35 Texans joined ADAPT members from around the nation in Washington DC last week for a powerful series of actions.  It was a great action!  Accomplishments include:

• raising funds in torrential rains at the FunRun,
• meeting with HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan and Estelle Richman Senior Advisor to the Deputy Secretary,
• major media coverage of our issues as actor Noah Wyle joined us,
• decrying devastating cuts proposed for Medicaid and calling out Congressman Paul Ryan,
• pushing Health and Human Services to finally publish the regulations for the Community First Choice Option,
• decrying efforts to weaken the Americans with Disabilities Act,
• meeting with Dept of Labor Deputy Secretary Seth Harris regarding new rules for overtime and companionship direct care work,
• and giving testimony regarding the importance for people with disabilities of the Affordable Care Act at the Supreme Court steps.

For details and first hand accounts as well as photographs visit our Facebook page and that national ADAPT website www.adapt.org

The disability community turned out to see what the City Council and Mayoral Candidates would say regarding our issues, and the credible candidates were all there to be heard.  All three Mayoral candidates showed up (Lee Leffingwell, Brigid Shea and Clay Dafoe) as did both candidates for Place 2 (Laura Pressley & Mike Martinez)  and for Place 6 (Sheryl Cole & Shaun Ireland).  Four of the 7 Place 5 candidates attended (John Rubine, Tina Cannon, Bill Spelman and David Conley); only Duffy, Prudente and Chavez did NOT bother to show up.  Candidates were questioned about their ideas on sidewalk funding and accessible bus stops, various rail plans, utility rate hikes, lack of accessible taxicab service, access to parks and concessions within the parks.  The most hotly contested issue was supportive housing eating up all the funding for housing at or below 30% MFI (for folks with the lowest incomes — SSI being about 12% MFI and most attendants making about 18% MFI).  Understanding of this issue varied among the candidates but the incumbents were probably among those who understood the least what many in the audience were saying.  It was ”up close and personal” and as usual, never dull.  We have campaign literature here at the office if you want to pick some up and both Mike Martinez and Tina Cannon sent in written responses to a questionnaire sent out with the invitation to the Forum, and these are available too.

EVV Meeting was packed! photo: Joey Tate

Seventy five attendants, people with disabilities, family members and allies gathered for the ADAPT EVV (electronic visit verification) forum Monday night.  They came together to share information and ideas regarding DADS (Department of Aging and Disability Services) move to get all community attendants to electronically verify their hours with a for-profit monitoring company. A myriad of concerns were raised regarding specifics of the plans as well as the loss of consumer control of services.  As one attendant put it, “it’s like they are trying to institutionalize you at home!”  Everyone vowed this was just the beginning.  If you want to get involved contact Cathy Cranston.  Next step?  Come to a Forum DADS suddenly decided to hold this Saturday (see events for details.)