Brazos Valley Center for Independent Living

Connecting people to the power of independence

disability

Texas Legislators Add Protection Against Service Dog Discrimination in Food Establishments

Just prior to the close of the current General Session, Texas legislators passed an amendment to the Texas Health and Safety Code to bolster the rights of people with disabilities who use service dogs when visiting restaurants and other food establishments. This measure ensures that service dogs are permitted under the law in these businesses, limits how much staff people can ask about the disability, and streamlines recourse in the event of discrimination.

One good first approach in these situations is to calmly and nicely explain that the dog is needed because of a disability (details unnecessary), and that he or she is safe and well trained. Oftentimes, people don’t mean to be mean; they just don’t understand. Maybe they never encountered a service dog before. If they persist in being obstinate, however, then the dog owner can assert his or her rights under the law.

If Governor Perry signs this bill, when a service dog is denied entry into a place where food is served, all the dog owner has to do is call the police, who will then simply write the offending establishment a $300 ticket. Although the new law doesn’t necessarily prevent the person with the disability from taking additional action, it does allow for a little “instant justice” that can save time, work, and often expense involved when filing formal civil rights complaints and lawsuits, the only recourse prior to this bill.

While business owners are prohibited from digging too deeply into the private matters of a disability, the police will need some basic proof if called. Providers of service dogs say that it is a good idea to make sure you have your ID, proof of your disability, and a copy of your service animal prescription with you when traveling with your service dog.

Check out the video on this web page for more information.

The important thing to remember here is that this is not the law just yet. Our governor has not yet put his “Rick Perry” on the piece of legislation. Do you think he should? Either way, it’s a good idea to let him know where you stand. You can use this web site to send Governor Perry a message, or you can call his Information, Referral, and Opinion Line at (512) 463-1782.

 

Medicaid Expansion in Texas: Time is Running Out to Speak Our Minds!

Medicaid still matters, and millions of Texans remain without any health insurance coverage at all.

The current Texas legislative session ends in less than two weeks. At this point, it looks like Texas is not going to participate in straightforward Medicaid expansion as set forth in the federal Affordable Care Act. It will be two years before the state legislature may look at this main issue again.

However, one option remains on the table as a provision in the Senate’s version of the state budget. This choice would make way for Texas to negotiate with the federal government to use dollars earmarked for Medicaid expansion to create a new healthcare system for Texas that is different from Medicaid. This approach would affect not only people who are uninsured, but also people who already receive Medicaid. Just how folks would be affected would depend on the outcome of the negotiations and the details of the new system–all future unknowns.

We Texans have the responsibility to read up, make up our minds, and let our representatives know how we feel. The clock is ticking down, and these last few days of the legislative session are our last chance to be heard on this issue for a long time. Do you want Medicaid to stay like it is and not expand to include others? Or, would you like Medicaid to change and be able to include people who are uninsured? It’s our choice, but only if we make ourselves heard.

Once you decide, just follow the link below to find your specific representatives. Then give ’em a good ol’ Texas holler or zap ’em an email! Medicaid matters, and so does choice!

http://www.fyi.legis.state.tx.us/Home.aspx

Help Our Community Improve Local Transportation

The Brazos Valley Council of Governments (BVCOG), BVCIL, and other local organizations are partnering on a survey to gather data about local transportation. From the survey site:

“The purpose of the survey is to better understand the travel needs of the residents of the Brazos Valley-how they’re getting around, where they’re going for work or school, medical appointments, shopping and other services-and if they need help getting to them.

We’ll be sharing the results with the cities, counties and medical providers of the region as well as Texas A&M, TxDOT, Brazos Transit District and other organizations working to improve transportation for area residents.

This survey is open to any resident of the Brazos Valley regardless of age. If you prefer a paper copy of this survey, please call 979-595-2910 and leave your mailing address on the answering machine. A paper copy of the survey, with a postage-paid return envelope will be mailed to you.

When you complete this survey you can be eligible to win one of eight $25 Walmart gift cards. To be eligible, put your name, telephone number and/or e-mail address in the area at the end of the survey. Eight winners will be drawn at random on Monday, June 24, 2013 and winners will be notified by e-mail and/or telephone.”

Just follow the link below to take the survey. It would be helpful to have your family and friends take it too!

 http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/DFYWB2M

April 14-20 is Disability Awareness Week in Texas

National Disability Employment Awareness Month comes around every year in October, but in Texas, disability awareness gets an extra boost every April with Disability Awareness Week. This year, it is April 14-20, and 2013 is also the 25th anniversary of the event.

Rendell Resneder, an entrepreneur, pastor, and educational computing professional in the Ph.D. program at North Texas State University, founded Disability Awareness Week 25 years ago when he was a freshman in high school. Randell, who is also the Executive Director of Texas Disability Awareness Programs and the current Vice-Chair of the Texas State Independent Living Council, established the event to advocate his “I CAN” philosophy.

Many organizations around Texas that serve people with disabilities have commemorative events planned for this week. The Brazos Valley Center for Independent Living launched Disability Awareness Week on Sunday, April 14  with Dining in the Dark, an event to raise awareness of blindness and low vision and also to raise funds for accessible transportation.

Click here to view a video of Randell Resneder’s story, “Looking Beyond the Obvious,” in which he discusses Disability Awareness Week.

Celebrate Service: National Volunteer Week, April 21-27, 2013

by Nancy Flowers and Pat Morse

Celebrate Service captures the meaning of this signature week, honoring the people who dedicate themselves to taking action and solving problems in their communities.

Established in 1974, National Volunteer Week has grown in scope each year, drawing the support and endorsement of U.S. presidents, governors, mayors and other respected elected officials.

National Volunteer Week embodies the energy and power volunteers evoke on a daily basis as they lead by example–not only encouraging the people they help, but motivating others to serve as well.

This year, Points of Light is also honored to recognize the fourth anniversary of the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act and the creation of the Volunteer Generation Fund through a series of celebratory and service events across the nation.

Celebrate Service presents an opportunity for individuals, families, nonprofit organizations and government entities alike to celebrate the ordinary people who accomplish extraordinary things through service.

Facts About Age-related Hearing Loss

Think you have to be 70 to start having age-related hearing loss? Think again! According to a recent blog article from The Ability Center of Greater Toledo, hearing loss can start as early as our 40s, and we also don’t do our ears any favors with all that loud music through our headphones.

Hearing loss can sneak up on us gradually so that we don’t notice the difference until the decrease in perception is already pretty significant. Hearing loss also occurs from the top down, that is, higher-pitched sounds are the first to go.

The mechanical process of hearing loss involves the death and destruction of tiny fibers in our ears called cilia that, once gone, do not reproduce or regenerate. Exposure to loud noise for long periods of time can accelerate the loss of these structures.

Whatever the cause, some good news is that there is assistive technology that can help those with hearing loss maintain their independence. Hearing aids are, of course, the first line of defense for hearing loss. Other devices are also available, such as telephone and television amplifiers, that make life with hearing loss more enjoyable. Other technology, such as smoke detectors and doorbells with flashing lights, employ our other senses to help keep us safe.

Be sure to check out that blog post for more information.