Why Join the DPC?

The Texas Disability Policy Consortium (DPC) is a group of statewide advocacy organizations working for fair and equitable public policy for Texans with disabilities. The Consortium is an independent group of statewide advocacy organizations that strives to achieve the development and full implementation of public policy that promotes and supports the rights, inclusion, integration, and independence of Texans with disabilities. The DPC is a vehicle for advocacy organizations to unite their voices on important issues.

The Consortium began in December of 1990. The Consortium’s goal is to maintain an effective cross-disability organization advocating for high-quality, accessible services and supports which lead to optimal wellness and independence for persons with disabilities. Meeting regularly twice each month, DPC is unique in that it provides an ongoing forum for discussion of disability issues in Texas. Few other states have similar organizations which work collaboratively and address such a broad range of issues.

The DPC allows to network, share information and expertise. You have a lot of people on the DPC that are very influential in Texas politics and are invited to the table with groups that some of the other organizations are not privy to so we always spend a good part of our meeting going over what someone heard, what someone has been working on, things like that.

The DPC is also beneficial for a lot of the smaller organizations that do not have the resources that others have. For example UCP and ADAPT joined for the listserve that we operate, the access to legislative tracking account that we provide and also for the policy analysis. Many of the organizations focus on one topic area, like ADAPT may have policy analysts on transportation and access but can not afford one on housing which is just as important to them. The DPC allows organizations to use the expertise of others and have analysis on every piece of legislation and issue that is affecting them.

During Legislative Sessions various DPC members will be called to testify before committee hearings. This enables various members to educate the legislator on pending legislation and it will affect the disability community. Some of the recent accomplishments (78 th Legislative Session) include a plan to reduce and/or eliminate the waiting list for community-based services over a 20-year period, which is a good beginning. The development of a Medicaid Buy-In in Texas will occur over this biennium. Money Follows the Person for individuals residing in nursing homes, is now a permanent statute. In terms of voting rights for people with disabilities, there was progress in the notification process to individuals if their rights to vote were terminated due to the initiation of a guardianship order. The Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) was mandated to work across health and human service agencies, as well as juvenile justice agencies and TEA, to develop common definitions, common reporting requirements and best practices related to the use of emergency behavioral interventions