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ADAPT of Texas disability rights group SearchHome Mission About Contact Us Support Us Photo Gallery PACT’s Community Attendant Project Useful Links Disability Voting Access is a Civil Right Post navigation ← Older posts TAKE BACK OUR DISABILITY RIGHTS DAY 2024 Posted on March 27, 2024 by stephanie On March 15 th 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! Posted in News | Tagged attendant , DME , Medicaid National Caregivers Day — Friday February 16, 2024 Posted on March 27, 2024 by stephanie 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 16 th 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. Posted in News INTERNATIONAL WHEELCHAIR DAY IS FRIDAY MARCH 1st Posted on February 26, 2024 by stephanie FRIDAY, MARCH 1 st 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 DEVICES https://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 Posted in News NATIONAL CAREGIVERS DAYTELL GOV ABBOTT ATTENDANTS NEED BETTER PAY Posted on February 16, 2024 by stephanie 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,...