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.
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, integratedhousing, 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!
It is a day where we honor the contributions of paid and unpaid caregivers also known as Direct Support Professionals and Community Attendants. These individuals provide support services to people with disabilities and older Americans that allow them to live in the community, Age in Place with dignity and as independently as possible.
On Friday, February 16th at 11:45am members of ADAPT/PACT delivered a 3ft X 4ft letter to Governor Abbott at the Colorado side of the Governor’s mansion. The letter demands that Governor Abbott:
***Prioritize and Publicly Support Necessary Appropriations to meet a Livable Wage and Benefits for Community Attendants who Contribute to our Independence in the Community;
demands
***Meet with Members of ADAPT/PACT
“Why won’t you meet with us, Governor Abbott, on this critical issue?” asks Cathy Cranston, PACT Organizer. “We demand RESPECT and wages and benefits that reflect the work we do.”
BACKGROUND
Current base wage for home and community based services (HCBS) is $10.60 per hour, no health benefits or vacation;
There are approximately 300,000 Community Attendants;
Majority are female (88%), persons of color (76%), median age 50
Texans who use long term care are in increasing crisis over the diminishing number of available community attendants, as attendants leave the profession for jobs that pay a livable wage.
ADAPT group marching on the Governor’s Mansion, led by Nancy Crowther. The giant letter to Abbott from ADAPT and PACT
ADAPT and PACT members demand Abbott deal with attendant crisis, raise wages.
FRIDAY, MARCH 1st 11am – 2pm ADAPT of Texas and Desert ADAPT held events celebrating International Wheelchair Day. Turn out was great! In Austin there was food, music and tales of wheelchairs. Desert ADAPT held a celebration with a beautiful cake and even got some media coverage for this auspicious day! In Austin folks got their pictures taken with the worlds largest wheelchair!
El Paso’s display with screen, wheelchair and other signs and items Josue leads group in history of wheelchairgreat turnout in El PasoGreat turnout in AustinGroup in front of big wheelchair Robin Hoffpauir in front of big wheelchair
ADAPT’s 10 foot wheelchair in yellow and blue sits in front of our building.
Have you been having difficulties in getting or repairing durable medical equipment? Please take a few minutes to fill out this short survey? http://tinyurl.com/2eyx7zav
Únete a nosotros
VIERNES 1 DE MARZO
11 a. m. – 2 p. m.
Día internacional de la silla de ruedas 2024
DÓNDE: ADAPT de Texas – 1100 sur ih 35 – austin
Por qué: aprenda LA historia de la silla de ruedas
*TOmate una foto frente a la silla de ruedas más grande del mundo.
*Sé parte de una estrategia de incidencia para
Mejor reparación, compra, etc. de sillas de ruedas.
*Se proporcionan alimentos y bebidas. POR FAVOR, confirme su asistencia: rOBIN 512-770-5787 ROBINHOFFPAUIR@GMAIL.COM
ENCUESTA DE DISPOSITIVOS DE MOVILIDAD
ESCANEAR AQUI
a picture of Desert ADAPT’s cake with a picture of the giant wheelchair and happy International Wheelchair Day written on it.
¿Ha tenido dificultades para conseguir o reparar equipos médicos duraderos? ¿Tómese unos minutos para completar esta breve encuesta? http://tinyurl.com/2eyx7zav
Finally this issue got some attention, thanks to PACT, Desert ADAPT and ADAPT of Texas!
ADAPT/Personal Attendant Coalition of TexasCelebrate National Caregivers Day – Challenged Governor Abbott to Support Community Attendants
Friday, February 16, 2024 is National Caregivers Day. It is a day where we honor the contributions of unpaid and paid caregivers, also known as Direct Support Professionals and Community Attendants. These individuals provide the support services to people with disabilities and older Americansu that allow them to live in the community, Age in Place with dignity and as independently as possible.
On Friday, February 16th at 11:45am members of ADAPT/PACT delivered a 3ft X 4ft letter to Governor Abbott at the Colorado side of the Governor’s mansion. The letter demands that Governor Abbott:
***Prioritize and Publicly Support Necessary Appropriations to meet a Livable Wage and Benefits for Community Attendants who Contribute to our Independence in the Community;
***Meet with Members of ADAPT/PACT
“Why won’t you meet with us, Governor Abbott, on this critical issue?” asked Cathy Cranston, PACT Organizer. “We demand RESPECT and wages and benefits that reflect the work we do.” KVUE STORY
Current base wage for home and community based services(HCBS) is $10.60 per hour, no health benefits or vacation;
There are approximately 300,000 Community Attendants;
Majority are female (88%), persons of color (76%), medianage 50
————-letter to Gov
February 16, 2024 Dear Governor Abbott, Today is Feb 16th National Caregiver Day. This day has been set aside to honor the workers that provide people with disabilities of all ages the essentials from personal care, feeding, cognitive assistance and giving emotional support. In our community, we call these caregivers Community Attendants or Direct Support Professionals. ADAPT of Texas and Personal Attendant Coalition of Texas (PACT) represent the approximately 300,000 Community Attendants that work within our state and Medicaid funded home and community-based service delivery system. Through the years, you have consistently failed to make this population of health support professionals a priority, however, HCBS programs remain a priority of the disability and aging population. The need for HCBS and a strong and well-paid Community Attendant Workforce with benefits is essential for services to be provided. $10.60/hr.,increase that it is, does not cut it. Due to your inattention, we now have a crisisnwhere individuals and agencies cannot fund workers, so services are in real jeopardy. We have not seen you come out to support Community Attendants even after outcries from the disability advocates and activists. You have chosen to spend 8 billion dollars on razor wire and floatation devices rather than on health and human service programs like wages and benefits for Community Attendants. Economic independence and HCBS programs are integral to our community. You of all Governors should understand that. We want you to do the following: > Meet with members of ADAPT of Texas and PACT. > Prioritize and publicly support necessary appropriations to meet a livable wage and benefits for the Community Attendants who contribute to our independence in the community. We look for your reply from you no later than March 31, 2024. Community Attendants Equal Independence! Free Our People! The ADAPT of Texas/PACT Community Cathy Cranston, flacacata@aol.com, 512.650.6543 Nancy Crowther, ncrowther@gmail.com, 512.808.7486
