October 27, 2008

Time to get to work—81^st Texas Legislature is on the way!

If you’re concerned you might experience political withdrawal when the November elections are over—no worries! The 81^st Texas Legislature is just around the corner. Legislators will return to Austin for the regular session on Jan. 13, 2009. They can start pre-filing bills for the session the week after the election, on Monday, Nov. 10.

Just as our lawmakers are looking ahead to what they will accomplish during the session, the Disability Policy Consortium is putting the finishing touches on our legislative platform. DPC members are working up recommendations for variety of important issues that we’ll feature in the weeks to come. In the meantime, we’re encouraging disability advocates throughout the state to start working right now on our number one legislative priority—funding to reduce the waiting lists for all Medicaid waiver programs.

More than 100,000 Texans with disabilities continue to wait for the community-based services Medicaid waivers pay for.

• More than 5,000 people are living in the 13 state-run institutions known as State Schools for the Mentally Retarded.
• Thousands more people of all ages live in nursing homes and ICF/MRs, usually a higher average cost than living in the community.
• The state spends hundreds of millions of dollars to keep people in institutions. It’s a waste of limited funds and a human tragedy to continue this practice.

Once again, the Health and Human Services Commission and Department of Aging and Disability Services will ask for enough money to reduce the waiting lists by 20 percent. You may recall they asked for the same thing last session; but the response fell far short of the goal, with less than half of the needed funds appropriated.

This time around, DPC members and other advocates plan to contact their representatives in the legislature early and often, sharing concerns about the waiting lists and examples of the many benefits of community living and the services that support it. The more the merrier! You can join the effort to make a big difference in the lives of Texans with disabilities. Tell your representatives how your feel about community services and waiting lists.

It»s easy to do through the Texas Action Center . You can find out who your representatives are by simply typing in your zip code. While you’re there, if you haven’t already signed up to be an “e-advocate,” take just a second to register as a user. That’s the best way we know to stay up to date on important issues throughout the legislative session.

 

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month

The national effort to spotlight the challenges and successes of people with disabilities in the workforce started back in 1945, when Congress established the first week of October as National Employ the Physically Handicapped Week. In 1962, they dropped “physically” from the title to focus on the needs and contributions of people with a broader range of disabilities. The last change came about in 1988, when Congress expanded the timeframe and renamed the observation to National Disability Employment Awareness Month.

This year’s theme is “America’s People, America’s Talent... America’s Strength!“ To view the Office of Disability Employment Policy’s poster and to read about the history of NDEAM, visit the Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy website .

 

Have you thought about walking for BIAT?

The Brain Injury Association of Texas hosts its fourth annual Walk for Thought in San Marcos, Saturday, Nov. 8. Check-in begins at noon, and walking starts at 1:00 p.m. at the West Campus Field at Texas State University. Registration is $15 per person, raised through donations or paid on your own. Participants who collect $100 or more in donations will be included in a drawing for some great prizes.

All proceeds will be used to give hope, help and a voice to the 450,000 Texans who live with a disability caused by brain injury. To get the registration packet and find out more about the WFT, visit the BIAT Web site .

 

Inform. Involve. Influence. Texas Advanced Leadership & Advocacy Conference

Texas A&M University’s Center on Disability and Development is gearing up to present a first of its kind leadership training early next year. The Texas Advanced Leadership and Advocacy Conference is designed just for adults with disabilities and parents of children with disabilities. Funded by a grant from the Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities, the conference, scheduled for March 23-24 in Austin, is the first in a series that will be conducted annually.

Conference participants will learn methods to successfully promote and advocate for policy and systems change. They will also learn about current legislative issues, as well as how to collaborate with local and statewide advocacy organizations.

Participants must be at least 18 years old, an individual with a disability and/or a parent of a child with a disability still enrolled in primary or secondary school, be a registered voter or plan to register while at the conference, a resident of Texas, have participated in community activities which demonstrate qualities and/or willingness to participate in public policy and advocacy actions, and have participated in extracurricular and/or community activities which demonstrate leadership qualities

Attendance is limited. The deadline to apply to be a participant is Dec. 1. Go to the TALAC Web site  for a flyer, application and information about registration fees and financial assistance. To contact project staff for specific information, please send e-mail  call 979-845-1884.

 

Remembering Amy Young: A shining star dimmed much too soon

The DPC and advocates throughout Texas and the nation are greatly saddened by the sudden loss of Amy Young, who suffered a brain aneurysm and died on Sept. 20. She was 38.

Amy was an extraordinary person. Bright, funny, passionate, energetic, determined—she was a powerful force of nature with a strong commitment to promoting the rights, inclusion, integration and independence of Texans with disabilities. She made a positive difference in the lives of countless people.

As a Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities staff member, Amy was active in a number of DPC committees and work groups. Her take charge attitude and enthusiasm were welcomed by her colleagues, who often relied on Amy’s ability to track down even the most complex and obscure information to find answers.

Amy was tireless in her efforts to educate legislators, state agency personnel and others about the changes needed to allow every person to live independently in the community. It’s very difficult to imagine the upcoming legislative session without her powerfully effective advocacy.

TCDD is hosting a “celebratory toast” to Amy on Thursday, Nov. 6, 5:30 p.m., at Texas Land and Cattle restaurant, 6007 North IH-35 in Austin. For details, send e-mail to Koren Vogel  or call 512-437-5416.

Amy’s obituary and a memorial from her coworkers is available on the TCDD website .

 

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