CTD Projects
Cross-Disability Community Organizing and Advocacy
CTD frequently works with the State Legislature and other elected officials and agency commissioners. We serve on state level committees and task forces, working on policy analysis, input to state agencies, disseminating information to the disability community, and increasing awareness of disability issues among policymakers. CTD organizes collaborative awareness raising events, such as letter writing campaigns, rallies and presentations on subjects such as accessible voting, civil rights and new state level initiatives with the potential to affect the disability community. Some of our current projects include: Livable Communities Collaborative with AARP, Help America Vote Act (HAVA) statewide consumer training project, Community First! and Statewide Collaborative Outreach and Community Education Committee.
CTD and Secretary of State Williams Promote Accessible Voting
In 2002, President Bush signed the Help America Vote Act (HAVA), one of the most sweeping election reforms in the last 40 years, into law. HAVA will improve the administration of elections throughout the U.S. while creating new mandates for accessible voting machines, polling place accessibility and training of poll workers. Since 2003, the Coalition of Texans with Disabilities (CTD), as a member of the state’s HAVA Committee, has been working closely with the Texas Secretary of State to develop the state’s response to HAVA mandates.
To effectively implement and educate Texans on HAVA, Secretary of State Roger Williams, partnering with CTD, kicked off the VOTEXAS program in mid-January 2006 with a three-day, nine-city tour of Amarillo, Austin, Corpus Christi, Edinburg, El Paso, Fort Worth, Houston, Lubbock and San Antonio. CTD member organizations across the state actively participated in the VOTEXAS press kick off; and in a collaborative effort, CTD conducted continued outreach on this very important voting rights legislation. Part of this involved CTD member and other organizations serving Texans with disabilities reaching out to and educating consumers on how HAVA will affect them. CTD’s involvement with the VOTEXAS campaign utilized a VOTEXAS Mobile Exhibit, various media related events, and follow up trainings. For more information on the Secretary’s HAVA voter outreach, please visit the VOTEXAS website at:www.votexas.org.
CTD VISTA Project Focal Point
In early 2006, CTD received a grant which brought three VISTA volunteers on board at CTD. VISTA volunteers William Greer, Chase Bearden and Brittany Williams each with their own unique and varied disability related skill set, help CTD to realize our ambitious advocacy, member communication, and professional services goals. Each of these VISTAs brings a wealth of varied disability related experience to CTD. We welcome both their energy and talent!
As you know, public policy and practice are extremely difficult to impact by an organization with limited resources, particularly one that represents the lowest income demographic group in America. CTD’s Project Focal Point is an advocacy, community outreach and capacity building project and increases the CTD staff from two full time and one part time employee to a total of six staff members.
VISTA activities include:
- organizing, writing and distributing the CTD Messenger electronic newsletter,
- promotion, booking and facilitation of various disability related trainings,
- implementation of a one stop web-based communication center for our members,
- promoting and increasing participation at the CTD convention (to be held in San Antonio from September 5-7, 2008),
- conducting policy analysis
- and working on CTD's advocacy team.
CTD has also developed a series of successful trainings in topics such as Effective Interactions with people with disabilities.
We are excited to implement Project Focal Point, which will build CTD capacity through increased membership services and promotion, grant research and writing and ensuring the success of CTD fundraisi
CTD’s Consumer Directed Services Program
CTD now offers the Consumer Directed Services (CDS) service delivery option to persons receiving community care in seven counties in Central Texas: Bastrop, Burnet, Caldwell, Hays, Lee, Travis, and Williamson. As the employer of record, you are responsible for finding, hiring, managing and firing your attendants. You have control over your community care dollars and can budget for higher wages, holidays, sick pay and bonuses for your attendants. You also have more freedom in who you hire to be your attendants. Both of these things give you the potential to have more dependable attendant care by people who are more invested in you and their job with you.
CTD will come to your home and train you on the CDS option, assist you with formulating your budget, and answer questions you have. We also act as your administrator and agent, providing ongoing support to you in your role as employer, interfacing with taxing and employment authorities and cutting paychecks for your attendants. If you are in STAR Plus in any of the counties listed above, please contact them about participating in this new service delivery option. You may also contact Kelly Bremer, CTD’s CDS Coordinator with any questions at: 512-236-1070 or kbremer@cotwd.org.
For more information click hereYouth Leadership Program
CTD sponsors an empowerment and leadership development program for Texas youth with disabilities. The Kenny Murgia Memorial Scholarship is awarded annually to a high school senior who has demonstrated activism on disability issues. This program also provides for a part-time paid internship for a college student with disabilities at CTD's Austin office.
Partnership for Prescription Assistance
The Partnership for Prescription Assistance is dedicated to helping uninsured and underinsured patients gain access to prescription medicines. CTD has helped promote the program in Texas where over 200,000 Texans have received low-cost or no-cost prescriptions.
Call 1-888-4ppa-now (1-888-447-2669) or visit www.pparxtx.org
