Re: FW: REMINDER: Autism Council Hearing Scheduled for 1/11/2007

[Guest guest]

If you will notice in this information forwarded from the Arc of

Texas, they DO NOT support the majority of the state autism plan.

IMHO, they simply do not have a good understanding of the unique needs

of individuals on the autism spectrum. They also do not support and in

fact are very strongly opposed to autism waivers.

I would, unless you agree with the Arc's position and are against the

majority of the state plan, avoid forwarding this particular email and

info to folks who plan to testify on Thursday.

nna

[Guest guest]

Ok, I am a little confused? Why is the ARC of TX giving talking points on the

Gov.

Council's Autism State Plan?

From what I understand, this meeting is not a legislative hearing. It is a

public input

hearing, that will be archived for the record.

Liz

>

> If you will notice in this information forwarded from the Arc of

> Texas, they DO NOT support the majority of the state autism plan.

> IMHO, they simply do not have a good understanding of the unique needs

> of individuals on the autism spectrum. They also do not support and in

> fact are very strongly opposed to autism waivers.

>

> I would, unless you agree with the Arc's position and are against the

> majority of the state plan, avoid forwarding this particular email and

> info to folks who plan to testify on Thursday.

>

> nna

>

[Guest guest]

Maybe it’s because of the agenda. There is time allotted to

“Legislative/Policy Planning Strategies”.

http://www.autismcouncil.org/meetings/1_12_07_Agenda.pdf

Tonya

Re: FW: REMINDER: Autism Council

Hearing Scheduled for 1/11/2007

Ok, I am a little confused? Why is the ARC of TX giving talking points

on the Gov.

Council's Autism State Plan?

From what I understand, this meeting is not a legislative hearing. It is

a public input

hearing, that will be archived for the record.

Liz

>

> If you will notice in this information forwarded from the Arc of

> Texas, they DO NOT support the majority of the state autism plan.

> IMHO, they simply do not have a good understanding of the unique needs

> of individuals on the autism spectrum. They also do not support and in

> fact are very strongly opposed to autism waivers.

>

> I would, unless you agree with the Arc's position and are against the

> majority of the state plan, avoid forwarding this particular email and

> info to folks who plan to testify on Thursday.

>

> nna

>

[Guest guest]

The date on this is Jan 12, not the 11th, AND the time is different--9am instead

of 10am...

Can anyone out there clarify?

Tonya Hettler wrote:

Maybe it’s because of the agenda. There is time allotted to

“Legislative/Policy Planning Strategies”.

http://www.autismcouncil.org/meetings/1_12_07_Agenda.pdf

Tonya

Re: FW: REMINDER: Autism Council

Hearing Scheduled for 1/11/2007

Ok, I am a little confused? Why is the ARC of TX giving talking points

on the Gov.

Council's Autism State Plan?

From what I understand, this meeting is not a legislative hearing. It is

a public input

hearing, that will be archived for the record.

Liz

>

> If you will notice in this information forwarded from the Arc of

> Texas, they DO NOT support the majority of the state autism plan.

> IMHO, they simply do not have a good understanding of the unique needs

> of individuals on the autism spectrum. They also do not support and in

> fact are very strongly opposed to autism waivers.

>

> I would, unless you agree with the Arc's position and are against the

> majority of the state plan, avoid forwarding this particular email and

> info to folks who plan to testify on Thursday.

>

> nna

>

[Guest guest]

Liz,

EXACTLY!!! And, not only that, most of their talking points ARE IN

OPPOSITION to the state plan!!!

This is an example of disability groups NOT supporting each other,

but working to put each other down, even if they really don't have

the knowledge or expertise about the other disability (in this case

autism spectrum disorders) to really know what they are talking about.

I for one resent this action by the Arc of Texas, and people should

really read carefully what they forward before they do so. I received

this same email at home and was APALLED at what they were suggesting

for OUR population, without even consulting us as to WHY we want

these things or WHY they are needed. We also need to make sure that

what we forward to other groups about our issues really communicates

the information WE want to get out.

I for one SUPPORT the state plan, even if I would prefer it be

written and distributed in a different way.

nna

P.S. And, you are also correct, it makes NO SENSE that they should be

sending out talking points for a hearing that is NOT in front of

state legislators or other policy makers but is only in front of the

council...as if to tell the council that they don't know what they

are doing and that what we feel our own community needs is not valid.

I was quite offended.

nna

> >

> > If you will notice in this information forwarded from the Arc of

> > Texas, they DO NOT support the majority of the state autism plan.

> > IMHO, they simply do not have a good understanding of the unique

needs

> > of individuals on the autism spectrum. They also do not support

and in

> > fact are very strongly opposed to autism waivers.

> >

> > I would, unless you agree with the Arc's position and are against

the

> > majority of the state plan, avoid forwarding this particular

email and

> > info to folks who plan to testify on Thursday.

> >

> > nna

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Oh...and BTW...I have been involved heavily with autism since 1994

and know the entire history of the Arc of Texas, Arc of Greater

Tarrant County, and am good friends with the president elect of the

Arc of Texas.

They may be an old group, but that doesn't mean that they have

intensive knowledge about ALL developmental disabilities. For years,

many of the Arc chapters around the nation have primarily served

individuals with mental retardation. The " new " philosophy of serving

people with all developmental disabilities has only come about in the

last couple of years, and that by no means makes their policy makers

experts on ALL developmental disabilities. There are some local Arc

chapters that STILL only serve people with mental retardation and

openly proclaim that in their bylaws (one being a small chapter in my

county, at least until a few weeks ago!).

The people who spent the time putting together the State Autism Plan

are, by and large, those who deal EXCLUSIVELY with autism and know

the autism community and their needs quite well, particularly after

years of testimony from families. This council is not new...it was

around in 1994. However, it is finally getting a bit of political

clout that it has never had before thanks to a law passed several

legislative sessions ago.

So, while I do respect the work that the Arc of Texas does for

individuals with developmental disabilities, that doesn't mean they

know what is best for ALL developmental disabilities. I would

certainly consider them experts for the community of individuals with

mental retardation, but I would NOT consider them experts on autism

OR on cerebral palsy (I think United Cerebral Palsy would be the

expert on that disability).

Anyway, if the autism community has put forth this plan, it makes

sense to me that we MUST at least have a good idea of what OUR OWN

population needs...and much more so than another group who has only

recently folded additional groups into their ranks.

Yes, everyone is entitled to their opinion...and they are also

entitled to express it, as I have.

nna

[Guest guest]

Hi nna,

Thank you for expressing your concerns and viewpoints. I appreciate

that you have helped many Autism families in this State and also that

you serve as a Regional Advisor to the Autism Council. I know that

you, Anita, and Martha are here in this Yahoo Group. I am so

glad for each one being here to advocate for our Autism families.

You know there are many disabilites and I often read information of

other States where disabled groups have joined together to obtain

benefits - McKay Scholarship in Florida and recently Georgia and

Virginia have before them grants, scholarship or voucher programs too.

Thank you for also voicing concerns for programs for adults in the

spectrum. My son and I have a ways to go, but I am learning from

everybody here.

Your viewpoint is appreciated. I am committed to make greater

efforts to achieve Programs here in Texas for my son.

Mark

> > >

> > > If you will notice in this information forwarded from the Arc

of

> > > Texas, they DO NOT support the majority of the state autism

plan.

> > > IMHO, they simply do not have a good understanding of the

unique

> needs

> > > of individuals on the autism spectrum. They also do not support

> and in

> > > fact are very strongly opposed to autism waivers.

> > >

> > > I would, unless you agree with the Arc's position and are

against

> the

> > > majority of the state plan, avoid forwarding this particular

> email and

> > > info to folks who plan to testify on Thursday.

> > >

> > > nna

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

nna:

I am agreement with your comments 100%. I was confused when I first

read the " talking points " , and then seeing who sent them. Upon

second reading, I picked up that the " talking points " was from ARC.

Thank you for your comments and clearing up issues in my mind.

Bruce Ballard

> > >

> > > If you will notice in this information forwarded from the Arc

of

> > > Texas, they DO NOT support the majority of the state autism

plan.

> > > IMHO, they simply do not have a good understanding of the

unique

> needs

> > > of individuals on the autism spectrum. They also do not support

> and in

> > > fact are very strongly opposed to autism waivers.

> > >

> > > I would, unless you agree with the Arc's position and are

against

> the

> > > majority of the state plan, avoid forwarding this particular

> email and

> > > info to folks who plan to testify on Thursday.

> > >

> > > nna

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks for the very insightful comments and observations.

Is Arc of Texas planning on attending the meeting to express its talking

points ?

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

There are two meetings.

One is the public hearing about the State Plan scheduled for

Thursday, the 11th -- The other meeting on Friday the 12th is the

Council's own meeting (also open to the public, but it's not a public

hearing). http://www.autismcouncil.org/meetings/index.html

> >

> > If you will notice in this information forwarded from the Arc of

> > Texas, they DO NOT support the majority of the state autism plan.

> > IMHO, they simply do not have a good understanding of the unique

needs

>

> > of individuals on the autism spectrum. They also do not support

and in

>

> > fact are very strongly opposed to autism waivers.

> >

> > I would, unless you agree with the Arc's position and are against

the

> > majority of the state plan, avoid forwarding this particular

email and

>

> > info to folks who plan to testify on Thursday.

> >

> > nna

> >

>

>

>