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!
