Justin Dart said once:

 “Vote as if your life depended on it, because it does!”

Of course he was right, and no more than now.  Tomorrow, July 10th, is the last day of early voting and the regular election day is next Tuesday July 14.  We went today and it was spacious, uncrowded, and very safe!  

Polling sites are in different locations than usual so go to the Travis County Election site to see a personal (to you) sample ballot and early voting and election day polling locations.  

Want to know what the Democrats in the Run off for the Texas United States Senate seat are saying about disability issues?  Go to the REV UP site and you can see their responses to a candidates’ survey on these issues and an interview with State Senator Royce West.  MJ Heger answered the survey but didn’t do the in-person interview. Their answers are very enlightening. Senator Cornyn, the incumbent Republican will be requested to respond again (he has so far failed to answer the three requests sent so far) and if he does, that will go up with the Democratic winner for the fall election Nov 3rd.

If you have any problems at the polls or with your mail in ballot: 

ELECTION PROTECTION HOTLINES

• ENGLISH 866-OUR-VOTE 866-867-8683
• SPANISH 888-VE-Y-VOTA 888-839-8682
• ASIAN LANGUAGES 888-API-VOTE 888-274-8683
• ARABIC 844-YALLA-US 844-925-5287

Disability Rights Texas (DRTx)Voting Information Hotline – 1-888-796-VOTE (8683)

Protesters at the Independence Day protest of the Life Worthy of Life, Disabled Not Disposable, Justice for Michael Hickson vigil.

JUSTICE FOR MICHAEL; BLACK DISABLED LIVES MATTER

On the evening of July 4th, Independence Day, ADAPT of Texas, Not Dead Yet, Democratic Socialist of America, DSA and other activists joined forces on the side of the Rte. 71 (West Ben White Blvd) access road in front of St David’s South Austin Hospital to protest against rationing the lives of people with disabilities.  Wearing masks and keeping the 6 foot social distance protesters stood with signs and called for fair treatment of disabled people who get COVID-19.  

Nicky Boyte and Sophia Donnelly, organizers of the event, called for Justice for Michael Hickson, and a recognition that folks with disabilities have #lives worthy of living. The group was also calling for Charles Laird, CEO of St David’s South Austin, to meet and to amend their triage policies to be more just toward people with disabilities.

A doctor who treated Michael Hickson told his wife Michelle that the decision not to treat Michael was because of his disability. Michelle has a recording of this conversation.  The hospital Chief Medical Officer says this was not the reason. 

Demands for the vigil/protest against St David’s South Hospital where Michael Hickson was deemed unworthy of trying to save because of his disability.

After a couple of hours by the access road, protesters marched to the front of the hospital and sent in their demands. After, they shared their stories and feelings and wrote wishes on special paper that once lit, vaporized (to be environmentally friendly.)

Vigil protesters made a circle in front of the hospital and lit candles for Michael and people with disabilities with COVID 19.

The group numbered about 50 people and the passion was clear.  Some folks were quite vulnerable to respiratory issues but felt they must add their voices – in person – to the message.  Others were young activists who came to the issue from the Black Lives Matter activism, but clearly understood the disabled lives matter aspect too.

Advocates are thinking about next steps. 

See related post below of earlier protest. Check out the ADAPT of Texas Facebook page for more photos and videos of the vigil. 

Read Mike Ervin’s Shut Down the Death Traps, his take on Our Homes Not Nursing Homes 

ADAPT of Texas and PACT are working hard to get masks for attendants, and gloves too.  If you need masks for your attendant just call the office and leave a message with the name and address and that you are calling about masks for attendants.  We mail out packets every few weeks.  Thanks for Centene, the City of Austin and their partners for supplies we have found so far. It’s not an infinite amount, so please just call if you need them.  BUT if you need them, call.  

Believe it or not, not all attendant service agencies provide masks for the attendants, or they give them one mask for a week. 

Desert ADAPT and PACT, who got supplies thanks to Amerigroup is also sending out masks.  Here is their set up ready for mailing!

Supplies for attendants as El Paso PACT gets ready to distribute! Photo by Kika Grajeda

   Believe it or not #2 — the Governor and HHSC refuse to talk with ADAPT or do anything about making sure their essential workers, attendants, have PPE like masks and gloves.  Please add your message to the Governor that we need PPE for our attendants and the folks they assist!  Send a glove or a picture of your bare hands with your message.

Here is a sample (thanks to Nancy Crowther for the sample letter, and cute hands!)

Send a letter with your handy message to Governor Abbott

Protest today (6/28/20) at St David’s South Austin Medical Center where quadriplegic was refused medical treatment for COVID 19.

Nicky, Ron, Jeff and Cathy (not in picture) protest for ADAPT of Texas, the death of Michael Hickson.

Michael Hickson was a quadriplegic with a brain injury who was refused treatment for COVID 19 that he acquired in a local nursing home.  Mr Hickson died on 6-11-20.  ADAPT of Texas has long been concerned about the devaluation and resulting lack of care for people with disabilities, especially in this pandemic.  As cases rise in Austin and hospitals fill, the threat grows greater.  More just triage plans are available and being used elsewhere, but will Austin in general, and St David’s South Austin Medical Center in particular care enough to do anything about this?   

Our hearts go out to Mr Hickon’s family, who were apparently left out of the decision.  

ADAPT has long battled against Texas’ draconian laws regarding end of life decisions and their disregard for people with disabilities and their families.  People with disabilities and their families know best.

#disabilitylivesmatter

#blackdisabledlivesmatter

#lifeworthyoflife

           Please forward this information so others can take action too. Lots of different kinds of things you can do here!

Electronic Visit Verification

Tell Senator Cruz and Senator Cornyn to support S. 3740 

S. 3740 is the COVID-19 Recovery for Seniors and People with Disabilities Act

This bill will “delay the implementation of the Electronic Visit Verification requirement until 6 months after the end of the national public health emergency in order to eliminate barriers to care in the home and keep people out of congregate settings.”

We all know that people with disabilities and Seniors are dying in the institutions due to the corona virus.  Tell them to help our people.

Call and/or email:

Senator Cruz   Central Texas  512.916.5834 or   D.C. 202.224.5922

Click this link to email him: https://www.cruz.senate.gov/?p=form&id=16

Senator Cornyn   Austin  512.469.6034 or  D.C.  202.224.2934

Click this link to email him: https://www.cornyn.senate.gov/contact

Congress has a House and a Senate Bill addressing rental housing. 

The Emergency Rental Assistance and Rental Market Stabilization Act

S. 3685 and H.R. 6820 would put $100 billion into rental assistance.  The Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions Act 

(HEROES Act) H.R. 6800 has been passed by the House. The Senate needs to pass it now to address in-home services and safety. We need things from the Bill like the additional funding for Home and Community Based Services and hazard pay for Attendants. 

Please contact Senator Cornyn and Senator Cruz on this issue.  Their email and office phone numbers are at the bottom of #2.

#ADAPTANDSURVIVE

Congress is making decisions about our lives right now.

Congress must take action to support the lives of our community.  Send a message to Congress and the world why your life is not disposable during COVID-19 and worth saving.

Please do a one minute video and/or photo using the hashtags and messages below. 

Once completed please send your photo and/or video to Josue Rodriguez or Laura Halvorson for photo description and the video for captioning.  Below is their email info.

#DisabledNotDisposable

#LifeWorthyofLife

#ADAPTandSURVIVE

Community Attendants are #EssentialWorkers

Click on this National ADAPT link below if you want to view examples of videos made, like Latoya Maddox’s, ADAPTandSurvive video.

ADAPT DEMANDS Congress support our right to live in the community by funding home and community based services, supporting our Community Workforce, making personal protective equipment available, and ensuring we have affordable, accessible, integrated housing.

ADAPT has sent an Open Letter to Congress demanding action. We must ensure Congress pays attention and responds to our needs!

Post on social media, write an email, organize a car parade around your Congress members Offices! In any way you can, tell Congress: 

• Unnecessary institutionalization has been illegal since at least 1990.  Now the COVID pandemic has exposed further dangers of congregate living.  
• Forcing people into institutions is not only a violation of our rights, it is a DANGER to our safety, well-being, and our LIVES. 
• We need the services and supports that allow us to safely shelter-in-place in the community.
• Community services must be available to keep people from being institutionalized in congregate settings.
• Programs, services, and supports must be available to allow people to move back into the community to live in the most integrated setting. 
• Direct Service and Support Workers are essential to keeping us alive, safe and healthy. They deserve to be recognized and protected by receiving increased wages, overtime pay, hazard pay, and protective gear.
• The number one barrier to home and community living is lack of affordable, accessible, integrated housing. Housing must be developed.  The shortage of housing that is affordable, accessible and integrated is past the critical stage.  Likewise rental subsidies must be vastly increased. 

PPEs for PCAs (Attendants)  

Below is something we did in Austin. You are welcome to use it as a template to take action in you local area. 

Call and/or Email your City Council members about Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) Mask and Gloves

Contact your City Council Member and let them know you are an individual with a disability and work with a personal attendant and are in need of PPE  

Ask your attendant to call their city council member and ask for PPE also.

Tell them the home care agencies are not giving enough masks and gloves to your attendants and they are having to use the same one multiple times which is not a good way to keep the virus from spreading. 

Below is the list of Austin Council Members with their phone numbers to call. If you click on their name you can also send an email to the council member.  (If you live outside Austin just google your City Council or County Commissioners).

Askin’ For Maskin’ Campaign

Hello Texas ADAPTers,

Below is the “Dear Governor letter” campaign for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

Please take time to mail a clean glove, or drawn/traced hand to Gov Abbott. Include a message asking for a commitment for PPE for our Disabled Community and Attendants. Have fun and write your message on the glove.

I have attached the letter with the ADAPT/PACT logo. For those that have a printer you are welcomed to use the logos.

Hope you all are doing well.  Stay healthy. If you have any questions please feel free to call me.

Free Our People!
Community Attendants Equal Independence!
Cathy
512.650.6543

***

PACT Logo

Office of the Governor

P.O. Box 12428

Austin, Texas 78711-2428
 
(Include date)
 
Dear Governor Abbott,
Across Texas the number of cases of COVID-19 is growing. Yet, the needs of Personal Attendants and People with Disabilities in the community are being ignored.                                                                                                                                                                Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) are either difficult or impossible to find thus endangering our Community.

Governor Abbott, commit to providing PPE to essential community healthcare workers and the people with disabilities they work with and assist.
 
“We’re asking for masking.  If you love us, glove us!”
 
(Please add your signature here)

*******************************************

Thank you for taking action to assist our community! 

Free Our People!

Community Attendants Equal Independence!

Cathy Cranston

Due to the ongoing pandemic the offices of ADAPT of Texas will remain closed indefinitely.  We are working from home and do occasionally come in to get mail, check phone messages, etc.  We are also holding ADAPT & PACT Big Meetings virtually via zoom.  If you would like to attend please let us know via email or phone.

If you are at risk for contracting CORONAVIRUS (and really, who isn’t) we strongly suggest you practice social distancing, wear a mask, and wash your hands frequently.  If you do not have a mask let us know, along with a way to get in touch, and we will send you one, as long as our supplies last.  

This video by the Texas advocates covers the essentials of how to keep safe.  Click here to see it.

Despite the state and city being on stay at home status because of the Coronavirus pandemic, a small band of ADAPT and PACT (Personal Attendant Coalition of Texas) members broke the directives from the state of Texas and city of Austin on April 28th . Wearing masks and gloves and staying at least 6 feet apart, we marched from the Capitol grounds, across the street to the Governor’s mansion. We had kept the numbers small to ensure our folks safety as much as possible.

The mansion itself is now surrounded by fortifications to keep the public out. However there is a small street on one side that only has stanchions to keep us off the street and of course a 10 ft. spiked metal fence walls for the mansion grounds themselves.  We formed up at one end of the street for our press conference for which one station turned out.  

We went to the Governor’s mansion to call attention to a problem he and everyone else has been ignoring for months now – many if not most – community attendants are not being supplied with gloves or masks or other PPE. to deliver to Gov Abbott a list of resource needs that Community Attendants require to do their job. 

Everyone is focused on nursing homes which, as most ADAPT folks could easily predict would happen, are turning into death traps.  They definitely do need attention – for prevention rather than counting the dead – but an equally important issue is those receiving services in the community.  Here in Texas approximately 300,000 Community Attendants provide Home and Community Based Services, HCBS, to approximately 200,000 people with disabilities and older Texans.  

They are the backbone of the state’s home and community-based services and yet they are not even being given sufficient masks, gloves and other basic equipment to provide for the safety of those they are assisting, let alone for themselves. .  There is no paid sick leave for these workers, so they can choose between going to work sick or not getting paid.  They get no health care coverage for these jobs yet they are expected to risk their health, if not their lives. 

After a month of writing, calling and emailing Governor Abbott and HHSC Executive Commissioner Phil Wilson, among others, ADAPT/PACT has gotten no response. 

The COVID-19 emergency has caused a shortage of Community Attendants, on top of the already existing short supply of these critical workers.  Those that are staying with the job are often having to work longer hours, yet they are not being paid over time.

“We respected all state and city COVID 19 rules by staying 6ft from each other, wearing masks and gloves” said Julie McConnell PACT member, “ If attendants like me are expected to go to work every day without any protection, this is the least the state of Texas can do.” 

“Gov Abbott and HHSC have ignored our multiple communications about the crisis in Recruiting and Retaining Community Attendants” said Cathy Cranston ADAPT/PACT Organizer.  “Hopefully he will pay attention now”.

In addition to these issues, we have heard of instances in other states where people were threatened with lose of their own ventilators if they went to the hospital, their personal ventilators being taken from them for other patients.  Also there have been stories of people with disabilities being deemed less worthy of being saved because of their disabilities.  

“This systemic ableism is completely unacceptable and we do not want practices like this in other states being followed here” said ADAPT member Nicky Boyte.  “This ableism is what is causing the crisis in nursing homes and we do not want to see it repeated in the community.”

Folks who drove by honked in support.

After the press conference the group marched through a hole in the stanchions and lined up in front of the Mansion. However, though a state trooper asked if we had a permit, no one would carry our message inside. 

Listed below are the Community Attendant needs ADAPT/PACT wants Gov Abbott to support.  He can use funding from the CARES Act and/or his Budget Execution authority to use the Rainy Day fund:

1. Outreach for more community attendants to fill in the increased shortage because of the COVID-19 emergency.
2. Classify community attendants as essential health care workers.
3. Make sure community attendants get adequate PPEs like gloves, masks and gowns.
4. Increase pay for Community Attendants including time and half for over time.
5. Pay for health care and sick leave.
6. Ensure you protect vent users, as well as all people with disabilities of any age, from any health care rationing based on their disability and/or age.
7. Suspend EVV, Electronic Visit Verification.
8. Meet with ADAPT/PACT.

This action was the first in a series of actions ADAPT/PACT will be doing to raise the issue out of the shadows and into the light.

For more information about PACT, click here.

To Our Austin-Travis County Community,

Austin Public Health has launched an online Enrollment Form for COVID-19 testing. The new public testing form will allow people to take an assessment to determine eligibility and schedule testing without a referral from a healthcare provider.

The enrollment form is available at AustinTexas.gov/COVID19.

To access the form, click on the “Take Self-Assessment” button to create an account and complete a questionnaire listing your symptoms. If you meet the criteria you will be referred to testing. Completion of the online assessment will not guarantee referral to testing.

Austin Public Health will continue to prioritize healthcare workers, first responders and people at higher risk for developing severe symptoms. Testing continues to be by appointment-only and tests at the APH testing sites are FREE.

At first, the enrollment form will be available in English and Spanish with additional languages coming later.

 COVID-19 Information:

How the Online Form Works:

• Individuals must create an account at AustinTexas.gov/COVID19.
• The form asks several questions to determine the patient’s eligibility for a test. A person can fill out the form for someone who cannot do it themselves. This information is HIPAA-protected.
• If an individual is approved for a test, the portal will allow them to schedule the location, date and time for their drive-through testing appointment. Patients will only be seen in a vehicle.**
• The patient will receive a confirmation via phone, email or text with a QR code and instructions for the testing site within the same day. They will need to present an ID or the confirmation at testing.
• If the patient does not meet testing criteria, they will be able to complete the form at any time to try again (e.g. if their symptoms change the following days).
• Results will be available online in 3-4 days.

Those Who Have Difficulty Accessing or Completing the Form:

• Have another trusted person fill out the form.
• Those who do not have computer or internet access can call the nursing hotline at 512-972-5560 for assistance.

** Those Who Don’t Have Transportation:

• The public testing sites are set up for drive-through only. People without access to personal transportation should contact the nursing hotline at 512-972-5560 for assistance.

Additional Resources for Testing from Community Partners:

• CommUnityCare has additional testing resources in eastern Travis County. You can call their hotline at 512-978-8775. 9am to 12, 1pm to 4 pm Monday & Friday Barbara Jordan Elementary, Tuesday ACHOA 3801 Austin Colony Blvd. Wednesday Manor Senior High; Thursday Southeast Metro park. They will only test people with symptoms or if you’ve been in close contact with someone with the virus.  Testing is free for the uninsured, if you’re insured the company will be billed.  Walk up testing available.  

Please share with others. Thank you for your support and cooperation.

-Austin Public Health

The Coronavirus. Picture from the CDC (Centers for Disease Control).This site has LOTS of local info, including a map you can look by zip code.  

• AustinTexas.gov/COVID19.

The US Senate REALLY needs to hear from disability folks about including Sen Casey’s Coronavirus Relief for Seniors and People with Disabilities Act. Here is the Facebook text and the email tool from Access Living:

SHARE!!! URGENT ACTION ALERT! The US Senate is working RIGHT NOW on the COVID-19 stimulus package. It is really, really important that YOU contact your US Senators to let them know that we need to have the items in Senator Bob Casey’s Coronavirus Relief for Seniors and People with Disabilities Act, whether as part of the main bill or its own bill, either way. Please USE this action alert below and help get your friends and families to do it ASAP. A super huge thanks to the disability advocates who are working with the Senator and others (like Congresswoman Pressley) to fight for disability relief!

CLICK HERE TO SEND AN EMAIL TO YOUR SENATORS

UPDATE: That bill just passed.  This didn’t get into that bill, but contact them anyway to get it in a future bill, cause this won’t be the last one.

HERE’s Some More Details about the Bill:

Why do we need the Coronavirus Relief for Seniors and People with Disabilities Act?
More than 105 million Americans—or about 4 in 10 adults—are at heightened risk if infected with the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), including older adults, people with disabilities and those with underlying health conditions. The front-line workers and family caregivers who support these individuals also face increased risks, requiring additional resources and supports to protect their health and well-being.

What would the Coronavirus Relief for Seniors and People with Disabilities Act do? The bill will address critical health and economic needs for older adults, people with disabilities, front-line workers and family caregivers. Specifically, the bill would:

• Promote home and community-based services and protect home health workers: Through Medicaid grants to States, the bill would provide funding to ensure that seniors and people with disabilities who need care at home can receive it. States need these additional, new dollars to minimize waiting lists for home and community-based services and to provide wage increases as well as overtime pay and paid sick, medical and family leave to home health workers. [Right now in Texas home care workers/attendants are paid about $8.11 per hour, and are often not even given GLOVES, let alone masks — which keep everyone safer.]
• Increase funding for nursing home surveys to promote infection control: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has deployed its armament of state inspectors to assess nursing facilities’ infection control practices as COVID-19 continues to spread. Well before COVID-19, these essential activities were already operating at a deficit, as the Trump Administration requested a $44.8 million increase for health facility surveys and inspections in FY2021. Emergency funds are needed to support CMS and States as they work to save lives and mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in nursing homes.
• Cover the cost of treatment for low-income seniors and boost the economy: The bill would leverage existing low-income assistance programs for people with Medicare to ensure seniors and people with disabilities living on low, fixed incomes can afford the treatment they need if diagnosed with COVID-19. Individuals living on incomes at or below roughly $19,000 who have limited savings would be auto-enrolled in assistance to cover the cost of their Medicare Part B premiums and cost-sharing.
• The bill would also enhance economic stimulus by putting Medicare premium dollars back in beneficiaries’ pockets. Seniors and people with disabilities would keep about $145 per month, allowing them to buy needed essentials, like food and medicine.
• Make sure seniors and people with disabilities have healthy food and other services at home: The bill would provide increased, emergency funding for programs that allow seniors and people with disabilities to remain healthy and safe at home—where the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) urges they remain during the COVID19 outbreak. Funding would allow States and community-based providers to offer 3 meals a day, 7 days a week during the emergency; provide shelf-stable food to more seniors through the Senior Food Box program; provide respite care and other supports to family caregivers; support ombudsman programs that must transition to virtual services while nursing homes are locked down to limit the spread of COVID-19; and more.