TEXAS ACTION UPDATE - Sponsored by the Disability Policy Consortium, UCP Texas, UCP of Metro Dallas, and UCP of Greater Houston.
January 30, 2008

IN THIS ISSUE:

 

Craddick appoints ICF/MR study group

House Speaker Tom Craddick has named an eight-member panel to evaluate the state's infrastructure for serving persons with cognitive disabilities and recommend ways to improve the quality and availability of care in multiple settings. In a January 16 news release, Craddick's office said the House Select Committee on Services for Individuals Eligible for Intermediate Care Facility Services will focus on people who are eligible for ICF services, including state schools.

As part of its investigation, the committee will "assess the risks to the health and well-being of persons eligible for state ICF/MR services" that aren't addressed by the current system, according to the news release. The committee will also review the process used to determine eligibility for ICF/MR services and evaluate the state's ability to comply with the federal regulations that govern services and supports for people with cognitive and developmental disabilities.

State Representatives appointed to the committee are: Larry Phillips (Sherman), Chair; John Zerwas (Richmond), Vice Chair; Myra Crownover (Denton); Susan King (Abilene), Armando Martinez (Weslaco); Dora Olivo (Rosenberg); Joe Pickett (El Paso); Patrick Rose (Dripping Springs) and Vicki Truitt (Keller).

The group is supposed to report findings and recommendations by December 1, 2008.

 

April in Austin: First-ever Texas Housing Summit! Register early and save!

The Disability Policy Consortium presents The Texas Housing Summit. Building the foundation for accessible, affordable and integrated housing for ALL Texans

Across Texas, people with disabilities need affordable, accessible and integrated housing, along with better information about housing options. The Disability Policy Consortium (DPC) is joining forces with the Texas State Affordable Housing Corporation and Texas Affiliation of Affordable Housing Providers to address these needs with a first-of-its-kind housing summit.

The Texas Housing Summit: Building the foundation for accessible, affordable and integrated housing for ALL Texans is scheduled for April 22-23 in Austin. People with disabilities, legislators, policymakers, housing professionals and advocates will participate in the two-day event at the Radisson Hotel & Suites on Lady Bird Lake in downtown Austin.

The summit will feature educational sessions on affordable housing programs, barriers and possible solutions. Additionally, affordable housing professionals and policymakers from around the country will showcase innovative and successful housing programs—and lessons learned—as summit participants explore the potential for new policies and initiatives in Texas. One session is dedicated to gathering consumer feedback on information that should be included in a searchable Web-based affordable housing database being developed by a consortium of housing organizations.

For more information on the Texas Housing Summit, including registration, stipends and sponsorship opportunities, send an e-mail to summit@dpctexas.org or call the DPC office at 512-371-1783. The information is also available on the Texas Housing Summit website: http://ths.dpctexas.org

 

DPC Road Trip

On the road again: DPC plans outreach meetings in Lubbock and Corpus Christi

As part of a continuing effort to increase statewide participation, the Disability Policy Consortium is holding two more community outreach meetings in coming weeks. Participants will learn about DPC and how 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.

To be sure there are plenty of chairs and refreshments, 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

 

Don't miss out on big election year. Register to vote by February 4!

VOTE!

You'd have to be hibernating to miss the fact that this is a big election year. If the primary season thus far is any indication, voter interest and participation is running high and the contests for president and other key offices are anything but settled.

The Texas Primary is slated for March 4, with early voting scheduled for Feb. 19-29. The last day to register to vote or change voter registration information is February 4!

What's at stake in 2008? In addition to voting for president, Texas voters will determine the fate of Texas' 32 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives and one U.S. Senate seat. At the state level, all 150 House seats are up for grabs, along with half of the Senate. There are three spots on the Texas Supreme Court, three on the Courts of Criminal Appeals, seven positions on the State Board of Education and a host of others. Check out the Texas Secretary of State's website (http://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/voter/2008offices.shtml) for all the offices up for election this year.

Key Election Dates for 2008:

 

Public meetings scheduled: TEA seeks input on disciplinary alternative ed rules

Last year, the Texas Legislature passed two bills (HB 426 and HB 2532) intended to strengthen and improve the administration of the Disciplinary Alternative Education Program (DAEP) in Texas schools. Now, the Texas Education Agency is seeking public input on its draft of rules to comply with the legislation.

The agency is scheduling public meetings in each of the Education Service Center regions during February and March. While plans are still being made for Houston, Austin, Lubbock and Kilgore, the following meetings are on the schedule:

(Note: All meetings are scheduled from 9:00 AM - Noon)

For more information about the rules or public meetings, call or send e-mail to Jim Davis at TEA at 512-463-9630 or Jim.davis@tea.state.tx.us

 

DPC Member Spotlight: Center on Disability and Development, Texas A&M University

Contact Person: Amy Sharp
Address: TAMU MS 4225, College Station, TX 77843-4225
Phone: 979-845-4612
E-mail: cdd@tamu.edu
Website: http://cdd.tamu.edu

Self advocate reviews her testimony with a volunteer at the Texas State Capitol during the Youth Leadership Forum. Summer 2007.

Mission and/or purpose:

At the Center on Disability and Development (CDD) at Texas A&M University, we support the self-determination, community integration, and quality of life of people with disabilities and their families through our teaching, service and research.

Organizational structure:

The Center on Disability and Development fits within the larger structure of disability-related organizations of the Administration on Developmental Disabilities (ADD). The ADD is the overarching entity of three state institutions in every state:

The Center on Disability and Development falls within the UCEDD category and shares this distinction with the Texas Center for Disability Studies at the University of Texas at Austin.

Following our mission, the Center on Disability and Development:

Many of our activities are in cooperation with partners in Texas and across the nation.

What were your three best achievements in the past year?

What are your three greatest challenges currently?

A primary challenge, confirmed by our recent statewide study and focus groups, is meeting the diversified needs of the constituency of Texas. With some areas largely urban and some vastly rural, no one outreach or service project can meet the needs of the entire state.

If your organization could change one public policy right this minute, what would it be?

Choosing one public policy area is a very difficult task given that Texas ranks in the bottom percentiles, nationally, given almost every aspect of services for people with disabilities. Given that reality it would be still be a very important step, and therefore a critical public policy initiative, for the legislature and corresponding agencies to direct funding to home and community based services, shortening the time individuals and families are spending on "waiting lists" for services or having to make more restricted choices for their lives. Funding for these services will probably not be expanding so that translates into redirecting resources from isolated large congregate care facilities to community settings.

How long has your organization belonged to the Disability Policy Consortium? How has your organization benefited from being part of the DPC?

The CDD became a member of the DPC in 2005. The CDD benefits from participating in the DPC by the wealth of knowledge that is shared via the DPC communication tools.

 

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!

 

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