TAKE BACK OUR DISABILITY RIGHTS DAY 2024

On March 15th ADAPT of Texas and Personal Attendant Coalition of Texas Members marched forward to the Texas Health and Human Services Commission to speak with Executive Commissioner Cecile Young. This was part of a national push on the National Day of Take Back Our Disability Rights to shed light and demand urgent action to be taken to meet the policy needs of people with disabilities and the community attendants that assist them to live independently.

25 years after the Supreme Court’s Olmstead Decision, which states it is a person with a disability’s civil right to live in the most integrated setting, unfortunately, there continues to be unjust discrimination against persons with disabilities.

People are still being:

  • Institutionalized or re-institutionalized due to inadequate community attendants wages and workforce,
  • Accessible, affordable, integrated housing, and Home and Community Based Services are woefully under-funded and,
  • There is virtually non-existent funding and service/delivery of Durable Medical Equipment (DME).

While there is plenty of funding and services provided in institutions, the same is not true of the community based services.

The ADAPT/PACTers rolled up to the HHS building creating a semi-circle and proceeded to chant, “WHO DO WE WANT? CECILE YOUNG! WHEN DO WE WANT HER? NOW!” Chanting continued and then we held the press conference as planned.  Afterwards, we all lined up single file and rolled/walked into HHS.  Once we all got in, we rolled through the lobby to the far end of the HHSC sign on the wall. The security began to scramble.  While Ron Cranston was talking to one of the security officers, Nancy Crowther was telling the other security officer who and what we needed.  This officer did not know who we are and the power we have.  She kept telling us, “But mam, this is not a public building you cannot be here, you must go outside……”  Nonetheless, we persisted through calling, emailing, storytelling until who should appear but two of Young’s top staff, the Chief Finance Officer and Director of Policy.  They listened to our life experiences of neglect from the state and from HHS. We gave them some year-plus-old broken wheelchair parts still waiting for repair.  They finally committed to setting up the meeting with Executive Commissioner Young.  Great job ADAPT/PACT.  We left chanting “Free Our People! and El Pueblo Unido Jamas Sera Vencido!”

Afterwards, we left for a late lunch celebration and to continue another day to fight for our disability and worker rights.

Free Our People!  Community Attendants Equal Independence!

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH WITH HHSC

Disgusted with Texas’ Health and Human Services Commission’s lack of interest in the attendants who are the back bone of long term services and supports, PACT and ADAPT members took action on October 22.


Since previous communication had been ignored, the group took along a giant letter listing our concerns. HHSC, we had learned, had never bothered to bring up the need for higher wages for community attendants during the special sessions this summer. We already knew they hadn’t included anything about better wages during the regular legislative session, not even putting it in their exceptional items in their budget request.

During the summer, when states were submitting requests to the federal Health and Human Services Dept. for pandemic related funds, Texas had not put in a mention of attendants, and had purposefully avoided getting input from the public – something the feds had recommended but not required. Members of their Direct Services Workforce Group, which was alegedly set up to advise on such matters, were not even asked for advice. Over half the members including all the consumer group representatives and some providers were so disgusted with HHSC’s lack of interest in the issue they resigned en masse in August.

We also brought a giant syringe (designed and made by the creative Eli R.C.) to show the need for better COVID protections for community attendants. All through the pandemic PACT and ADAPT have been mailing out masks to attendants and folks who use attendant services; we arranged a mask and sanitizer give away with Austin Public Health for attendants and attendant service agencies; we arranged for vaccines for attendants and those who use these services along with Austin Public Health and the Housing Authority of the City of Austin. HHSC seems to have done absolutely nothing for these direct care workers who provided these critical services, basically at their own risk, for over a year.


Unbeknownst to us, HHSC had snuck across the street from their old location, but we quickly regrouped and tracked them down. We took over the lobby of their fancy new offices and the Executive Commissioner Cecile Young, too chicken to come down herself, sent a staffer who after listening finally agreed to set up a meeting with Ms. Young.

Security escorted us out of the building once we were done, tsk tsking us as went. But shortly thereafter, as we were debriefing outside, one security woman came out to thank us as she works as an attendant in a group home for her other job and completely agreed with everything we said.

We will be meeting with Executive Commissioner very soon!

Update on RESPECT and MORE Rally for Community Attendants

On March 8, 2017 over 100 people attended the RESPECT and MORE Rally/legislative briefing. Advocates, attendants, people with disabilities, representation of Texas Independent Living Centers and many other organizations were present. We had a great time at the luncheon even though the plight of the attendant is very serious.

National disability rights attorney Steve Gold addressed the group and a video “An Indecent Arrangement: Texas Attendant Services” was seen. Mark C. spoke about his inabilities to find an attendant that led to three hospitalizations and rehabilitation due to a pressure sore. These are real lives, real people that are dealing with this issue daily. Texas’ State Legislators continue neglecting the need in addressing the difficulty in recruiting and retaining Community Attendants. With competition from stores like Buc-ees and Dairy Queen (who start their employees at $12/per hour), the Medicaid and state funded home and community based attendant programs (which start and often keep attendants at $8/per hour)  can’t meet the needs of Texans that rely on attendant services.

After the luncheon/briefing, we marched over to the Capitol for a brief rally and then legislative visits.  The group delivered copies of petitions signed by thousands of Texans who support a $13/hour base wage for the Community Attendants.

 

All Night Vigil for the Death of Disability Rights

we are here at 11th and Congress in downtown Austin for an all night vigil. The state budget bills have ignored the call to raise attendant wages from $8 an hour to $13. Despite the fact fast food workers grocery baggers and gas station workers make more Texas thinks it’s unnecessary to raise the wages of these critical workers.  To see a video on this issue click here

The state is completely defunding the relocation services that help people in nursing homes move back into their own homes.

The state is also completely defunding In-Home and Family Support program, on of the most cost effective ones we have.  People on that program will just be out of luck.

The state is doing nothing about the over 100,000 people on waiting lists for community services.  Some of these folks have been waiting over a decade and now can just wait 2 more years.

We have folks here from El Paso, Austin, Kileen, Conroe, Corpus Christi and the Valley.  IMG_2579

Earlier we held a funeral in the Rotunda of the Capitol and a funeral march through the first floor.

 

PACT 6th ANNUAL ATTENDANT APPRECIATION BBQ & PARTY

Please join the Personal Attendant Coalition of Texas (PACT) to recognize your work with persons with disabilities in our community.

Community Attendants  Equal Independence   Nominate someone today!

WHAT:  BBQ, Music by “J and J”  and gifts for attendants

WHEN:    Saturday October 15, 2016  4-6pm

WHERE:  Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, 1206 E. 9th  (Metro Bus Route 2 )

 *IMPORTANT*:     RSVP  At ADAPT/PACT: 512-442-0252 to register for this free event.

2016_pact_bbq_press_release

 PACT 6th BBQ Anual de APRECIACION DE ASISTENTES PERSONALES

Únase a la Coalición de Asistentes Personales de Texas – PACT – para reconocer su trabajo con personas en nuestra comunidad.

QUÉ:         BBQ, Música de “J and J”,  Regalos de Asistentes Personales 

CUÁNDO:   sábado, 15 de octobre  4-6pm

DÓNDE:    Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, 1206 E. 9th Street

Rutas de Autobús:    #2

IMPORTANTE:  RSVP antes de 15 de octobre  En ADAPT / PACT: 512-442-0252  para registrarse. Gratis!