IN THIS ISSUE:
- State school reform movement gaining momentum
- Voter registration, early voting deadlines coming soon!
- DPC Spotlight: Coastal Bend Center for Independent Living
State school reform movement gaining momentum
So far, Texas’ legislative leadership has not responded to advocates call for an official committee to study Texas state schools. As you may recall, the Disability Policy Consortium and others in the advocacy community are asking for a comprehensive review of all state schools in light of recent confirmed reports of abuse, neglect and exploitation of people living in those institutions.
The campaign for an official review continues (see the blue box below for info about the Texas Action Center’s campaign). In the meantime, several legislators, news organizations and advocacy groups are moving ahead with their own fact-finding efforts. The following is a sampling of recent activities of note, followed by links to the stories or other relevant information.
- On Sept. 5, three state representatives hosted a public hearing in Corpus Christi to gather information about issues related to the state school in that community. Rep. Garnet Coleman, D-Houston, chaired the caucus which also included Corpus Christi Reps. Solomon Ortiz, Jr., and Abel Herrero. Read the Corpus Christi Caller Times story
- On Sept. 6, the Dallas Morning News reported that Rep. Jerry Madden, R-Richardson, is calling on lawmakers to “tackle reports of mistreatment inside state schools for the mentally retarded as aggressively as they did the abuse scandal at the Texas Youth Commission – including creation of a police presence inside the agency that oversees the schools.” Read the Dallas Morning News story
- The Houston Chronicle, Dallas Morning News and Austin American Statesman have run staff-written editorials on the state schools (available by searching their respective websites). On Aug. 28, the Houston paper also ran an opinion piece by Mary Faithfull, Advocacy, Inc.’s executive director. Read the Advocacy, Inc. op ed article
- Self-Advocates for Being Empowered (SABE) and Texas Advocates hosted a Sept. 14 candlelight vigil at the gates of the Denton State School. The groups joined forces to show solidarity with state school residents who want to live in the community, as well as those who are at daily risk of abuse. The family of Haseeb Chishty, a Denton resident who was severely beaten and paralyzed by a state school employee, took part in the vigil. Haseeb remains in the state school, though his family is desperately trying to get him out. Video of the vigil is available on You Tube (search “Chishty Denton state school”)
Don’t lose the momentum! If you have not responded to last month’s Action Alert from the Texas Action Center, there’s still time! The Action Center makes it easy to send a message to state leaders urging them to appoint a committee to study the current situation at Texas state schools and recommend reforms. Get the background and find everything you need online at the Texas Action Center
Voter registration, early voting deadlines coming soon!
It’s not your imagination; the year is zipping by! Seems like we just got back from spring break, but it’s already time to study up on the 16 constitutional amendments that will be on Texas ballots for the Nov. 6th election. District 97 (part of Tarrant County) voters will also vote in a special election to fill the seat vacated by Rep. Anna Mowery.
The Secretary of State’s office has a wealth of useful information about everything from voter registration to access for voters with disabilities to background on the proposed amendments. Check it out online at http://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/voter/index.shtml.
Meanwhile, here are some important dates to keep in mind:
- Last day to register to vote: Oct. 9
- First day of early voting: Oct. 22
- Last day to apply for ballot by mail: Oct. 30
- Last day of early voting: Nov. 2
- Election Day: Nov. 6
Do your part! Vote! And get others to vote, too!
DPC Spotlight: Coastal Bend Center for Independent Living
Editor’s Note: This month we’re introducing something new for Action Update readers—a special feature spotlighting a DPC member organization. Don’t be shy! If you can’t wait to see your own organization featured in this spot, drop us a line (info@dpctexas.org) and we’ll send the questions to you right away.
Contact: Judy Telge, Executive Director
Address: 1537 Seventh St, Corpus Christi, TX 78404
Phone: 361.883.8461
Toll free: 877.988.1999
E-mail: judyt@acicbcil.org
Website: http://www.acicbcil.org
What is your organization’s mission and/or purpose?
Mission: CBCIL will exercise leadership by people with disabilities promoting accessibility, equality, individual rights and community integration for people with disabilities of all ages.
Briefly describe your organizational structure (membership, staff, board, etc.) as well as your service area, etc.
Eleven years ago, three renegades on the Corpus Christi Mayor’s Committee for Persons with Disabilities formed a grassroots nonprofit agency with the goal of becoming the area’s first independent living center. Volunteer dedication, persistence, free rent and several short-term grants kept the effort going and in 2000, with city and state funding, land and a building were purchased. In 2002, the Rehabilitation Services Administration funded the CIL in Corpus Christi, then known as Accessible Communities, Inc. CBCIL meets federal criteria as an independent non-profit corporation, non-residential, cross-disability, consumer-controlled, providing four core services of information & referral, peer counseling, independent living skills training and advocacy. And much more! CBCIL covers 12 counties in the Coastal Bend, and the Victoria area for services under the STAR+PLUS and CLASS programs.
What were your three best achievements in the past year?
- Having a responsive and energetic legislative team representing our area.
- Re-tooling the organization and staff after the loss of a major relocation contract, which enabled access to new resources for our center, consumers and community.
- ‘Finally functional’ at leveraging state level contacts to positively impact local policy and funding.
What are your three greatest challenges currently
- Attending all the meetings necessary to stay connected, recognized, abreast of issues, contributing and learning!
- Rolling out four new programs next month, two of which are pilots in Texas, and maintaining some semblance of leadership with all the rest.
- CBCIL spun-out its housing activity in 2003 and, as a result, two other nonprofit organizations were formed. Now we have three boards of directors to work with. Wonderful people, but they are boards!
If your organization could change one public policy right this minute, what would it be?
See #3: That CILs are allowed to do residential activity!
Seriously though, change the long-term care policy nationwide from favoring institutions over community-based settings for people with disabilities of all ages. Right now, it takes more than 40 steps to get out of a nursing facility if you are a person with a disability, but only one step to get in! That must be reversed to meet the needs and desires of the people and decrease cost burdens in the long-term care system. That must include adequate pay for workers to provide services in a home setting.
How has your organization benefited from being part of the DPC?
Corpus Christi does not have much of a disability advocacy history; in fact, the culture of intimidation has been extremely effective over the years for many of the local citizenry who don’t “fit the mold.” We’ve known of the multitude of needs relative to the disability community, but not always how to prioritize, where to start, what to do and how to corral the energy needed to go in one effective direction. Membership in the DPC has helped make our CIL and our growing disability advocacy community more effective in developing strategies, organizing around issues that are broader but impact us locally, and in learning how to negotiate/leverage with decision-makers at all levels.
When the DPC implemented outreach to local organizations, it was like a lifeline for us to the larger advocacy effort, giving our efforts credibility that comes with that sort of alignment. With the lifeline, state level organizations such as the DPC are on the same page as the local constituents (who control the vote!). Being a member of a statewide organization that is a member of the DPC doesn’t provide this kind of localized direct connection. I applaud and encourage DPC to develop more local memberships to make the connection for systems change!
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.
Let your friends know about the Texas Action Center:
Tell-a-friend!
[Send email to the Disability Policy Consortium]
[UCP Texas Home Page]