Hello All,

Imagine if you will... A place where there are not waiting lists, only one half of one institution left out of 13, a place where services and supports are based on what the individual determines through person centered planning... Imagine a place where there are no for profit providers, just non-profit providers, a place where a provider cannot operate more than 10 group homes, a place where the principles of self determination are embedded in policy and rules.  Imagine a place where the money from institutional closures goes to fund community services.  Imagine a place where the Consumer has control of their budget and invites who they want involved in their life planning.  Imagine a place where there are just 3 waivers: one for people with DD... all people that meet the Federal Definition of Developmental Disabilities: People with Autism, Intellectual disabilities, TBI, CP, Mental Illness getting the services they need from one waiver.  Another waiver for children and another for the Aging and Disabled.  Sounds like heaven.  Nope, Michigan. 

Ok, now imagine if you will... A place where 88,000 people wait on languish lists, where 13 nasty institutions filled with violence, corruption , a vacuum of leadership, constant mis-representation to the Legislature, a place where there are almost as many waivers as the 12 days of Christmas, a place where big fat cat providers make millions off the backs of people with disabilities, where providers determine services for their Consumers, where providers actively lobby to kill money follows the person and the precepts of self determination, where more than 90% of providers are for-profit, a place where children are placed in institutions because their is no community infra-structure, a place where families are broken by the heartbreak of having to place their child in an institution because our leadership is caught up in maintaining their kingdoms.  Sounds like hell. Yep, it's Texas.  

Ok, I know that Michigan is not perfect.  But they are light years ahead of Texas.  There are already a couple of archaic advocacy groups sucking up to providers tonight I imagine like a bunch of ugly lap dogs trying to maintain their kingdoms of nothingness.  These folks are most likely trying to find ways to undermine any efforts for Texas to move close to the Michigan plan.  Why?  Simple really. 

The Michigan plan puts the power in the hands of the Consumer instead of providers and weak minded advocate entities who want to keep the money and resources for "Their People".  These couple of entities have fought so long for "Their People" that they have lost sight of their very mission to end the waiting lists.  We cannot ever end the waiting lists as long as we carve out waivers just for one group.  Or if we lobby hard for more money for one group over another. There just isn't enough money.  We have to come to a place where ALL are valued and ALL have equitable opportunities to get what they need to live in their communities and pursue their vision of the American Dream.  The attachment of an advocacy group to a jaundiced provider system just to ensure "Their People" get what they want is selfish and has kept our waiting lists forever growing.  

Well, some of our list serve moles may be thinking that "if you like Michigan so much, Jeff, just move the heck up there.  Nope, not for me.  Too cold. 

But really, this is my State too.  My family has deep roots in Texas, as many of yours do.  I come from a long line of Texans who fought for the freedom and dignity for all Texans at much more risk than I have ever taken.  This is my State.  Ugly as it can be, rife with civil rights abuses and violence against the most vulnerable. This is my State. I am a Texan and by God, Texas is better than this.  We are smarter and better than the systems we have in place to serve people with disabilities.  The institutions, the loss of dignity, the loss of freedom, the loss of life, the lies, deals and visionless leadership has to end. 

To end this, we must stand together, be bold and take risks.  88,000 people waiting.  Violence in institutions paid for by your tax dollars.  How much longer are you going to take this?  How much longer are you willing to accept the crumbs that fall from the Appropriations table?  How much longer can we let providers dictate services to our loved ones?  At what point to you say enough! 

If we do not act during this session to make a huge dent to Reform this mess, then Shame on Us. 

Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world...
             John Lennon

Austin Coalition Meeting