|  | | Nov 19, 2025 Just a quick issue before we get into the fall holidays, with a smattering of good news from the CTD family, a survey on the rollout of attendant wage raises, and some December events for your calendar. | | | |
| End of Year Match! our year end giving campaign is happening now—with a $10,000 match! Thanks to CTD's Board Treasurer Jet Schuler and former Executive Director Dennis Borel, all donations to CTD through the end of 2025 will be matched, up to $10,000. From continuing the fight to raise attendant wages, to bringing Cinema Touching Disability films to the big screen, and so much more, your support sustains all of CTD's work. Double your donation now! |
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| | What's good? It's been a year. Between a brutal Texas legislative session and unprecedented attacks on the programs people with disabilities rely on at the federal level, we've felt a lot of despair. But then something will come across our news feed or inbox that reminds us that Texans with disabilities are still out there, doing great stuff, every day. We thought we'd share some examples from our network: If you've been to Raise Your Voice!, you've probably heard about the many issues Jordan Smelley has been working on for the past several years, like funding for peer support programs and the fair Medicaid hearing process. Jordan's session "Addressing Recovery Support Needs of Persons with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD)" received the best presentation award from the International Conference on Applied Psychology which was held on October 24, 2025. Bonus good news: the medication Jordan has been fighting so hard to get access to for years was finally added to the Texas Medicaid formulary—thanks in large part to Jordan's advocacy! Also in October, Advocacy Corps intern Lynn Brielmaier was honored with a Stephen Heywood Patients Today Award by ALS Therapy Development Institute! In addition to his work with this year's ACorps cohort, Lynn is a tireless advocate and an active Raise Your Voice! regular. More about the award and Lynn's work in the ALS community. Speaking of the Advocacy Corps, this year's interns are crushing it! Between in-district office visits, traveling to Washington DC to meet with Congressional representatives, participating in press events, and more, they have put in a lot of work this year on the issues they care about. Our staff has had so much fun getting to know our interns and supporting them as they build their advocacy skills, wherever they are on their advocacy journey. This is a very motivated cohort who have found genuine connection with each other. Have anything to add? We're planning on sending out one more newsletter this year, and we'd love to share more instances of Texans with disabilities finding success in advocacy work! Feel free to reply with your own stories! |
| | Attendant Wage Survey The 89th Legislature authorized an attendant pay rate increase from $10.60 to $13 per hour that was to go into effect on September 1, 2025. The Attendant Care Coalition has heard there have been issues with implementation of the increase in attendant pay rate. They are collecting data & stories on attendant care pay rates. If you have been affected (negatively OR positively), take the Attendant Care Coalition's brief survey on pay rates. Only 2 questions are required and NO personal data will be collected. |
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| | Capitol Care CDS Did you know? CTD operates Capitol Care CDS, a program that allows Medicaid STAR+PLUS and STAR Kids recipients to hire and manage the people who will provide their attendant services. If you, a loved one, or a friend have attendant care needs, Capitol Care CDS may be the answer! |
| | | Coming up at CTD & in the community! |
|  | Beyond Art Market & Fair, Dec. 6 & 7 Join our friends at Art Spark Texas for a vibrant indoor/outdoor showcase of artists with disabilities with live music, food, interactive art, and community. This year, the market spotlights Austin-local black artists and businesses. Free! LEARN MORE |
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 | Lion & Pirate virtual open mic, Dec. 14 Join CTD and Art Spark Texas for our LAST virtual inclusive open mic of 2025! We're open to work in any genre: music, spoken word, improv, skits, storytelling, dance, poems, prose... Anything you can perform! Free! LEARN MORE + RSVP |
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 | When we're closed for the holidays CTD & Capitol Care CDS will be closed on the following dates for winter holidays: - Thursday & Friday, November 27 & 28
- Monday, December 22 - Friday, January 2, 2026
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| Thank you to our 2025 Raise Your Voice Sponsors! |
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| | Contact Us info@txdisabilities.org | 512-478-3366 |
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