Transit Forward held its monthly meeting at the ADAPT office in May. Their speaker panel, which included representatives from ADAPT, Capital Metro, a Project Connect architect, the City’s Housing Dept., and the Lighthouse for the Blind spoke on ways the upcoming plans for public transit intersected with their specific areas of expertise. Over 50 people attended and asked lots of questions.
After more then a full week worth of work within the space of two days ADAPT of Texas, Desert ADAPT and PACT obtained nothing more than a failed response from Governor Abbott.
The crisis for disabled people in Texas remains. Governor Abbott of all people should understand the urgency and necessity of home and community based attendant services, the need for a livable wage, $20/hr., and the need to have a reliable, well maintained wheelchair and other durable medical equipment.
His lack of willingness to meet with ADAPT/ PACT and address these issues is affecting more than 3.5 million disabled Texans and 320,000 attendants working in the community.
Despite Governor Abbott’s lack of willingness, to meet with ADAPT/ PACT to address these issues, we remain resolved to continue the fight.
“No puedo creer que después de vernos aquí durante días, nuestro gobernador se niegue a reunirse con ADAPT y PACT y continúe, escondiéndonos debajo de la alfombra”. – Socorro Escárcega, miembro de ADAPT/PACT del Desierto de El Paso.
[Translated into English]
“I cannot believe that after seeing us out here for days on end, our governor refuses to meet with ADAPT and PACT and continues, sweeping us under the rug.”- Socorro Escarcega, El Paso Desert ADAPT/PACT member.
The squeaky wheels on our broken chairs will not go away. Repairs are needed through the governor’s policy. Governor Abbott, we are ADAPT, we will be back and so you just need to meet with us”, said Lucy Torres.
ADAPT of Texas, Desert ADAPT and PACT members resting after the long vigil. They are sitting in a white room in front of a large sign that reads “Fighting for Texas Workers”.
Since 2016 Texas ADAPT/ PACT have been requesting a meeting with Governor Abbott to resolve
the issues that continue to be barriers for community living for thousands of Texans with disabilities.
Time and time again, our civil and human rights have been brushed under the rug.
Today, May 14, 2024, at 1PM Texas ADAPT and Personal Attendant Coalition of Texas (PACT)
will meet at 1010 Lavaca Street, across from the west side of the governor’s mansion. We are here to
call out Governor Abbott’s neglect and lack of making people with disabilities and their workforce a priority. Governor Abbott meet with Texas ADAPT Chapters and PACT.
Our lives are imperiled without attention to the growing deficit in the pay of the attendant workforce. Additionally, beyond the human suffering and death caused by his apathy, the governor has allowed
greater costs by requiring consumers and attendants to use emergency room visits and nursing home admissions to survive because of these inadequate wages to bolster recruitment and retention of the community workers. His bully pulpit has gone silent to the disaster that has developed over decades.
Abbott must meet with Texas ADAPT/ PACT and solve the problems affecting people with disabilities. Problems such as:
• A depleted home and community-based system.
• Low wages and benefits for community attendants.
• The inadequate system put in place to fix or obtain new Durable Medical Equipment.
As a person with a disability himself, one would assume that Governor Abbott would be responsive tothe struggles that people with disabilities go through. However, we know this is not the case with the Governor.
the heat was pounding as Ron got sprayed down with a misting bottle. Photo and sort by Jay Janner, Austin American Statesman
“Finding an attendant is nearly impossible,” said Ron Cranston, a consumer-directed services participant of a state-funded attendant program. “My attendant is overworked, underpaid and has no respite at this time. We need to meet with Governor Abbott without delay!” #WhereIsAbbott
DAY 2 by Cathy Cranston 25 members of ADAPT OF TX, DESERT ADAPT and PACT continued the wait to meet with ABBOTT outside the Gov. Mansion. They started yesterday kicking off a vigil in their plight to meet with ABBOTT. Gov. ABBOTT of all people should understand the urgency and necessity of home and community based attendant services, the need for a Livable Wage, $20/hr., and the need to have a reliable, well maintained wheelchair and other durable medical equipment.
Presently there are approximately 300,000 Community Attendants who work for Texas’
aging and disabled community.
Up to this point, ADAPT/PACT has yet to meet face to face with the Governor.
If you care about this issue call Gov. Abbott’s office at 512.463.200, 512.463.1828 and tell him to meet with ADAPT/PACT.
Picture of Gov Abbott in Where’s Waldo hat & shirt. This is for our campaign to get Gov Abbott to live up to his promise of meeting with ADAPT. You can call his office and tell them he should meet with ADAPT (512) 463-2000
flyer with ADAPT and PACT logos that reads “when will Governor Abbott meet with ADAPT of Texas and PACT?” Below is a picture of a skeleton sitting in a wheelchair with a clock for a real wheel. Peeking out from behind the chair Gov. Abbot is sticking his head out wearing where’s Waldo hat.
Desert ADAPT, ADAPT of Texas and PACT will be holding a press conference across Lavaca St from the the Governor’s mansion today at 1:00 pm to call on Governor Abbott to meet with ADAPT as he promised to do 8 years ago. This will be the kick off for a vigil to get Abbott to do the right thing and meet with us, as he promised to do over 8 yrs ago. Come join us!
Here is a gallery of several ADAPT folks holding up a frame in front of themselves with a big “Where’s Gov Abbott” logo with his face wearing a Waldo hat and top. Photos by Thor Armbruster
5 pm It’s been a brutally hot day but folks are doing well. And they are ready for tonight and tomorrow and… You can visit them at 1010 Lavaca, they’d love to see you. Some media has already been out and the group will be doing a live Facebook any time now. If you care about waiting lists, attendant wages, medical equipment repairs, expanding Medicaid, or community based services you should stop by. 8 years ago the Governor said he would meet with ADAPT but since then letters, calls, in person visits have all gone ignored. 8 years have worn ADAPT’s patience thin, especially since conditions just grow worse with time. All Abbott has to do is roll out his driveway — it’s not that hard.
