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IN THIS ISSUE:

• Early bird registration for the Texas Housing Summit ends March 19!
• Early voting for March 2nd primary! Vote! Vote! Vote!
• Medicaid Buy-In is a Great Option! Work More, Keep Your Benefits!
• Medicaid/CHIP Regional Advisory Committees
• New Long-Term Care Web Site Launches
• Health and Human Services Commission issues a hiring freeze and asked to cut their budget for FY 2011-2012 by 5%
• House, Senate Interim Charges Released
• Advocates call for State Schools Investigation
• DPC Welcomes Easter Seals Central Texas as our newest local member!
• The 2010 Annual State Independent Living (SILC) Conference
• ADAPT of Texas FUN*RUN for Disability Rights 2010
• Community Organizing Training

 

Early bird registration for the Texas Housing Summit ends March 19!

Early bird registration has begun, if you're planning to attend the Texas Housing and Transportation Summit. The Disability Policy Consortium (DPC) is partnering with the Texas State Affordable Housing Corporation, Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs, Texas Department of Transportation, Texas Citizens Fund, and Paratransit Education and Advocacy Collaborative - PEAC to stage its one of a kind housing and transportation summit. Workshops are designed to provide housing and transportation program information to individuals and organizations familiar with issues facing people with disabilities.

The summit will take place April 28-29 at the Hyatt Regency on Lady Bird Lake in downtown Austin. People with disabilities, legislators, policymakers, housing professionals and advocates will participate in the two-day event. For more information on the Texas Housing Summit, including registration, stipends and sponsorship opportunities, send an e-mail to summit@dpctexas.org or call the DPC office at 512-371-1783. On-line registration is currently available at the Texas Housing and Transportation Summit web site: http://ths.dpctexas.org.

 

Early voting for March 2nd primary! Vote! Vote! Vote!

As officials predict a record voter turnout for Texas' March 4th primary, thousands of voters are taking advantage of early voting, available Feb. 16th to 26th. If you want to avoid the long lines on Election Day, you might consider voting early, too. For more information about early voting, as well as a listing of early voting clerks in each county, go to the Texas Secretary of State's web site:
http://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/pamphlets/earlyvote.shtml

A full list of offices in the primary is at http://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/voter/2010officesup.shtml . Additional information about "What's on the Ballot," including information on candidates by party, is at http://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/voter/whatisontheballot.shtml .

Individuals with disabilities in Texas who need help registering to vote, have general questions about the voting process, or feel their rights have been violated can contact Advocacy, Inc. This protection and advocacy organization works to ensure that every person is able to cast an independent, private ballot in every election under the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) Program. This includes registering to vote, accessing polling places and voting. For more information or assistance, call Advocacy, Inc.'s toll-free Voter Assistance Hotline at 1-888-796-VOTE (1-888-796-8683) or visit their Web site at http://www.advocacyinc.org/voting.cfm.

 

Medicaid Buy-In is a Great Option!
Work More, Keep Your Benefits!

Few people are aware that in 2005, the State of Texas authorized Medicaid Buy-In, which modernized the employment services system for people with disabilities. As a result, Texans with disabilities are no longer forced to choose between taking a job and having health care. Medicaid Buy-In allows people of any age who have a disability and are working to receive Medicaid by paying a small monthly premium ($20-$40/month) based on earned income. The premiums for unearned income can be higher, depending on the amount of unearned income.

Why do we hear so little about Medicaid Buy-In? Texas just received the Medicaid Infrastructure Grant. One of the major objectives of this grant is to increase enrollment in the Medicaid Buy-In program for people with disabilities as they pursue or maintain employment. It is important that we help spread this great news to the community.

Now that we have incentive to move up the career ladder and pursue our dreams, what does Medicaid Buy-In require of us? To be eligible for the Medicaid Buy-In program you must have a disability (defined by Social Security Administration), a job (earned income), and must meet the financial eligibility requirements for the State of Texas. Those receiving waiver benefits like CBA, CLASS and HCS are not eligible. There are benefits to this program. For example, resources set aside as your Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS) won’t affect your eligibility.

It’s time to TAKE ACTION and find out the details. Go to the HHSC web site for information or email Elizabeth Gregowicz of DARS or Bridgette McEntire of HHSC.

 

Medicaid/CHIP Regional Advisory Committees

HHSC is accepting applications for membership to the Medicaid/CHIP Regional Advisory Committees for 12 areas across the state. Applications will be accepted through Feb. 26, 2010. Membership on the committee requires regular participation in committee meetings occurring four times per year. Committee members will not receive compensation for participation on the committee and will be responsible for their own travel expenses.

To apply, complete the application and send it to HHSC by Feb. 26. You may return completed applications by e-mail, fax or mail: E-mail: occ@hhsc.state.tx.us, Fax: (713) 767-3126, Mail: Dr. David Arlen, HHSC-Office of Community Collaboration, 5425 Polk Avenue, Suite 230-D, Houston, Texas 77023-1497.

 

New Long-Term Care Web Site Launches

HHSC and the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS) have produced a new one-stop web site for information about Medicaid long-term care. The site has information about different long-term care services available through Medicaid, the counties where those services are available and customer satisfaction reports on health plans providing services. http://www.dads.state.tx.us/ltss/

 

Health and Human Services Commission issues a hiring freeze and asked to cut their budget for FY 2011-2012 by 5%

Gov. Rick Perry, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and House Speaker Joe Straus have asked state agencies to submit plans to reduce their general revenue (state fund) budgets by five percent for the current biennium, which ends August 31, 2011. These plans are to be developed by February 15th. The health and human services agencies are asked to submit a unified plan.

In developing the plans, state agencies were told to minimize the impact on services, and some programs were exempted from any cuts. To view the full letter, go to the Office of the Governor.

Following the issue of the letter, the Health and Human Services Commission implemented an immediate hiring freeze and other personnel related cost saving actions. All HHS agencies are subject to hiring restrictions, guidelines, and procedures.

The DPC will continue to monitor this issue and will keep you posted of the Texas Action Update in future editions.

 

House, Senate Interim Charges Released

Between each Legislative Session, the Lieutenant Governor and Speaker of the House appoint "Interim Committees" to study key issues and research information that will help guide the legislature's decisions in the future. These committees hold hearings and obtain public input that affect the legislature's actions and outcomes during the next session.

House Speaker Joe Straus announced interim charges for the House of Representatives and Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst announced interim charges for the Senate. Hearings have already begun.

 

Advocates call for State Schools Investigation

The Texas Tribune ran an article that noted that Advocates for people with disabilities are asking the U.S. Justice Department to investigate state employees whose positions were terminated for horrific abuse, but never criminally prosecuted for it. For more details, read the whole article here.

DPC member, Community Now!, is filing a complaint with the Department of Justice Criminal Investigation Division, calling for immediate investigation and prosecution of these former state institution employees who have not been prosecuted for their crimes.

For more information, email communitynowfreedom@gmail.com.

 

DPC Welcomes Easter Seals Central Texas as our newest local member!

Since 1937, Easter Seals Central Texas (originally chartered as the Texas Society for Crippled Children), has been providing services to children and adults with disabilities and their caregivers. Easter Seals Central Texas Serves over 3,000 individuals in Central Texas with quality, person-centered support. Their services are organized into four areas of care that create successful outcomes for participants: Outpatient Medical Rehabilitation, Early Childhood Intervention (ECI), Workforce Development and Community and Housing Services.

For more information about Easter Seals of Central Texas, please visit their web site.

 

The 2010 Annual State Independent Living (SILC) Conference

The SILC’s Annual Conference is quickly approaching and the rallying call to action is for Texans to step into the next decade with a commitment to “Revitalize, Reorganize, and Rejuvenize" the Independent Living Movement in Texas. The conference will be held in Dallas March 7th – 9th at the Crown Plaza Suites and co-hosted with the REACH Resource Centers on Independent Living. Some of the agenda topics include nursing home relocation, ethics in the workplace, and how healthcare reform will impact individuals with disabilities in the community. The conference also provides a great opportunity for participants to interact with community leaders and to recognize outstanding accomplishments in promoting independence. The deadline for registration is February 12, 2010, please visit www.txsilc.org for more details on how to register, make hotel accommodations and apply for stipends to assist with event costs.

 

ADAPT of Texas FUN*RUN for Disability Rights 2010

Saturday, April 24, 2010
Yellow Jacket Stadium
Austin, Texas

For information email: ronniebonners@aol.com; bob.adapt@sbcglobal.net or visit their web site at: http://www.adaptfunrun.org/.

 

Community Organizing Training

Wish you could make businesses more accessible, or get more curb cuts in your city? Want to get the state to do more for those who need attendant services? Wish you had the opportunity to learn how to create positive changes for yourself and other people with disabilities?

Well here is your chance. Dessert ADAPT and ADAPT of Texas will be conducting a training on community organizing and direct action in El Paso, Texas on March 18-21, 2010.

Applications are due by FEBURARY 15, 2010

For more information please contact: Desert ADAPT, 7604 Hermosillo, El Paso, TX 79915, (915) 565-7077, (915)861-7088, desertadapt@yahoo.com or ADAPT of Texas, 1640 A East 2nd Street Suite # 100, Austin, TX. 78702, (512)442-0252, jennifer.adapt@sbcglobal.net.