IN THIS ISSUE:
- Y'all Come! First regional DPC meeting slated for College Station.
- Mark your calendars! Make note of these upcoming events!
- DFPS to propose changes in child care licensing rules.
- DPC Member Spotlight: The Spina Bifida Association of Texas, Inc.
- Thanks, Jeff! Garrison-Tate turns over DPC reins.
Y’all Come! First regional DPC meeting slated for Nov. 29 in College Station
The Disability Policy Consortium is taking a road trip! It’s a great chance for individuals and organizations to join forces with the DPC to affect public policy for people with disabilities.
The Center on Disability and Development at Texas A&M is hosting the first-ever DPC regional meeting on Thursday, Nov. 29 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The free public meeting will take place at the College Station Conference Center, 1300 George Bush Dr. in College Station. View Map to College Station Conference Center.
Participants will learn that DPC membership is a great way to stay up to date on the most current events in the disability community and an effective way to promote positive change on disability issues. It is the first of several planned regional meetings to reach out to advocates outside of Austin.
Dr. Linda Parrish, who represents the Center on Disability and Development to the DPC, says that DPC members not only have access to the latest information affecting people with disabilities and their families, but they get the opportunity to make a real difference in the disability community.
"As a member of the DPC, you're no longer just one voice. Your voice joins a chorus that initiates change at the state level," says Parrish.
To be sure there are plenty of chairs and refreshments for everyone, please let the DPC office know if you’re planning to attend. To RSVP or get more information, contact Toni Byrd, DPC Project Coordinator, 512-371-1783, toni@dpctexas.org.
Mark your calendars! Make note of these upcoming events!
Forgotten Lives: Official preview and panel discussion
When: Sunday, Nov. 25, 7:00 p.m.
Where: Texas Union Theater (UT Campus at 24th and Guadalupe), UT Austin
Information: communitynowfreedom@gmail.com
Josh Tate’s highly acclaimed documentary about abuse of people with disabilities in state schools, took first place in the college division at the Coalition of Texans with Disabilities’ Fourth Annual Cinema Touching Disability Film Festival. Though the film depicts the horrors of Texas institutions, it offers hope for community opportunities for people who want to get out of these institutions. While you’re watching, keep an eye out for some of Texas’ leading disability rights activities including Rudy Acosta, Bob Kafka, James Meadours and Linda Parrish.
High School/High Tech: Community presentation
When: Friday, Dec. 14, 10:00 a.m.
Where: Goodwill Industries of Central Texas, 1015 Norwood Park Blvd., Austin
Information: Kelly Garcia, UCP Texas, 512-472-8696, kelly@ucptexas.org
High School/High Tech is an innovative program administered by UCP of Greater Houston. It encourages high school students with disabilities to explore science, engineering and technology-related careers. It helps participating students make the transition to life after high school, and helps parents, educators and employers understand assistive technology disability accommodations.
DPC Housing Summit – Date Set
When: April 22-23, 2008
Where: Radisson Hotel and Suites Austin Downtown on Town Lake, 111 Cesar Chavez at Congress Avenue, Austin, Texas
Information: Toni Byrd, DPC Project Coordinator, 512-371-1783, toni@dpctexas.org
The DPC and affordable housing organizations are teaming up to stage a two-day educational summit for consumers, developers and legislators. Low income housing tax credits, housing bonds and accessibility programs are among the topics on the agenda. Stay tuned for more detail on this important event!
DFPS to propose changes in child care licensing rules
The Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) is expected to propose changes to its child care licensing rules in November. Advocates for children with disabilities are looking forward to the public comment period that will follow the release of the proposed changes, hoping to force state-licensed providers to follow federal laws. Currently families of children with disabilities are frequently turned away by providers, contrary to requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
This story is testimony to the fact that one person can make a difference! DFPS agreed to modify its rules based on the experience of a Houston mom who could not find a child care provider that would serve her son with cerebral palsy. Hundreds of Texas families have had that same frustrating experience. They’ve had little to no recourse, however, because the state has nothing in place to ensure that licensed providers will not discriminate against children with disabilities.
At this writing, there was no mention of the proposed rules change—or a public comment period—on the DFPS website. If you’re interested, you may want to keep an eye on the website: http://www.dfps.state.tx.us.
DPC Member Spotlight: The Spina Bifida Association of Texas, Inc.
Editor’s Note: Thanks to the Spina Bifida Association of Texas for participating in the DPC Member Spotlight, a regular feature of the Action Update. Don't wait to be asked! If you want your own organization to be featured in an upcoming issue, drop us a line (info@dpctexas.org) and we’ll send the questions to you right away.
Contact: Nora A. Oyler, Executive Director
Address: 10615 Perrin Beitel, Suite 701, San Antonio, Texas 78217
Phone: (210) 653-1800
Toll free: (866) 59-SBATX
Website: http://www.sbatx.org
E-mail: sbinfo@sbatx.org
What is your organization's mission and/or purpose? Our mission is to promote the prevention of Spina Bifida and enhance the lives of all affected.
Briefly describe your organizational structure (membership, staff, board, etc.) as well as your service area, etc. Our services are available to any person affected by Spina Bifida in central and south Texas. We are governed by a board of directors comprised of members of the community which includes a parent representative and an adult representative. Our staff includes a paid executive director, program director and office assistant as well as numerous volunteers.
What were your three best achievements in the past year? In 2007 to promote prevention our association sponsored a Mother’s Day Folic Acid Awareness Campaign in San Antonio which included billboard & and print ads, television appearances and a bulletin board contest in the City Health and WIC clinics. We also sponsored and organized a bus trip for 60 families to attend a five state regional Spina Bifida Conference held in Dallas.
What are your three greatest challenges currently? Our three greatest challenges are the lack of knowledge about our disability and its challenges, lack of staffing to be effective in our efforts, and lack of funding for our programs.
If your organization could change one public policy right this minute, what would it be? To increase the Medicaid benefits for Adults with Disabilities and increase funding for Medicaid Waiver Programs.
How long has your organization belonged to the Disability Policy Consortium? How has your organization benefited from being part of the DPC? One year. It has been a good learning experience for our association. We have been able to keep up to date on the issues addressed in the past legislative session and have been able to advocate for the issues that are important to our population.
Thanks, Jeff! Garrison-Tate turns over DPC reins
DPC members—and friends and colleagues throughout the disability community—thank Jeff Garrison-Tate for his time, effort and compassionate leadership as chairperson for the past two years. Incoming chair, Jean Langendorf, executive director of UCP Texas, presented him with a certificate of appreciation at the Nov. 13 DPC meeting. During his tenure, Garrison-Tate, policy director for Advocacy, Inc., guided the DPC through some “interesting” times including the aftermath of hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the tumultuous 80th Texas Legislature and the release of the Department of Justice report on abuse and neglect at the Lubbock State School.
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:
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[Disability Policy Consortium's Home Page]
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[UCP Texas Home Page]