.
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