A lawsuit was filed in Harris County to limit curbside voting for the current election.  ADAPT of Texas has joined other groups, including the Coalition of Texans with Disabilities, to oppose limiting curbside voting. Filing an amicus brief, the groups  point out this is blatant discrimination because it discriminates against people with disabilities.

Haven’t voted yet?  Plan your vote!  A live voting Q& A for Texas voters to get clarity on how to safely and independently cast your ballots for the November election.  This event will focus on voters with disabilities and issues of concern to us, including voting by mail, early voting, polling place accessibility, and how to report voting complaints.  Attendees can submit questions ahead of time to Rev Up TX

Or you can ask during the event via the comment section, or tag us on social media.

Thurs. October 15  1:00 to 2:00 pm CST /12:00 to 1:00 pm MT

It’s on Facebook: click here

You can also access the event live on Twitter: or    YouTube

The event is free and open to the public. ASL interpretation will be provided.  Closed caption video will be done through Facebook Live

Early in person voting starts Tuesday October 13, and runs through October 30th. Here in Travis County the locations will be open 7 am to 7 pm Monday through Saturday and noon to 6 pm on Sunday.  There are also 5 super centers that will be open till 9 pm Oct 28, 29 and 30.  Early in person voting has tended to be less crowded and smaller to no lines.

Voting by mail? Be sure to send your ballot back quickly to ensure it gets back in time to be counted.  If it’s getting later in the month you can also drop your ballot off (bring your ID) at a drop box in your county.  Also you can bring it to a polling place (with your ID).

www.VOTE411.org has all the info you will need on the right kinds of ID, sample ballots, polling locations, and more.  Rev Up Texas has great info too and questionnaires and interviews with the candidates that were willing to be interviewed.  They also have some great videos, captioned and audio described too. 

Click here for Informed Voter: 

 click here for Linda Mae Says Vote

The Center for Disability Studies at The University of Texas at Austin and Amerigroup is hosting the 2^nd annual Diversify Austin Job & Resource Fair on Wednesday 10/21/2020 11:00 am to 12:00 pm.  This event will be virtual and open to the public.  Join us for an exciting Zoom Panel where you will discover local resources and meet potential employers.  Please have the attendee register  To Register Click Here. 

Let’s Celebrate National Disability Awareness Month and explore your opportunities!

For ASL and captioning accommodations, please email tcdsut@gmail.com

Are you unable to leave your home to visit a COVID-19 test site? In-home testing is available for those considered high-risk of developing severe illness with COVID-19 without transportation, or who have a mobility impairment or other disabilities.  

To schedule free In Home test, call Austin Public Health at 512-972-5560 to schedule an appointment today.

Schedule a test if you can’t leave your home due to:

• Mobility impairments
• no transportation
• underlying health issues.

AustinTexas.gov/COVID19

ADAPT of Texas joined ADAPT folk from 30 other groups/city around the nation  Friday, October 2nd this afternoon to protest the Congress’ failure to include Home and Community Based Services in any of the CORONO Virus Relief packages.  Specifically we were protesting Senator Cornyn’s failure to support so far, so we went to his office (221 West 6th Street Austin) to demand Senator Cornyn support Health Care and  Home and Community Based Services for Texans with Disabilities.

You can watch the hearing on ADAPT National’s website.  

In addition, the night before ADAPT folks were outside the US Capitol in the pouring rain doing a vigil and Congress woman Cortez (AOC) stopped by to visit and posted this video of the group! 

ADAPT of Texas DEMANDS:

     SUPPORT THE COVID 19 SUPPORT PACKAGE (HERO’s Act) THAT INCLUDES: funding for HCBS, PPE’s, Community Attendants and housing supports;

     Make the MONEY FOLLOWS THE PERSON a Permanent Program;

     Support the Affordable Care Act and delay the Supreme Court appointment so the winner of the election can make the selection;

      Meet with ADAPT of Texas members to discuss the above demands.

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As part of our protest, we were joined in with other ADAPT folks from around the nation, including a delegation who traveled to Washington DC to carry our message in person.  We joined up via the internet, Zoom and Facebook for a People’s Hearing on

30 years after the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Disabled Americans who need long term services and supports continue to be forced into unwanted institutionalization where they are stripped of their personal liberties. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, institutionalized people have been on the front line of casualties with massive loss of life happening behind the walls of institutions.

Far from inevitable, these peoples’ deaths were completely avoidable. People living in their own homes and controlling the services and supports that come into their homes including who comes in and out of their homes, how the people coming into their homes conduct themselves, and what types of precautions they use, are living while people with the same level of disability in institutions die.

Congress has the power to keep people safe and move people out of harm’s way by supporting home and community based services. ADAPT Calls on the United States Senate to take up the House HEROES Act a deliver REAL RELIEF to our states and people who are all suffering under the weight of pandemic.

Supporting home and community based services as part of COVID-19 relief includes:

▪ Funding for personal protective equipment for people receiving services in their homes and communities and the people helping them remain in their own homes

• Funding for worker hazard, retention, and overtime pay.

▪ Help with funds to retain or obtain housing, including eviction and foreclosure protections and funds to stabilize markets and help people address payment concerns.

▪ Financial support for states so they can maintain and enhance community-based services, holding them harmless from the economic consequences associated with the pandemic.

Support for the Affordable Care Act, including Medicaid and Medicaid Expansion are critical to maintaining the health, well-being and community choice for hundreds of thousands of aging and disabled people. Any effort to erode support for the availability of health insurance coverage, including the Appointment of anti-ACA Justices to the Supreme Court, should be rebuffed.

Due to a recent court ruling there is a little more time to fill out the census.  Now you have until the end of October. Take advantage!  Fill it out.