TIRED OF WAITING!  CRISIS IN TEXAS! ADAPT/PACT MEMBERS BEGIN VIGIL AT GOV’S MANSION

Posted on by

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

For More Information Contact: Josue Rodriguez, 915.449.3834,josue.adapt@yahoo.com

     Cathy Cranston, 512.650.6543, flacacata@aol.com

TIRED OF WAITING!  CRISIS IN TEXAS!

ADAPT/PACT MEMBERS BEGIN VIGIL AT GOV’S MANSION

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 to the 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

Story in the Statesman click here. Lots of great pictures and more

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/disability-rights-advocates-demand-meeting-with-texas-gov-abbott/ss-BB1mrpUL

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.

8 YEARS IS TOO LONG TO WAIT….

Posted on by

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

Posted on by

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

Posted on by

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.

INTERNATIONAL WHEELCHAIR DAY IS FRIDAY MARCH 1st

Posted on by

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 wheelchair
great turnout in El Paso
Great turnout in Austin
Group 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.

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://kfoxtv.com/news/local/el-pasoans-celebrate-international-wheelchair-day-highlighting-its-history-and-impact-judge-marquez-public-library-disabled-differently-abled-community-inclusive-texas-el-paso

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

Posted on by

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

MSN

yahoo News

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.

Posted on by

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.

Anyone can be a Santa Clone! As this little dog shows, you don’t even need to be human. Below Nancy Crowther gets in the spirit of the season in her Santa shirt.

International Day of People With Disabilities

Posted on by

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

International Day of People With Disabilities

World Health Organization

Disabled Peoples’ International

ATTENTION ALL ATTENDANTS: PACT IS BACK!

Posted on by

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