Action Alert: Write Letters to Governor's Staff by October 15, 2010

The Arc of Texas collected 30 letters over the past three days!

We need more letters—take a few minutes to write your letter today!
Your letters will be read by key legislative staff and members—those who are directly responsible for drafting the state’s budget for the next two years (Fiscal Years 2012-2013).
As of today, state agencies have submitted proposed budgets (“Legislative Appropriations Requests”) to the state’s leadership. Those proposed budgets help key members write the next state budget for 2012-2013.

The Arc of Texas is especially concerned with the proposed budget submitted by the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS) because it does not include funds to serve 13,368 individuals who are currently receiving Medicaid Waiver services or expected to receive Medicaid Waiver services by the end of FY11. [DADS is not at fault; they were simply following budget writing instructions from leadership offices.] However, the Legislature must fund DADS Exceptional Items #1, 2 and 3 (“wish list” items outside the proposed budget) in order to MAINTAIN CURRENT SERVICES. If these items are not funded, over 13,000 are at risk of losing the precious community based services and supports they receive through the Medicaid Waiver Programs. The next section in this alert provides pointers on writing your letter.

If you are a self advocate or would like to assist self-advocates in writing their own letter, Texas Advocates prepared a form letter you might find helpful. Click here: Letter .

Write Letters to Governor’s Staff by October 15, 2010

DADS Legislative Appropriations Request— the agency baseline request DOES NOT include funds to serve 13,368 individuals who are currently receiving Medicaid Waiver Program and other community-based services or expected to receive services by the end of FY11.

OUR MESSAGE:
“Maintain current DADS services!! Fund DADS Exceptional Items 1, 2 AND 3! Any cuts to DADS services would be DEVASTATING to individuals and families.”

Information to include in your letter:

• Your name and address
  
• Your affiliation with The Arc of Texas (i.e. “I have been a volunteer with The Arc of Texas for 25 years…”)
  
• How long you or your loved one was on the waiting list.
  
• What life was like for you/your loved one during the waiting period (details are important here!)
  
• What program you/your loved one currently receives.
  
• How the program services and supports make your/your loved one’s life more meaningful (details are important here!)
  
• Describe what you/your loved one would have to endure if services were cut after having waited so long; how devastating would it be to you/your loved one (i.e. it would be devastating AND I would go into a more expensive institution, lose my job, lose my home, lose my marriage)

Address your letter to Katherine Yoder (Katherine.Yoder@governor.state.tx.us). In addition, send a copy of your letter to Amy Mizcles at amizcles@thearcoftexas.org.