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October 13, 2022

October is always an exciting month for CTD, with our annual Cinema Touching Disability Film Festival! Our 19th year kicks off tomorrow evening, see below for details and tickets!

In addition, October means November is not far behind, and in 2022, we've got midterm elections. There have been a lot of changes in the law since last year, and the primary elections in the spring didn't clear up any of the confusion! Many groups have put out great resources for voters with disabilities, we share our favorites below.

 

November midterm elections

Midterms (when we're NOT voting for President) are important, but often low-turnout elections. Races for statewide offices, like Governor and Attorney General, as well open seats in the State Legislature and local offices and propositions, will culminate on Election Day, November 8 this year.

With the passage of SB 1 and other restrictive bills by last year's state legislature, barriers and confusion could add to low participation. But Texans with disabilities have major stakes in our state leadership, and we want you to be prepared!

On our last Raise Your Voice call, Jennifer Harris (Secure Democracy) and Molly Broadway and Jeff Miller (Disability Rights Texas) joined our Chase Bearden to talk about big, recent changes in Texas election law, and how that could affect voters with disabilities in the midterm elections. It was a great discussion, and you can still access the transcript (.docx file will download) or view the recording (YouTube).

Some resources that came up in our discussion:

Find more extensive information with the League of Women Voters of Texas' Vote by Mail Resources and Disability Rights Texas' Voter Resources.

If additional questions or issues come up as you make your voting plan, or while you're at the polls, feel free to contact us!

Key Dates

October 24, Monday
First day to vote early in person

October 28, Friday
Last day to apply for a mail-in ballot

November 4, Friday
Last day to voter early in person

November 8, Tuesday
Election Day and mail-in ballot receipt deadline

 

Cinema Touching Disability

Friday & Saturday, Oct. 14 & 15, Austin TX

Cinema Touching Disability is back for our 19th year, and we're so excited to be holding our Fest in person! Join us at the Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar October 14 & 15 for two nights of fantastic disability film, fun, and community. Tickets are still available but going fast!

We can't wait to show you two exciting documentaries about artists with disabilities, who insist on taking center stage! While they're very different, both of these films center self-determination, adaptability, and the celebration of disabled performance. October 14 & 15, we bring you:

IMPERECT (2021) is a story of artists who live and perform with the uniqueness of disability, having been denied their place in the spotlight. This show-stopping documentary follows Phamaly, a Denver theatre company for disabled actors, as they mount a production of the legendary musical, Chicago. IMPERFECT is an unrated documentary and has a run time of 78 minutes. This film will screen at Cinema Touching Disability on Friday, October 14, 2022.

 

CRUTCH (2020) chronicles the gravity defying life of Bill Shannon, an internationally renowned artist, breakdancer and skate punk—on crutches. The film documents Bill’s extraordinary journey: the history of his medical odyssey and his struggles with chronic pain, the evolution of his crutch dancing and skating, his rise to become a world-renowned performance artist, and his transformation from an angry skate punk to an international hero. CRUTCH is an unrated documentary and has a run time of 98 minutes. This film will screen at the Festival on Saturday, October 15, 2022.

 

Raise Your Voice! 2022

Raise Your Voice! fall sessions

Various dates, virtual

Raise Your Voice! has started back for the fall! Every other Monday at 2 pm CT, our advocacy team will give a brief update on the major pieces of legislation we've been working on, then we'll hold breakout discussions to gather your input and concerns or prepare to take an action. There is no cost to participate.

Our next call is Monday, October 24, at 2 pm CT. We'll be talking about justice-involved youth with disabilities and the systems in Texas that serve them (supposedly). More upcoming sessions are:

  • November 7: Why are multiple public systems failing children with disabilities?
  • November 21: RYV 2022 Wrap up/ Looking ahead to 2023
 

Thank you to our major
2022 Cinema Touching Disability sponsors!

Superior HealthPlan
 
UnitedHealthcare
 
CDS in Texas
 
Genentech
 
 
Cultural Arts City of Austin Economic Development Department
Touch of CLASS
 
CapMetro
 
Humana
Spyglass Realty

Victoria Ford
& Scott Hochberg

 
Amerigroup, an Anthem Company
In Home Attendant Services
 
Sanofi

Upstream Technology

Bristol Myers Squibb
 
Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities

Friends of Ted Bose

HillCo Partners

American Construction Investigations

 
Amgen
 

Dennis Borel
& Lynda Frost

 

JWH Communications

Texas Medical Association
Astrazeneca
AbbVie
 
 
 
 
 
 

Cinema Touching Disability is supported in part by the Cultural Arts Division of the City of Austin Economic Development Department.

Financial Support is also provided by the Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities, with Federal funds* made available by the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Administration on Developmental Disabilities. *$2,098 (80%) DD funds; $526 (20%) non-federal resources.

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