Re: Guess what I just found out?

[Guest guest]

nna am I wrong here... But I always thought this meeting was simply a

public

hearing for folks to voice their concerns, offer solutions, give hopes,

dreams... to the

Autism Council. The Council would just use this hearing/meeting more for

gathering data

from the public which will then be used to form another state plan in a year and

half. This

meeting is only different from any other Council meeting in the fact that it

will be

webcasted... Also it is taking place in the Capitol building with the hopes

that our

Legislators and/or their staff may pop in and out.

?????

Liz

>

> The invited " guests " for the autism " hearing " on Thursday include The

> Arc of Texas, Advocacy, Inc., the DD Council....

>

> I find this an interesting list. What is their purpose in being

> there...the Arc doesn't like our plan as indicated already. How is that

> supposed to help kids with autism?

>

> I must say I am flummoxed at this bit of information. What is the

> purpose of their attendance?

>

> Does this strike anyone other than me as a bit odd? The plan is already

> written, published, printed and (hopefully) is sitting on the desk of

> every state legislator in Texas. Why are we having a hearing on

> something that is already a done deal and inviting people who we know

> don't agree with the plan? Without any legislators present?

>

> Have I fallen under a bus here or something? I am just not

> seeing/understanding the big picture here....

>

> nna

>

[Guest guest]

This Hearing is very important and a golden opportunity to personally get

involved in the process and help shape the solutions with the Autism Council

and the Task Force Chairs that have been charged with that responsibility.

I know that the hearings will be broadcast and several Reps will be either

watching or have a staffer watching. I would not worry about why some

organizations were invited as " guests " and others were not since the

invitation was to everyone and anyone who wants to provide input into

regarding issues such as " Transportation, Employment, Housing, Law

Enforcement, Education, Assessment and Eligibility, Limitations of Waiver

Programs for Autism, Council's 2007 State Plan on Autism, Issues not

included in the State Plan, Research, and Insurance limitations and

barriers. "

This is a public hearing and a chance to provide input to those who will

make recommendations to the policy makers later on in the session; it is not

the only hearing of the session. Just the 1st!

-------------------------------------------------------

Peacefully,

Jeff Sell, Esq.

Director of Chapters & Membership

Autism Society of America

7910 Woodmont Ave., Suite 300

Bethesda, MD 20814-3067

ext. 104 (office)

(cell)

(fax)

(e-fax)

www.autism-society.org

jzsell@...

jsell@...

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From: Texas-Autism-Advocacy

[mailto:Texas-Autism-Advocacy ] On Behalf Of nna Bond

Sent: Wednesday, January 10, 2007 5:27 PM

To: Texas-Autism-Advocacy

Subject: Guess what I just found out?

The invited " guests " for the autism " hearing " on Thursday include The

Arc of Texas, Advocacy, Inc., the DD Council....

I find this an interesting list. What is their purpose in being

there...the Arc doesn't like our plan as indicated already. How is that

supposed to help kids with autism?

I must say I am flummoxed at this bit of information. What is the

purpose of their attendance?

Does this strike anyone other than me as a bit odd? The plan is already

written, published, printed and (hopefully) is sitting on the desk of

every state legislator in Texas. Why are we having a hearing on

something that is already a done deal and inviting people who we know

don't agree with the plan? Without any legislators present?

Have I fallen under a bus here or something? I am just not

seeing/understanding the big picture here....

nna

[Guest guest]

nna and Liz,

I am also quite perplexed why groups that oppose some of the Autism

Council plan have decided to come into this hearing. It seems

rather late. Who are the spokesmen representing these groups?

Liz, can you provide the webcast link? Is it a delayed webcast?

When will it be posted if delayed?

Mark

> >

> > The invited " guests " for the autism " hearing " on Thursday

include The

> > Arc of Texas, Advocacy, Inc., the DD Council....

> >

> > I find this an interesting list. What is their purpose in being

> > there...the Arc doesn't like our plan as indicated already. How

is that

> > supposed to help kids with autism?

> >

> > I must say I am flummoxed at this bit of information. What is

the

> > purpose of their attendance?

> >

> > Does this strike anyone other than me as a bit odd? The plan is

already

> > written, published, printed and (hopefully) is sitting on the

desk of

> > every state legislator in Texas. Why are we having a hearing on

> > something that is already a done deal and inviting people who we

know

> > don't agree with the plan? Without any legislators present?

> >

> > Have I fallen under a bus here or something? I am just not

> > seeing/understanding the big picture here....

> >

> > nna

> >

>

[Guest guest]

nna and Liz,

I am also quite perplexed why groups that oppose some of the Autism

Council plan have decided to come into this hearing. It seems

rather late. Who are the spokesmen representing these groups?

Liz, can you provide the webcast link? Is it a delayed webcast?

When will it be posted if delayed?

Mark

> >

> > The invited " guests " for the autism " hearing " on Thursday

include The

> > Arc of Texas, Advocacy, Inc., the DD Council....

> >

> > I find this an interesting list. What is their purpose in being

> > there...the Arc doesn't like our plan as indicated already. How

is that

> > supposed to help kids with autism?

> >

> > I must say I am flummoxed at this bit of information. What is

the

> > purpose of their attendance?

> >

> > Does this strike anyone other than me as a bit odd? The plan is

already

> > written, published, printed and (hopefully) is sitting on the

desk of

> > every state legislator in Texas. Why are we having a hearing on

> > something that is already a done deal and inviting people who we

know

> > don't agree with the plan? Without any legislators present?

> >

> > Have I fallen under a bus here or something? I am just not

> > seeing/understanding the big picture here....

> >

> > nna

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Mark: Try the website below to access the webcast of the public

hearing on January 11 of the Texas Council on Autism-- #5 Room

E1.016.

Bruce Ballard

Tyler, Texas

http://www.senate.state.tx.us/bin/live.php

> > >

> > > The invited " guests " for the autism " hearing " on Thursday

> include The

> > > Arc of Texas, Advocacy, Inc., the DD Council....

> > >

> > > I find this an interesting list. What is their purpose in

being

> > > there...the Arc doesn't like our plan as indicated already.

How

> is that

> > > supposed to help kids with autism?

> > >

> > > I must say I am flummoxed at this bit of information. What is

> the

> > > purpose of their attendance?

> > >

> > > Does this strike anyone other than me as a bit odd? The plan

is

> already

> > > written, published, printed and (hopefully) is sitting on the

> desk of

> > > every state legislator in Texas. Why are we having a hearing

on

> > > something that is already a done deal and inviting people who

we

> know

> > > don't agree with the plan? Without any legislators present?

> > >

> > > Have I fallen under a bus here or something? I am just not

> > > seeing/understanding the big picture here....

> > >

> > > nna

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Thank you Bruce ........ great job. I never knew this was out there.

Mark

Carrollton

> > > >

> > > > The invited " guests " for the autism " hearing " on Thursday

> > include The

> > > > Arc of Texas, Advocacy, Inc., the DD Council....

> > > >

> > > > I find this an interesting list. What is their purpose in

> being

> > > > there...the Arc doesn't like our plan as indicated already.

> How

> > is that

> > > > supposed to help kids with autism?

> > > >

> > > > I must say I am flummoxed at this bit of information. What

is

> > the

> > > > purpose of their attendance?

> > > >

> > > > Does this strike anyone other than me as a bit odd? The plan

> is

> > already

> > > > written, published, printed and (hopefully) is sitting on

the

> > desk of

> > > > every state legislator in Texas. Why are we having a hearing

> on

> > > > something that is already a done deal and inviting people

who

> we

> > know

> > > > don't agree with the plan? Without any legislators present?

> > > >

> > > > Have I fallen under a bus here or something? I am just not

> > > > seeing/understanding the big picture here....

> > > >

> > > > nna

> > > >

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

I was just wondering what disability services (out side of school) were

available in the West Houston area.

Thanks so much!

[Guest guest]

Doesn't make sense unless it has something to do with the possible

voucher legislation.

Tonya

Guess what I just found out?

The invited " guests " for the autism " hearing " on Thursday include The

Arc of Texas, Advocacy, Inc., the DD Council....

I find this an interesting list. What is their purpose in being

there...the Arc doesn't like our plan as indicated already. How is that

supposed to help kids with autism?

I must say I am flummoxed at this bit of information. What is the

purpose of their attendance?

Does this strike anyone other than me as a bit odd? The plan is already

written, published, printed and (hopefully) is sitting on the desk of

every state legislator in Texas. Why are we having a hearing on

something that is already a done deal and inviting people who we know

don't agree with the plan? Without any legislators present?

Have I fallen under a bus here or something? I am just not

seeing/understanding the big picture here....

nna

[Guest guest]

I was at the meeting yesterday, I was not invited, it is a public

hearing open to all consumers, organizations etc.. There were many

parents there from the Austin and surrounding areas. There were also

many organizations that where not directly related to autism, like

the Faith Base Intiative Organization, Texas Freedom Network etc...

My point being it was a public hearing and anyone who wanted to could

testify and share their concerns, make suggestions etc....

I have to tell you there was a huge contingency of parents

complaining about the lack of adult services, poor design of the

medicaid waiver programs, there were 2 adults with high functioning

autism and asperger that testified, it was very touching. their

families were there, they all testified including siblings. It was

glaringly obvious to me, we have a very huge elephant in the room

that has been so far ignored. Many 'children' are now adults and

they have nothing to do, no where to go and the existing services are

terribly inadequate. These folks are smart, they want to work and

have a life, no one is helping them appropriately even though they

have medicaid waiver programs. So just extra slots, or another

program is not the answer, they have to be designed in such a way

that they are benefitial, of substance and quality and somewhat

flexible. BTW, the top attorney from the lawsuite about the waiting

lists testified and he was great, he wanted the council to advocate

for higher funding for each care level, and he had some very good

suggestions as well as offering his services to the council.

Nagla

> >

> > The invited " guests " for the autism " hearing " on Thursday include

The

> > Arc of Texas, Advocacy, Inc., the DD Council....

> >

> > I find this an interesting list. What is their purpose in being

> > there...the Arc doesn't like our plan as indicated already. How

is that

> > supposed to help kids with autism?

> >

> > I must say I am flummoxed at this bit of information. What is the

> > purpose of their attendance?

> >

> > Does this strike anyone other than me as a bit odd? The plan is

already

> > written, published, printed and (hopefully) is sitting on the

desk of

> > every state legislator in Texas. Why are we having a hearing on

> > something that is already a done deal and inviting people who we

know

> > don't agree with the plan? Without any legislators present?

> >

> > Have I fallen under a bus here or something? I am just not

> > seeing/understanding the big picture here....

> >

> > nna

> >

>