IN THIS ISSUE:
- DPC kicks off the ’09 legislative season with two great events
- February’s First Friday? Fantastic!
- Mental health advocates urge legislators to keep up momentum to improve crisis services
- Youth Leadership Forum: Looking for tomorrow’s leaders!
- Texas lawmakers honor Rudy Acosta’s life and advocacy
DPC kicks off the ’09 legislative season with two great events
Lunch with a side of legislation
We’re pleased to report that January’s Legislative Issues Luncheon was a great success. More than 125 legislators, key staff and DPC members talked about the Consortium’s priorities for the session and the prospects and challenges ahead.
Special thanks to Representatives Patrick Rose, Al Edwards, Solomon Ortiz, Jr., and Abel Herrero for putting the event on their personal calendars. And thanks to all the lawmakers who sent their staff. It was a great day of learning and sharing information for all concerned.
DPC introduced its brand new publication—2009 Policy Priorities—at the luncheon. The booklet got a lot of compliments from legislators and staff who appreciated having all the issues and background in one handy reference. The briefing book is available to view or download under the 81st Legislature tab on the DPC web site.
February’s First Friday? Fantastic!
Thanks to all who joined in on the First Friday conference call. As you may recall DPC is hosting a series of calls on the first Friday of each month throughout the 2009 legislative session. The calls are designed to give advocates outside of Austin some first-hand information about what’s going on under the dome.
See DADS’ presentations online
You can see selected updates of the Department of Aging and Disability Services presentations to the legislature, on the DADS Web site
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Even though the legislature hadn’t started hearing bills on Feb. 6, the date of the first call, the time was devoted to presenting an overview of the bills DPC will be tracking over the session.
It is not too late to sign up for the next call at noon, March 6. Call-in lines are limited, so contact the DPC office as soon as possible if you want to participate. Send e-mail to toni@dpctexas.org or call 512-371-1783.
There’s still time to let members of the Senate Finance Committee know how you feel about funding for Texas’ health and human service agencies. The committee kicked off its appropriations process with public hearings on Article II of the General Appropriations Act (Senate Bill 1) on February 11. A lot of advocates testified in person, and a lot more took advantage of the convenience of the Texas Action Center’s easy online tools to contact legislators on important issues.
Join the action! It’s easy to let legislators know how you feel about funding for important health and human services. Take Action Today at the Texas Action Center!
Mental health advocates urge legislators to keep up momentum to improve crisis services
IMental health advocates are busy at work to convince members of the 81st Texas Legislature to build on the last legislature’s investment in crisis mental health services. Advocates from Mental Health America of Texas and NAMI Texas met with elected officials earlier this month in support of the Texas Department of State Health Services’ exceptional item request for $88.3 million. The new funding would expand crisis funding to communities where it is needed and provide transitional and ongoing services to persons with mental illness to prevent repeated crises.
To bolster their position, advocates are pointing to a recently released study of the first year of the of the crisis services redesign initiative launched in 2007. Overall, the study indicates the things are on the right track, but need continuing effort to better balance funding, services and supports.
Check out the DSHS web site for the Year One Evaluation Findings for the Crisis Services Redesign Initiative.
For more information about the study, the DSHS exceptional item or general mental health issues, contact:
- Gyl Wadge, Public Policy Director, Mental Health America of Texas
512-454-3706 ext. 203, gyl@mhatexas.org - Robin Peyson, Executive Director, NAMI Texas, 512- 512-693-2000, rpeyson@namitexas.org
Youth Leadership Forum: Looking for tomorrow’s leaders!
Attention high school juniors and seniors with disabilities who have a notion to make a difference in the future. It’s time to apply for the Texas Statewide Youth Leadership Forum!
Thirty students will be selected as delegates to the all-expenses paid leadership training slated for Austin, July 20-24. Delegates take part in a variety of educational and fun activities designed to empower them as disability advocates and public policy activists.
YLF is hosted by the Center on Disability and Development at Texas A&M University, through a grant from the Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities.
Delegates are selected through a competitive application process. Applications for students and mentors/facilitators are due March 27, 2009.
The applications and more information are available on the Texas Youth Leadership Forum Web page. If you have questions or to request a print copy of the application, call or send e-mail to Cheryl Grenwelge at 979-458-1593 or cgrenwelge@tamu.edu.
Texas lawmakers honor Rudy Acosta’s life and advocacy
On Wednesday, February 18th, the anniversary of his untimely death last year, the Texas Legislature honored the life and many accomplishments of Raul “Rudy” Acosta. Senator Robert Duncan and Rep. John Davis presented a Joint Resolution to their respective houses in memory of the man, his passionate advocacy, and the impact he had on disability policy.
As a young child, Rudy developed a rare form of muscular dystrophy that resulted in total paralysis. For most of his life, his main mode of mobility was a customized gurney. For many years, Rudy and his gurney were a familiar sight around the Capitol. He was a passionate, tireless and effective advocate for community alternatives to nursing homes and state institutions.
Rudy’s powerful advocacy grew from his personal experience. At 12, he was placed in a nursing home. From there, Rudy lived in a series of nursing homes and institutions throughout Texas. Finally, at 30, he received the services and supports he needed to move into his own apartment in Lubbock. Rudy went on to receive degrees at both Odessa Community College and Texas Tech University. Rudy devoted every single day to living life to the fullest and promoting community services to anyone who would listen.
Senator Robert Duncan (R-Lubbock) authored Senate Concurrent Resolution 18 to honor the memory of Raul “Rudy” Acosta. During the presentation of the resolution to the Senate, Senator Judith Zaffirini (D-Laredo) and Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr.,(D-Brownsville) spoke about Rudy and his many accomplishments. Pansy Case, the devoted and loving friend who provided personal assistance support for Rudy for more than 27 years was present on the Senate floor along with Colleen Horton, -Brenda Coleman-Beattie, Mary Faithful and Ron Brown. Other disability advocates honored Rudy from the gallery. Representative John Davis (R-Clear Lake) introduced Rudy’s friends in the Gallery and announced that The House of Representatives would conclude their proceedings in memory of Rudy.
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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