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Rep. Bryan Hughes
Biography
Bryan Hughes represents District Five in the Texas House of Representatives. He is Vice Chairman of the House Judiciary and Civil Jurispurdence Committee and a member of the House Human Services Committee. He is Vice Chair of the Rural Caucus.
In his first run for office, he was elected in 2002 with 52% of the vote. In 2004 he was reelected with a 62% margin and in 2006 with 82%. He was unopposed for reelection in 2008.
In Austin, he has gained a reputation as a hard working, common sense conservative legislator. Hughes has received numerous awards for his service, including the Taxpayer Hero Award from Texans for Fiscal Responsibility, the Horizon Award from Texas Right to Life, and "Defender of the American Dream" from Americans for Prosperity.
Bryan is a Fifth generation Texan and the first member of his family to receive a Bachelor's degree. He practices law in East Texas where he represents working families and small businesses. He is a leader in his church, a Red Cross disaster relief volunteer, and a frequent speaker at civic and community organizations.
Rep. Eddie Lucio III
Biography
Representative Eddie Lucio III was born and raised in the city of Brownsville, Texas. He has a lifelong passion and family history of community and public service.
In 2006, he was elected to the Texas House of Representatives and was overwhelmingly re-elected in 2008. Rep. Lucio represents District 38, which is composed of the southwest region of Cameron County. During the 80th Legislative Session Rep. Lucio was instrumental in acquiring more funding for the Children’s Health Insurance Program, colonia assistance programs and pay increases for teachers and state employees. Representative Lucio also worked diligently to secure $5 million in funding for the Regional Academic Health Science Center in Harlingen Rep. Lucio currently sits on the State Affairs Committe, Natural Resources Committee, and serves as Vice Chair of the Calendars Committee.
Rep. Eddie Rodriguez
Biography
First elected in 2002, Representative Eddie Rodriguez currently serves on the Public Safety and the Technology, Economic Development and Workforce committees. Eddie was born in McAllen, Texas, leaving home to be the first in his family to attend college. He received his B.A. in Government from the University of Texas in 1995 and received his law degree from University of Texas School of Law in 2008.
Eddie’s legislative focus is on regional transportation, affordable housing, health and human services and the promotion of renewable and sustainable energy as part of a statewide approach to improving environmental quality and creating economic development opportunities for Texas.
Some of Eddie’s significant legislative successes, thus far, include the passage of bills and amendments relating to: the establish the state's first Homestead Preservation District; automatic homestead exemptions for individuals who are elderly or disabled; the National School Breakfast Program; youth with disabilities who are transitioning out of secondary school to adult activities and services; the ability of the Austin police and fire retirement systems to join the Proportionate Retirement Program; and the creation of the Person with Permanent Disability Home Loan Program.
Eddie is a member of the Mexican American Legislative Caucus, the Democratic Caucus, the Legislative Study Group (which is a coalition of moderate and progressive legislators who are dedicated to open and responsive government), the Clean Energy Caucus, the Air Quality Caucus, the Environmental Caucus, the Manufacturer's Caucus, and the Women's Health Caucus.
He is also a member of several community organizations including: Alliance for Public Transportation (APT), whose mission is to promote regional public transportation in Central Texas; Hispanic Technology Institute of Austin (HTIA), whose focus is to develop and improve the economic conditions in Austin by providing technology and training to small business and the community; the Anti-Defamation League, whose focus is on fighting hatred and encouraging respect, diversity and inclusion in all areas of the community; and Austin Pets Alive!, whose goal is to promote and provide resources for education and programs, such as spay/neuter, that will put and end to the killing of companion animals in Austin.
Mark Zupan
CTD is proud to announce that the star of the film "Murderball", motivational speaker, and gold medal winning paralympian, Mark Zupan (left, with Gov. Rick Perry and CTD's Jodi Park and Dennis Borel), spoke at the 2009 convention! Mr. Zupan's story and message has inspired thousands of people.
Additional Speakers
- Bob Kafka, ADAPT
In 1984 Bob co-founded ADAPT of TX and has served in the capacities of local, state and national organizer ever since. He has recently been on the board of NAPAS and TASH. Currently he serves on the Promoting Independence Advisory Council. Through his work with ADAPT he helped shepherd in ADAPT's WE WILL RIDE victory for lifts on buses and ADA and later worked to support community services for people with disabilities instead of catering to the nursing home industry.
- Colleen Horton, UT Center for Disability Studies
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Colleen Horton is the Public Policy Director at The University of Texas Center for Disability Studies. She is a member of the Promoting Independence Advisory Committee and currently chairs the Children’s Policy Council at the Health and Human Services Commission. During legislative sessions she spends most of her time providing technical assistance to disability advocates and legislative offices. Colleen also has an 18 year old daughter with developmental disabilities.
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- Dennis Borel, Executive Director of CTD
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Dennis Borel is frequently called on for research, policy analysis and recommendations to the Texas Legislature and state agencies on issues surrounding disabilities. His service on advisory groups includes an appointment by Texas Health & Human Services Executive Commissioner Albert Hawkins to the Promoting Independence Advisory Council and by Gov. Rick Perry to the State Independent Living Council.
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- Todd Wardell
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J. Todd Wardell: Singer / Songwriter / T.B.I. Survivor - guitar, vocals, and a history that includes percussion, producing, sound-tech engineering, and touring band management. Todd has been playing guitar since he was 9 years old (34 years) and singing as long as he can remember. He was involved in the Jr. High and High School Choir clubs and both summers of '82 and '83 he toured Europe with The Oklahoma Show Choir. He believes that MUSIC is the best part of life, and in the late 80s moved to Dallas to meet other musicians to pursue a career.
Ensuing his goal while working with LOTS of other accomplished musicians locally; he also organized or arranged bands to tour from California to Mississippi, at a variety of venues (including Cowboy's and the like), while always returning to Dallas because he considers it his "Home".
In 2000, and on the verge of receiving a contract from Nashville, Todd was involved in an automobile accident that caused SEVERE brain trauma. After several years of recovery, Todd is still in the process of rehabilitation, but is performing to great reviews all around the Dallas/Fort Worth area. He always performs with a sense of humor and a relaxed demeanor, and is very inspirational, especially to those who understand his situation. His last nine years have been spent relearning what was once an expansive repertoire of pop, country, classic rock, and original songs. Some of the cover songs are - 'Wonderful Tonight', 'Cool Change', 'Spiders & Snakes', 'The Dance', 'Tequila Sunrise', 'Amarillo by Morning', 'Wild World', 'Me & Julio Down by the Schoolyard', 'I Cross My Heart', 'Roller Derby Queen', and a few original songs that he also had to relearn ( ‘Love in Autumn’, Grey-Bar Hotel’, ‘For The First Time In My Life’ ) .
He continues to push forward and to reach for the light at the end of the tunnel !!! His determination to once again have a life based around his impressive musical talent has proven inspiration to his family, his friends, other TBI survivors and those that have heard him perform.
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