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CTD/Coalition of Texans with Disabilities is presenting a teleconference training on legislative advocacy during the interim before the 2009 Texas Legislative Session at 2 pm central time on Tuesday, August 14. Impact public policy, yourselves and others! Examine the accomplishments gained at the recent 2007 Texas Legislature. If we don’t continue raising our voices, by January 2009 our message will get lost! The conference call procedure is easy and there’ll be no charge to you or your group! At 2 pm CT on 8-14, simply call 888-346-3659 and punch in code number 3235. Panelists include Jessica Ramos, aide to Senator Zaffirini; John Meinkowsky of ARCIL; Shannon Brooks of National Multiple Sclerosis Society: Mike Bright or Amy Mizcles of the ARC of Texas; Laurie Vanhoose from Advocacy Inc.; and CTD’s own Dennis Borel and Jodi Park. For more information and advance materials please contact Bryson Smith at 512-478-3366 or The teleconference will last approximately 45 minutes.
Journalist Geraldo Rivera urged Governor Rick Perry to take action to end the State of Texas’ use of the sovereign immunity defense on his national TV news program Geraldo At Large on July 14.
The program reported on the case of Hasib Chishty, a person with a cognitive disability who was beaten to near death while a resident at Denton State School in 2002. “I almost killed him,” confessed Kevin Miller, a caregiver and state employee. Hasib has severe physical disabilities as a result. According to Rivera, the Chishty family sued the State but was denied the opportunity to have the merits of the case heard in court when the State claimed immunity for its actions.
In the defense, the State of Texas claims it is immune from civil rights violations, particularly the rights of people with disabilities. A minority of states, including Texas, rejects compliance with disability discrimination laws through claims of state sovereign immunity. Rivera expressed outrage and says he has contacted the governor’s office, asking Governor Perry to call for, and the Legislature to pass, emergency legislation to waive sovereign immunity.
CTD has led advocacy efforts to pass such legislation. CTD Executive Director Dennis Borel said, “Texans from all walks of life react in disbelief at the State’s position of immunity from civil rights protections. The bill would end this disgraceful practice.”
Senior Producer Craig Rivera traveled to Austin for followup interviews with state officials and CTD’s Jodi Park. Rivera promised to give an update with Governor Perry’s response on Geraldo At Large.
Secondary School and college students will have the opportunity to direct short films (5-20 minutes) having disability as a central theme for the inaugural Student Film Competition. CTD invites student filmmakers to focus their cinematic creativity on disability, a subject that is very much a part of the human condition.
First place winners in each category will receive $500 cash/prizes, second place receives $250 cash/prizes; both will enjoy a public screening of their film. Entry & DVD submission deadline has been extended until Friday, September 7. CTD is looking for more contestants for a big inaugural success! Please check for details at www.ctdfilmfest.org
CTD is hosting the Fourth Annual Cinema Touching Disability Film Festival to challenge and dispel long-held stereotypes about disability. This unique festival will occur on Oct. 19 & 20, 2007 at the Alamo Drafthouse at 1120 S. Lamar in Austin. CTD designed the festival in 2004 to increase awareness about disabilities through films portraying disability.
The Winkelmans have a son with autism, whose rights are covered by the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The parents contested the school district’s plan for their son Jacob under IDEA. A family of modest means, the Winkelmans sought to represent their son in court, only to be told that a lawyer would be required, a lawyer they could not afford. The result: a barrier to a family’s legal rights.
Jacob’s father was forced to take a second job while his mother spent hours of her time researching previous court rulings and writing her own filings, which, though less expensive than hiring attorney, nevertheless cost them $30,000. Disappointingly, the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against the family.
CTD heard about this outrageous case and signed onto an amicus (“friend of the court”) brief presented to the U.S. Supreme Court in support of the Winkelmans’ right to represent their child in court. CTD was the only disability advocacy organization in the state to participate in this case of critical interest to parents of children with disabilities. On May 27, 2007, the Winkelmans and other parents of children with disabilities were vindicated when the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the earlier decision. CTD is proud to have supported Jacob, his family and all parents to have the opportunity to have their case heard in a court of law whether or not they choose or can afford to hire an attorney to represent them.
The Texas Governor’s Committee on People with Disabilities is offering a beautiful art poster to promote October as National Disability Employment Awareness Month.
People with disabilities have an extremely high unemployment rate. Public awareness of the skills and abilities of this untapped labor pool will go a long way to diversify our work force & make this a more productive place for all. The poster was drawn by Cassandra Langdon and is entitled “First Day of Spring”. To view the poster and obtain a free copy go to governor.state.tx.us/disabilities
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