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
WHERE’S Gov. Abbott?
8 YEARS IS TOO LONG TO WAIT….
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.
TAKE BACK OUR DISABILITY RIGHTS DAY 2024
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!
National Caregivers Day — Friday February 16, 2024
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.
INTERNATIONAL WHEELCHAIR DAY IS FRIDAY MARCH 1st
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!
ADAPT’s 10 foot wheelchair in yellow and blue sits in front of our building.
WHERE: ADAPT of Texas – 1100 south IH 35 – Austin
Why: Learn THE history of the wheelchair
https://blog.sciencemuseum.org.uk/history-of-the-wheelchair/
Desert ADAPT had great coverage of their event!
https://www.ktsm.com/news/el-paso-adapt-pact-celebrate-international-wheelchair-day/amp/
*Have picture taken in front of the world’s largest wheelchair
*Be part of an advocacy strategy for better wheelchair repair, purchase etc.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdjEuAKQd9cYlLb7R8-AyWZWyf_NTRtsHPUSq5pMD7hWYSUkA/viewform
MOBILITY DEVICEShttps://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdjEuAKQd9cYlLb7R8-AyWZWyf_NTRtsHPUSq5pMD7hWYSUkA/viewform SURVEY
| SCAN HERE |
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
NATIONAL CAREGIVERS DAYTELL GOV ABBOTT ATTENDANTS NEED BETTER PAY
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
Austin American Statesman Bridget Grummet
in Ei Paso Desert ADAPT held their event in concert with us!!
KFOX 14
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%), 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
SANTA CLONES ARE AT IT AGAIN! Come by and join the fun, we’ll be here till the 23rd of December.
Armadillo Christmas Bazaar 900 Barton Springs Rd, Austin, TX 78704
Live Music, great gifts, art and more…
Renee, Rita and Nancy are this year’s first group to person the decorated ADAPT Santa Clone table. With candy, toys, a petition and ways to donate, you can find it all.
International Day of People With Disabilities
This Sunday December 3rd is the International Day of People with Disabilities, IDPD, so celebrate! Go out and be seen. Be proud and let others know you embrace your disability and being part of the disability community worldwide. This day doesn’t get much attention here in the US, but in many other countries it is a big deal. The IDPD and the World Health Organization have lots more info if you are interested. Click here IDPD and here WHO for more on what they are doing. From Sweden to Kenya, from Australia to South Korea, from Ecuador to Japan, from Nigeria to Taiwan, from Trinidad and Tobago to Sierra Leon, from Fiji to the UK people with disabilities are striving for better circumstances for our people and doing amazing things. The struggle and the goals are different in different places, but we people with disabilities know we have the right to equality and quality of life. Folks from many of these countries have visited and corresponded with ADAPT over the years.
IDPD was
ATTENTION ALL ATTENDANTS: PACT IS BACK!
Come join (or rejoin) PACT the Personal Attendant Coalition of Texas
Tuesday 11/14 At ADAPT 1100 S IH 35 at 6:00pm
Come and break bread with fellow workers in the community. Food and drinks provided in a relaxed atmosphere to rest, meet and talk about issues in your field.
What issues? work on a bill of rights, higher wages, benefits, recruitment and retention and any OTHER ideas you may want to bring up.
Contacts: Cathy Cranston flacacata@com & Nancy Crowther ncrowther21@gmail.com 512-442-0252
Sick of doctors and medical types discriminating?
NOW is your chance to push back! The federal Dept of Health and Human Services has published proposed 504 regulations for medical treatment, use of value assessments, web and related access, medical equipment, health care programs and activities, and more. It talks about organ transplants, parents with disabilities, futile care, pregnancy and all around medical treatment. This is for folks who get funding through HHS, but that’s TONS of places.
If you couldn’t get on an exam table, never get physical exams, can’t get a mammogram or a scan because the equipment is not accessible, it’s time for you to speak up.
Comments need to be submitted by November 13, 2023.
The rules are long because they cover a lot. But don’t be intimidated because you only need to look at/and or comment on the parts you want. If they left something out you can comment on that too.
This has the potential to change all the crap you have had to put up with for decades! So don’t let this chance slip by.
For the HHS FACT SHEET on the proposed rules click here. It explains what they are about and a little background. It also has a link to where you can comment online as well as how to comment other ways.