Monthly Archives: April 2017

DEATH OF COMMUNITY ATTENDANT SERVICES!

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The 85th Texas Legislature Conference Committee is making decisions about the lives of people with disabilities and the community attendants that assist them in living independently.  Neither the House nor the Senate budget addresses the issues below.  Please call the telephone numbers below and tell them to fund:               

  1. FIND FUNDING TO RAISE COMMUNITY ATTENDANT WAGES FROM $8 TO $13;
  2. RESTORE $5 MILLION FOR RELOCATION SERVICES;
  3. RESTORE $10 MILLION IN-HOME FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES
  4. RESTORE FUNDING TO REDUCE WAITING LISTS FOR STARPLUS and ALL 1915C WAIVERS

BUDGET CONFERENCE COMMITTEE MEMBERS

  1. Senator Hinojosa  512.463.0120       McAllen, Texas      District: 956.972.1841
  2. Senator Huffman  512.463.0117    Houston, Texas         District: 281.980.3500
  3. Senator Kolkhorst  512.463.0118      Brenham, Texas    District:  979.251.7888
  4. Senator  Nelson   512.463.0112      Grapevine, Texas     District:  817.424.3446
  5. Senator Schwertner   512.463.0105    Bryan, Texas     District:  979.776.0222
  6. Rep. Ashby   512.463.0508               Lufkin, Texas        District:   936.634.2762
  7. Rep. Davis   512.463.0389              Houston, Texas    District:  713.664.7095
  8. Rep. Gonzales  512.463.0670        Round Rock, Texas    District: 512.248.2558
  9. Rep. Longoria   512.463.0645        Penitas, Texas     District:  956.580.6944
  10. Rep. Zerwas    512.463.0657            Katy, Texas       District:  888.827.1560

Thank you for taking action to FREE OUR PEOPLE!

 

 

 

 

                           

 

 

Update on RESPECT and MORE Rally for Community Attendants

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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

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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.