CINXE.COM

<!DOCTYPE html>     <html class="no-js">  <head><script type="text/javascript" src="/_static/js/bundle-playback.js?v=HxkREWBo" charset="utf-8"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/_static/js/wombat.js?v=txqj7nKC" charset="utf-8"></script> <script>window.RufflePlayer=window.RufflePlayer||{};window.RufflePlayer.config={"autoplay":"on","unmuteOverlay":"hidden"};</script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/_static/js/ruffle/ruffle.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> __wm.init("https://web.archive.org/web"); __wm.wombat("http://www.texastribune.org:80/2014/09/25/disability-groups-candidates-talk-issues-session/","20150805150242","https://web.archive.org/","web","/_static/", "1438786962"); </script> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/_static/css/banner-styles.css?v=S1zqJCYt" /> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/_static/css/iconochive.css?v=3PDvdIFv" />  <title>Disability Groups Hope Turnover Leads to Reform | The Texas Tribune</title> <link rel="shortcut icon" type="image/x-icon" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150805150242im_/https://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/common/images/favicon.ico"> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0"> <meta charset="utf-8"><script type="text/javascript">(window.NREUM||(NREUM={})).loader_config={xpid:"UgMGVFZADAYCUVBR"};window.NREUM||(NREUM={}),__nr_require=function(t,e,n){function r(n){if(!e[n]){var o=e[n]={exports:{}};t[n][0].call(o.exports,function(e){var o=t[n][1][e];return r(o?o:e)},o,o.exports)}return e[n].exports}if("function"==typeof __nr_require)return __nr_require;for(var o=0;o<n.length;o++)r(n[o]);return r}({QJf3ax:[function(t,e){function n(t){function e(e,n,a){t&&t(e,n,a),a||(a={});for(var c=s(e),f=c.length,u=i(a,o,r),d=0;f>d;d++)c[d].apply(u,n);return u}function a(t,e){f[t]=s(t).concat(e)}function s(t){return f[t]||[]}function c(){return n(e)}var f={};return{on:a,emit:e,create:c,listeners:s,_events:f}}function r(){return{}}var o="nr@context",i=t("gos");e.exports=n()},{gos:"7eSDFh"}],ee:[function(t,e){e.exports=t("QJf3ax")},{}],3:[function(t){function e(t){try{i.console&&console.log(t)}catch(e){}}var n,r=t("ee"),o=t(1),i={};try{n=localStorage.getItem("__nr_flags").split(","),console&&"function"==typeof console.log&&(i.console=!0,-1!==n.indexOf("dev")&&(i.dev=!0),-1!==n.indexOf("nr_dev")&&(i.nrDev=!0))}catch(a){}i.nrDev&&r.on("internal-error",function(t){e(t.stack)}),i.dev&&r.on("fn-err",function(t,n,r){e(r.stack)}),i.dev&&(e("NR AGENT IN DEVELOPMENT MODE"),e("flags: "+o(i,function(t){return t}).join(", ")))},{1:23,ee:"QJf3ax"}],4:[function(t){function e(t,e,n,i,s){try{c?c-=1:r("err",[s||new UncaughtException(t,e,n)])}catch(f){try{r("ierr",[f,(new Date).getTime(),!0])}catch(u){}}return"function"==typeof a?a.apply(this,o(arguments)):!1}function UncaughtException(t,e,n){this.message=t||"Uncaught error with no additional information",this.sourceURL=e,this.line=n}function n(t){r("err",[t,(new Date).getTime()])}var r=t("handle"),o=t(6),i=t("ee"),a=window.onerror,s=!1,c=0;t("loader").features.err=!0,t(5),window.onerror=e;try{throw new Error}catch(f){"stack"in f&&(t(1),t(2),"addEventListener"in window&&t(3),window.XMLHttpRequest&&XMLHttpRequest.prototype&&XMLHttpRequest.prototype.addEventListener&&window.XMLHttpRequest&&XMLHttpRequest.prototype&&XMLHttpRequest.prototype.addEventListener&&!/CriOS/.test(navigator.userAgent)&&t(4),s=!0)}i.on("fn-start",function(){s&&(c+=1)}),i.on("fn-err",function(t,e,r){s&&(this.thrown=!0,n(r))}),i.on("fn-end",function(){s&&!this.thrown&&c>0&&(c-=1)}),i.on("internal-error",function(t){r("ierr",[t,(new Date).getTime(),!0])})},{1:10,2:9,3:7,4:11,5:3,6:24,ee:"QJf3ax",handle:"D5DuLP",loader:"G9z0Bl"}],5:[function(t){t("loader").features.ins=!0},{loader:"G9z0Bl"}],6:[function(t){function e(){}if(window.performance&&window.performance.timing&&window.performance.getEntriesByType){var n=t("ee"),r=t("handle"),o=t(1),i=t(2);t("loader").features.stn=!0,t(3),n.on("fn-start",function(t){var e=t[0];e instanceof Event&&(this.bstStart=Date.now())}),n.on("fn-end",function(t,e){var n=t[0];n instanceof Event&&r("bst",[n,e,this.bstStart,Date.now()])}),o.on("fn-start",function(t,e,n){this.bstStart=Date.now(),this.bstType=n}),o.on("fn-end",function(t,e){r("bstTimer",[e,this.bstStart,Date.now(),this.bstType])}),i.on("fn-start",function(){this.bstStart=Date.now()}),i.on("fn-end",function(t,e){r("bstTimer",[e,this.bstStart,Date.now(),"requestAnimationFrame"])}),n.on("pushState-start",function(){this.time=Date.now(),this.startPath=location.pathname+location.hash}),n.on("pushState-end",function(){r("bstHist",[location.pathname+location.hash,this.startPath,this.time])}),"addEventListener"in window.performance&&(window.performance.addEventListener("webkitresourcetimingbufferfull",function(){r("bstResource",[window.performance.getEntriesByType("resource")]),window.performance.webkitClearResourceTimings()},!1),window.performance.addEventListener("resourcetimingbufferfull",function(){r("bstResource",[window.performance.getEntriesByType("resource")]),window.performance.clearResourceTimings()},!1)),document.addEventListener("scroll",e,!1),document.addEventListener("keypress",e,!1),document.addEventListener("click",e,!1)}},{1:10,2:9,3:8,ee:"QJf3ax",handle:"D5DuLP",loader:"G9z0Bl"}],7:[function(t,e){function n(t){i.inPlace(t,["addEventListener","removeEventListener"],"-",r)}function r(t){return t[1]}var o=(t(1),t("ee").create()),i=t(2)(o),a=t("gos");if(e.exports=o,n(window),"getPrototypeOf"in Object){for(var s=document;s&&!s.hasOwnProperty("addEventListener");)s=Object.getPrototypeOf(s);s&&n(s);for(var c=XMLHttpRequest.prototype;c&&!c.hasOwnProperty("addEventListener");)c=Object.getPrototypeOf(c);c&&n(c)}else XMLHttpRequest.prototype.hasOwnProperty("addEventListener")&&n(XMLHttpRequest.prototype);o.on("addEventListener-start",function(t){if(t[1]){var e=t[1];"function"==typeof e?this.wrapped=t[1]=a(e,"nr@wrapped",function(){return i(e,"fn-",null,e.name||"anonymous")}):"function"==typeof e.handleEvent&&i.inPlace(e,["handleEvent"],"fn-")}}),o.on("removeEventListener-start",function(t){var e=this.wrapped;e&&(t[1]=e)})},{1:24,2:25,ee:"QJf3ax",gos:"7eSDFh"}],8:[function(t,e){var n=(t(2),t("ee").create()),r=t(1)(n);e.exports=n,r.inPlace(window.history,["pushState"],"-")},{1:25,2:24,ee:"QJf3ax"}],9:[function(t,e){var n=(t(2),t("ee").create()),r=t(1)(n);e.exports=n,r.inPlace(window,["requestAnimationFrame","mozRequestAnimationFrame","webkitRequestAnimationFrame","msRequestAnimationFrame"],"raf-"),n.on("raf-start",function(t){t[0]=r(t[0],"fn-")})},{1:25,2:24,ee:"QJf3ax"}],10:[function(t,e){function n(t,e,n){t[0]=o(t[0],"fn-",null,n)}var r=(t(2),t("ee").create()),o=t(1)(r);e.exports=r,o.inPlace(window,["setTimeout","setInterval","setImmediate"],"setTimer-"),r.on("setTimer-start",n)},{1:25,2:24,ee:"QJf3ax"}],11:[function(t,e){function n(){f.inPlace(this,p,"fn-")}function r(t,e){f.inPlace(e,["onreadystatechange"],"fn-")}function o(t,e){return e}function i(t,e){for(var n in t)e[n]=t[n];return e}var a=t("ee").create(),s=t(1),c=t(2),f=c(a),u=c(s),d=window.XMLHttpRequest,p=["onload","onerror","onabort","onloadstart","onloadend","onprogress","ontimeout"];e.exports=a,window.XMLHttpRequest=function(t){var e=new d(t);try{a.emit("new-xhr",[],e),u.inPlace(e,["addEventListener","removeEventListener"],"-",o),e.addEventListener("readystatechange",n,!1)}catch(r){try{a.emit("internal-error",[r])}catch(i){}}return e},i(d,XMLHttpRequest),XMLHttpRequest.prototype=d.prototype,f.inPlace(XMLHttpRequest.prototype,["open","send"],"-xhr-",o),a.on("send-xhr-start",r),a.on("open-xhr-start",r)},{1:7,2:25,ee:"QJf3ax"}],12:[function(t){function e(t){var e=this.params,r=this.metrics;if(!this.ended){this.ended=!0;for(var i=0;c>i;i++)t.removeEventListener(s[i],this.listener,!1);if(!e.aborted){if(r.duration=(new Date).getTime()-this.startTime,4===t.readyState){e.status=t.status;var a=t.responseType,f="arraybuffer"===a||"blob"===a||"json"===a?t.response:t.responseText,u=n(f);if(u&&(r.rxSize=u),this.sameOrigin){var d=t.getResponseHeader("X-NewRelic-App-Data");d&&(e.cat=d.split(", ").pop())}}else e.status=0;r.cbTime=this.cbTime,o("xhr",[e,r,this.startTime])}}}function n(t){if("string"==typeof t&&t.length)return t.length;if("object"!=typeof t)return void 0;if("undefined"!=typeof ArrayBuffer&&t instanceof ArrayBuffer&&t.byteLength)return t.byteLength;if("undefined"!=typeof Blob&&t instanceof Blob&&t.size)return t.size;if("undefined"!=typeof FormData&&t instanceof FormData)return void 0;try{return JSON.stringify(t).length}catch(e){return void 0}}function r(t,e){var n=i(e),r=t.params;r.host=n.hostname+":"+n.port,r.pathname=n.pathname,t.sameOrigin=n.sameOrigin}if(window.XMLHttpRequest&&XMLHttpRequest.prototype&&XMLHttpRequest.prototype.addEventListener&&!/CriOS/.test(navigator.userAgent)){t("loader").features.xhr=!0;var o=t("handle"),i=t(2),a=t("ee"),s=["load","error","abort","timeout"],c=s.length,f=t(1);t(4),t(3),a.on("new-xhr",function(){this.totalCbs=0,this.called=0,this.cbTime=0,this.end=e,this.ended=!1,this.xhrGuids={}}),a.on("open-xhr-start",function(t){this.params={method:t[0]},r(this,t[1]),this.metrics={}}),a.on("open-xhr-end",function(t,e){"loader_config"in NREUM&&"xpid"in NREUM.loader_config&&this.sameOrigin&&e.setRequestHeader("X-NewRelic-ID",NREUM.loader_config.xpid)}),a.on("send-xhr-start",function(t,e){var r=this.metrics,o=t[0],i=this;if(r&&o){var f=n(o);f&&(r.txSize=f)}this.startTime=(new Date).getTime(),this.listener=function(t){try{"abort"===t.type&&(i.params.aborted=!0),("load"!==t.type||i.called===i.totalCbs&&(i.onloadCalled||"function"!=typeof e.onload))&&i.end(e)}catch(n){try{a.emit("internal-error",[n])}catch(r){}}};for(var u=0;c>u;u++)e.addEventListener(s[u],this.listener,!1)}),a.on("xhr-cb-time",function(t,e,n){this.cbTime+=t,e?this.onloadCalled=!0:this.called+=1,this.called!==this.totalCbs||!this.onloadCalled&&"function"==typeof n.onload||this.end(n)}),a.on("xhr-load-added",function(t,e){var n=""+f(t)+!!e;this.xhrGuids&&!this.xhrGuids[n]&&(this.xhrGuids[n]=!0,this.totalCbs+=1)}),a.on("xhr-load-removed",function(t,e){var n=""+f(t)+!!e;this.xhrGuids&&this.xhrGuids[n]&&(delete this.xhrGuids[n],this.totalCbs-=1)}),a.on("addEventListener-end",function(t,e){e instanceof XMLHttpRequest&&"load"===t[0]&&a.emit("xhr-load-added",[t[1],t[2]],e)}),a.on("removeEventListener-end",function(t,e){e instanceof XMLHttpRequest&&"load"===t[0]&&a.emit("xhr-load-removed",[t[1],t[2]],e)}),a.on("fn-start",function(t,e,n){e instanceof XMLHttpRequest&&("onload"===n&&(this.onload=!0),("load"===(t[0]&&t[0].type)||this.onload)&&(this.xhrCbStart=(new Date).getTime()))}),a.on("fn-end",function(t,e){this.xhrCbStart&&a.emit("xhr-cb-time",[(new Date).getTime()-this.xhrCbStart,this.onload,e],e)})}},{1:"XL7HBI",2:13,3:11,4:7,ee:"QJf3ax",handle:"D5DuLP",loader:"G9z0Bl"}],13:[function(t,e){e.exports=function(t){var e=document.createElement("a"),n=window.location,r={};e.href=t,r.port=e.port;var o=e.href.split("://");return!r.port&&o[1]&&(r.port=o[1].split("/")[0].split("@").pop().split(":")[1]),r.port&&"0"!==r.port||(r.port="https"===o[0]?"443":"80"),r.hostname=e.hostname||n.hostname,r.pathname=e.pathname,r.protocol=o[0],"/"!==r.pathname.charAt(0)&&(r.pathname="/"+r.pathname),r.sameOrigin=!e.hostname||e.hostname===document.domain&&e.port===n.port&&e.protocol===n.protocol,r}},{}],14:[function(t,e){function n(t){return function(){r(t,[(new Date).getTime()].concat(i(arguments)))}}var r=t("handle"),o=t(1),i=t(2);"undefined"==typeof window.newrelic&&(newrelic=window.NREUM);var a=["setPageViewName","addPageAction","setCustomAttribute","finished","addToTrace","inlineHit","noticeError"];o(a,function(t,e){window.NREUM[e]=n("api-"+e)}),e.exports=window.NREUM},{1:23,2:24,handle:"D5DuLP"}],"7eSDFh":[function(t,e){function n(t,e,n){if(r.call(t,e))return t[e];var o=n();if(Object.defineProperty&&Object.keys)try{return Object.defineProperty(t,e,{value:o,writable:!0,enumerable:!1}),o}catch(i){}return t[e]=o,o}var r=Object.prototype.hasOwnProperty;e.exports=n},{}],gos:[function(t,e){e.exports=t("7eSDFh")},{}],handle:[function(t,e){e.exports=t("D5DuLP")},{}],D5DuLP:[function(t,e){function n(t,e,n){return r.listeners(t).length?r.emit(t,e,n):(o[t]||(o[t]=[]),void o[t].push(e))}var r=t("ee").create(),o={};e.exports=n,n.ee=r,r.q=o},{ee:"QJf3ax"}],id:[function(t,e){e.exports=t("XL7HBI")},{}],XL7HBI:[function(t,e){function n(t){var e=typeof t;return!t||"object"!==e&&"function"!==e?-1:t===window?0:i(t,o,function(){return r++})}var r=1,o="nr@id",i=t("gos");e.exports=n},{gos:"7eSDFh"}],G9z0Bl:[function(t,e){function n(){var t=p.info=NREUM.info,e=f.getElementsByTagName("script")[0];if(t&&t.licenseKey&&t.applicationID&&e){s(d,function(e,n){e in t||(t[e]=n)});var n="https"===u.split(":")[0]||t.sslForHttp;p.proto=n?"https://":"http://",a("mark",["onload",i()]);var r=f.createElement("script");r.src=p.proto+t.agent,e.parentNode.insertBefore(r,e)}}function r(){"complete"===f.readyState&&o()}function o(){a("mark",["domContent",i()])}function i(){return(new Date).getTime()}var a=t("handle"),s=t(1),c=(t(2),window),f=c.document,u=(""+location).split("?")[0],d={beacon:"bam.nr-data.net",errorBeacon:"bam.nr-data.net",agent:"js-agent.newrelic.com/nr-632.min.js"},p=e.exports={offset:i(),origin:u,features:{}};f.addEventListener?(f.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded",o,!1),c.addEventListener("load",n,!1)):(f.attachEvent("onreadystatechange",r),c.attachEvent("onload",n)),a("mark",["firstbyte",i()])},{1:23,2:14,handle:"D5DuLP"}],loader:[function(t,e){e.exports=t("G9z0Bl")},{}],23:[function(t,e){function n(t,e){var n=[],o="",i=0;for(o in t)r.call(t,o)&&(n[i]=e(o,t[o]),i+=1);return n}var r=Object.prototype.hasOwnProperty;e.exports=n},{}],24:[function(t,e){function n(t,e,n){e||(e=0),"undefined"==typeof n&&(n=t?t.length:0);for(var r=-1,o=n-e||0,i=Array(0>o?0:o);++r<o;)i[r]=t[e+r];return i}e.exports=n},{}],25:[function(t,e){function n(t){return!(t&&"function"==typeof t&&t.apply&&!t[i])}var r=t("ee"),o=t(1),i="nr@wrapper",a=Object.prototype.hasOwnProperty;e.exports=function(t){function e(t,e,r,a){function nrWrapper(){var n,i,s,f;try{i=this,n=o(arguments),s=r&&r(n,i)||{}}catch(d){u([d,"",[n,i,a],s])}c(e+"start",[n,i,a],s);try{return f=t.apply(i,n)}catch(p){throw c(e+"err",[n,i,p],s),p}finally{c(e+"end",[n,i,f],s)}}return n(t)?t:(e||(e=""),nrWrapper[i]=!0,f(t,nrWrapper),nrWrapper)}function s(t,r,o,i){o||(o="");var a,s,c,f="-"===o.charAt(0);for(c=0;c<r.length;c++)s=r[c],a=t[s],n(a)||(t[s]=e(a,f?s+o:o,i,s))}function c(e,n,r){try{t.emit(e,n,r)}catch(o){u([o,e,n,r])}}function f(t,e){if(Object.defineProperty&&Object.keys)try{var n=Object.keys(t);return n.forEach(function(n){Object.defineProperty(e,n,{get:function(){return t[n]},set:function(e){return t[n]=e,e}})}),e}catch(r){u([r])}for(var o in t)a.call(t,o)&&(e[o]=t[o]);return e}function u(e){try{t.emit("internal-error",e)}catch(n){}}return t||(t=r),e.inPlace=s,e.flag=i,e}},{1:24,ee:"QJf3ax"}]},{},["G9z0Bl",4,12,6,5]);</script><script type="text/javascript">window.NREUM||(NREUM={});NREUM.info={"beacon":"bam.nr-data.net","queueTime":0,"licenseKey":"8636ab2091","agent":"js-agent.newrelic.com/nr-632.min.js","transactionName":"ZwZWZ0NWD0VRAE1YCV5MckZfVBVfXw0WUgleF1FdRRkSQl8RUFQVHhVdVkZEW3VfDU1UCEQnUUdQXg0=","applicationID":"452513","errorBeacon":"bam.nr-data.net","applicationTime":749}</script> <meta name="description" content="Advocates for Texans with disabilities are&nbsp;seeking serious reform in the 2015 legislative session &mdash; and they're hopeful that the turnover in statewide offices in November might help them get what they've long sought.&nbsp;"/> <meta name="keywords" content=""/> <meta property="twitter:card" content="photo"/> <meta property="twitter:site" content="The Texas Tribune"/> <meta property="twitter:title" content="Disability Groups Hope Turnover Leads to Reform, by Edgar Walters"/> <meta property="twitter:description" content="Advocates for Texans with disabilities are&nbsp;seeking serious reform in the 2015 legislative session &mdash; and they're hopeful that the turnover in statewide offices in November might help them get what they've long sought.&nbsp;"/> <meta property="twitter:image" content="https://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/media/images/AustinStateSchool_wideroom_jpg_407x1000_q100.jpg"> <meta name="parsely-title" content="Disability Groups Hope Turnover Leads to Reform"/> <meta name="parsely-link" content="http://www.texastribune.org/2014/09/25/disability-groups-candidates-talk-issues-session/"/> <meta name="parsely-pub-date" content="Sept. 25, 2014, 6 a.m."/> <meta name="parsely-author" content="Edgar Walters"/> <meta name="parsely-section" content="FRONT PAGE, HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES"/> <meta property="parsely-image-url" content="https://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/media/images/AustinStateSchool_wideroom_jpg_407x1000_q100.jpg"> <meta name="parsely-type" content="post"/> <meta property="fb:app_id" content="154122474650943"> <meta property="og:site_name" content="The Texas Tribune"/> <meta property="og:url" content="https://web.archive.org/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/2014/09/25/disability-groups-candidates-talk-issues-session/"/> <meta property="twitter:url" content="http://www.texastribune.org/2014/09/25/disability-groups-candidates-talk-issues-session/"/> <meta property="og:title" content="Disability Groups Hope Turnover Leads to Reform, by Edgar Walters"/> <meta property="og:type" content="article"/> <meta property="og:description" content="Advocates for Texans with disabilities are&nbsp;seeking serious reform in the 2015 legislative session &mdash; and they're hopeful that the turnover in statewide offices in November might help them get what they've long sought.&nbsp;"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://web.archive.org/web/20150805150242im_/https://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/media/images/AustinStateSchool_wideroom_jpg_800x1000_q100.jpg"/>  <script type="text/javascript" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150805150242js_/http://use.typekit.com/brb4jmm.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript">try{Typekit.load();}catch(e){}</script> <link href="https://plus.google.com/116406259333166116089/" rel="publisher"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/2014/09/25/disability-groups-candidates-talk-issues-session/"> <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150805150242cs_/https://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/COMPRESSED/css/5e1e51bf84c4.css" type="text/css"/>  <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150805150242cs_/https://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/common/css/story_base.css"> <script> (function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){i['GoogleAnalyticsObject']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){ (i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o), m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m) })(window,document,'script','//web.archive.org/web/20150805150242/http://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js','ga'); ga('create', 'UA-9827490-1', 'texastribune.org'); ga('require', 'displayfeatures'); ga('send', 'pageview'); </script> <script>(function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start': new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0], j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src= '//web.archive.org/web/20150805150242/http://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f); })(window,document,'script','mipData','GTM-NBBG35');</script> <script>// var tt = tt || {}; tt.debug = false; tt.media_url = 'https://web.archive.org/web/20150805150242/https://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/common/'; tt.facebook = {appId: '154122474650943'}; // Doubleclick integration tt.ads = { // targeting: {}, // addTarget: function(key, value) { if (typeof key === 'undefined'){ // get all attrs return tt.ads.targeting; } else { // set attr tt.ads.targeting[key] = value; } } }; </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150805150242js_/http://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jquery/1.7.2/jquery.min.js"></script> <script>window.jQuery || document.write('<script src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150805150242/https://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/common/vendor/jquery/1.7.2/jquery.min.js"><\/script>')</script> <script type="text/javascript" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150805150242js_/http://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jqueryui/1.8.18/jquery-ui.min.js"></script> <script>window.jQuery.ui || document.write('<script src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150805150242/https://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/common/vendor/jqueryui/jquery-ui-1.8.18.min.js"><\/script>')</script> <script src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150805150242js_/https://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/common/vendor/modernizr/modernizr.min.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> var tt = tt || {}; tt.currentPage = tt.currentPage || {}; var shortenedHash = '1qvvAiJ'; tt.currentPage.canonicalUrl = '/2014/09/25/disability\u002Dgroups\u002Dcandidates\u002Dtalk\u002Dissues\u002Dsession/'; var authorTwitterAccounts = ['']; tt.currentPage.authors = [ "Edgar Walters" ]; tt.currentPage.authorsText = "Edgar Walters"; tt.currentPage.sections = [ "article" ]; tt.currentPage.sections.push("FRONT PAGE"); tt.currentPage.sections.push("HEALTH \u0026 HUMAN SERVICES"); </script> </head> <body class="story responsive"> <script type="text/javascript"> var _qevents = _qevents || []; (function() { var elem = document.createElement('script'); elem.src = (document.location.protocol == "https:" ? "https://web.archive.org/web/20150805150242/https://secure" : "https://web.archive.org/web/20150805150242/http://edge") + ".quantserve.com/quant.js"; elem.async = true; elem.type = "text/javascript"; var scpt = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; scpt.parentNode.insertBefore(elem, scpt); })(); </script> <script type="text/javascript">var _sf_startpt=(new Date()).getTime()</script> <div class="wrapper-r"> <div id="site_roofline" style="position:relative;"> <div class="hide-for-mobile large_ad_container"> <div class="ad adunit tablet standard" data-dimensions="728x90" data-adunit="TexasTribune_Site_Roofline1_ATF_Leaderboard_728x90"> </div> <div class="ad adunit tablet standard" data-dimensions="728x90" data-adunit="TexasTribune_Site_Roofline2_ATF_Leaderboard_728x90"> </div> <div class="ad adunit tablet standard" data-dimensions="728x90" data-adunit="TexasTribune_Site_Roofline3_ATF_Leaderboard_728x90"> </div> <div class="ad adunit tablet standard" data-dimensions="728x90" data-adunit="TexasTribune_Site_Roofline4_ATF_Leaderboard_728x90"> </div> </div> <div class="mobile-only"> <div class="ad adunit mobile" data-dimensions="300x100" data-adunit="_TexasTribune_Site_Roofline1_ATF_Leaderboard_300x100"> </div> <div class="ad adunit mobile" data-dimensions="300x100" data-adunit="_TexasTribune_Site_Roofline2_ATF_Leaderboard_300x100"> </div> <div class="ad adunit mobile" data-dimensions="300x100" data-adunit="_TexasTribune_Site_Roofline3_ATF_Leaderboard_300x100"> </div> <div class="ad adunit mobile" data-dimensions="300x100" data-adunit="_TexasTribune_Site_Roofline4_ATF_Leaderboard_300x100"> </div> </div> </div> <div id="greeting"> <ul> <li> <a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/accounts/register/" title="Register for your free Texas Tribune account">Register</a> </li> <li class="last"> <a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/accounts/login/?next=">Login</a> <script> (function(){ var allScripts = document.getElementsByTagName('script'), currentScript = allScripts[allScripts.length - 1], node = currentScript; while (node = node.previousSibling) { if (node.nodeName == "A"){ node.href += document.location.pathname; break; } }; })(); </script> </li> </ul> </div> <header id="site_header"> <nav class="navbar primary"> <ul> <li class="hide-for-mobile navbar-search"> <form method="get" action="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/search/"> <input id="site_search_q" name="q" type="text" value="" placeholder="Search..."> <button type="submit" aria-label="Submit"><i class="icon-search"></i></button> </form> </li> <li class="active hide-for-mobile dropdown-toggle"> <a class="dropdown-toggle" href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/"> Front Page </a> <div class="mega-dropdown grid" id="sections"> <div class="cell w-3 tab_nav_cell"> <ul id="sidemenu" class="tab-nav"> <li><a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/economy/" data-section="economy"> Economy </a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/education/" data-section="education"> Education </a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/energy-and-environment/" data-section="energy-and-environment"> Energy & Environment</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/government/" data-section="government"> Government </a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/health-and-human-services/" data-section="health-and-human-services"> Health & Human Services </a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/law-and-order/" data-section="law-and-order"> Law & Order </a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/people/" data-section="people"> People </a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/politics/" data-section="politics"> Politics </a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/race-and-immigration/" data-section="race-and-immigration"> Race & Immigration </a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/transportation/" data-section="transportation"> Transportation </a></li> </ul> </div> <div id="sections-tab-container" class="cell w-9 tab_container" data-content-resource="/esi/components/megadropdown/"> <div style="padding: 1em; font-family: 'LeagueGothicRegular'; font-size:2.1em; color: #999; ">Loading...</div> </div> </div> </li> <li class="hide-for-mobile"> <a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/data/"> Data </a> </li> <li class="hide-for-mobile"> <a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/directory/"> Directory </a> </li> <li class="hide-for-mobile"> <a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/events/"> Events </a> </li> <li class="hide-for-mobile"> <a class="festival-nav" href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/festival/"> Festival </a> </li> <li class="hide-for-mobile dropdown-toggle"> <a class="multimedia" href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/multimedia/"> Multimedia </a> <ul class="dropdown"> <li><a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/livestream/">Livestream</a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="hide-for-mobile dropdown-toggle"> <a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/subscribe/"> Newsletters </a> <ul class="dropdown"> <li><a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/tribpedia/the-brief/">The Brief</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/texas-weekly/">Texas Weekly</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/plus/edu/">Trib+Edu</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/plus/health/">Trib+Health</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/plus/water/">Trib+Water</a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="hide-for-mobile"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150805150242/http://www.tribtalk.org/"> TribTalk </a> </li> <li class="hide-for-mobile"> <a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/investigations/" title="Investigations"> Investigations </a> </li> <li class="hide-for-mobile"> <a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/2016/" title="2016 Presidential Elections"> 2016 </a> </li> <li class="mobile-only active dropdown-toggle"> <a href="#"> Menu<i class="icon-caret-down"></i> </a> <ul class="mobile-dropdown"> <li> <a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/">Front Page</a> </li> <li> <a class="data" href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/data/">Data</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/directory/">Directory</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/events/">Events</a> </li> <li> <a class="festival-nav" href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/festival/">Festival</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/multimedia/">Multimedia</a> </li> <li><a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/livestream/">Livestream</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/tribpedia/the-brief/">The Brief</a></li> <li> <a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/texas-weekly/">Texas Weekly</a> </li> <li><a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/plus/edu/">Trib+Edu</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/plus/health/">Trib+Health</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/plus/water/">Trib+Water</a></li> <li> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150805150242/http://www.tribtalk.org/">TribTalk</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/investigations/" title="Investigations"> Investigations </a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/2016/" title="2016 Presidential Elections"> 2016 </a> </li> </ul> </li> <li class="mobile-only dropdown-toggle"> <a href="#"> Sections<i class="icon-caret-down"></i> </a> <ul class="mobile-dropdown"> <li><a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/economy/" data-section="economy"> Economy </a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/education/" data-section="education"> Education </a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/energy-and-environment/" data-section="energy-and-environment"> Energy & Environment</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/government/" data-section="government"> Government </a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/health-and-human-services/" data-section="health-and-human-services"> Health & Human Services </a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/law-and-order/" data-section="law-and-order"> Law & Order </a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/people/" data-section="people"> People </a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/politics/" data-section="politics"> Politics </a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/race-and-immigration/" data-section="race-and-immigration"> Race & Immigration </a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/transportation/" data-section="transportation"> Transportation </a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="mobile-only dropdown-toggle"> <a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/search/"><i class="icon-search"></i></a> <div class="mobile-dropdown mobile-search"> <form method="get" action="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/search/"> <input name="q" type="text" value="" placeholder="SEARCH"> <button type="search" alt="Do Search"> <i class="icon-search"></i> </button> </form> </div> </li> <li class="mobile-only active" id="mobi_join"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150805150242/http://support.texastribune.org/"> Support Us </a> </li> </ul> </nav> <div class="ad last"> <a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/join/" title="Contribute Today" style="display: block; padding-top: .5em"> <div style="background:url(//web.archive.org/web/20150805150242im_/http://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/media/membership/TT-support-us-front-page-btn120x60.jpg) no-repeat; width: 120px; height:60px; background-size: 120px 60px;"></div> </a> </div> <div class="below_nav"> <h1 id="logo"><a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150805150242im_/https://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/common/images/logo.png" alt="The Texas Tribune"></a></h1> <time datetime="2015-08-05T10:02:37.732317">Wednesday, August 5, 2015</time> </div> </header> </div> <div class="wrapper content-wrapper"> <div id="site_content" class="content "> <div class="grid"> <div class="cell w-8 main_column"> <article class="last"> <header> <h1>Disability Groups Hope Turnover Leads to Reform</h1> <ul class="meta separator"><li class="byline"> by <a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/edgar-walters/" rel="author">Edgar Walters</a></li><li><time datetime="Thu, 25 Sep 2014 06:00:00 -0500" title="2014-09-25 06:00"> Sept. 25, 2014 </time></li><li class="comments"><a class="comments" href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/2014/09/25/disability-groups-candidates-talk-issues-session/comments/"><span class="value">4</span><span class="label">Comments</span></a></li></ul> </header> <aside> <ul class="social_links"> <li class="comment"> <a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/2014/09/25/disability-groups-candidates-talk-issues-session/comments/" title=""> <i class="icon-comments-alt"></i> <span>Comment</span> </a> </li> <li class="republish"> <a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/content/republish/75792/"> <i class="icon-share"></i> <span>Republish</span> </a> </li> <li class="email"> <a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#615e1214030b0402155c350904445351350419001244535135130803140f045b4453512508120003080d08151844535126130e141112445351290e11044453513514Xrnover%20Leads%20to%20Reform&body=I%20read an article%20that%20you%20might%20be%20interested%20in%20at%20The%20Texas%20Tribune:%20Disability%20Groups%20Hope%20Turnover%20Leads%20to%20Reform%2C%20by%20Edgar Walters.%20http://www.texastribune.org/2014/09/25/disability-groups-candidates-talk-issues-session/%0DAdvocates%20for%20Texans%20with%20disabilities%20are%26nbsp%3Bseeking%20serious%20reform%20in%20the%202015%20legislative%20session%20%26mdash%3B%20and%20they%27re%20hopeful%20that%20the%20turnover%20in%20statewide%20offices%20in%20November%20might%20help%20them%20get%20what%20they%27ve%20long%20sought.%26nbsp%3B" title="" class="email"> <i class="icon-envelope"></i> <span>Email</span> </a> </li> <li class="twitter"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150805150242/http://twitter.com/share?text=Disability Groups Hope Turnover Leads to Reform&url=http://trib.it/1qvvAiJ&via=TexasTribune&related=TexasTribune,TribData"> <i class="icon-twitter"></i> <span>Tweet</span> </a> </li> <li class="facebook"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150805150242/http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=http://www.texastribune.org/2014/09/25/disability-groups-candidates-talk-issues-session/"> <i class="icon-facebook"></i> <span>Recommend</span> </a> </li> </ul> </aside> <div class="content"> <div class="media article_detail unprose"> <a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150805150242/http://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/media/images/AustinStateSchool_wideroom_jpg_800x1000_q100.jpg" title="Austin State-Supported Living Center employee Tamika Mays is shown with resident Rebecca Hadnot in 2011." class="lightbox"> <img src="//web.archive.org/web/20150805150242im_/http://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/media/images/AustinStateSchool_wideroom_jpg_312x1000_q100.jpg" alt="Austin State-Supported Living Center employee Tamika Mays is shown with resident Rebecca Hadnot in 2011."> </a> <div class="photo_links"> <a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150805150242/http://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/media/images/AustinStateSchool_wideroom_jpg_800x1000_q100.jpg" title="Austin State-Supported Living Center employee Tamika Mays is shown with resident Rebecca Hadnot in 2011." class="lightbox enlarge">Enlarge</a> <cite>Photo by Todd Wiseman</cite> </div> <div class="photo_caption">Austin State-Supported Living Center employee Tamika Mays is shown with resident Rebecca Hadnot in 2011.</div> </div> <p><sub>*Correction appended</sub></p> <p>As an entirely new roster of politicians takes statewide office next year, disability rights advocates are asking those future Texas leaders to work with lawmakers to address a struggling system of care for the state's most vulnerable population.</p> <p>But while their traditional allies in elective office — Democrats — appear up and down the ballot, those candidates are running well behind their Republican counterparts. And at a statewide candidates forum in Austin on Wednesday hosted by <span>the disability rights groups Coalition of Texans with Disabilities, ADAPT of Texas and The Arc of Texas, </span>not a single Republican candidate made an in-person appearance. </p> <p>Attorney General <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/directory/greg-abbott/">Greg Abbott</a>, the Republican front-runner for governor who<span> uses a wheelchair after </span><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/2013/08/02/greg-abbott-gets-millions-lawsuit-proceeds/">being paralyzed</a><span> three decades ago by a falling tree,</span> submitted a questionnaire in his stead, citing a prior engagement. </p> <p><span style="line-height: 1.35;">Disability rights advocates say they seek changes to the system of state-supported institutions for people with disabilities, a solution to the shortage of caregivers and relief from the massive waiting lists facing people who seek community-based care.</span></p><div class="ad_container ad_container--adify"> <div class="ad adunit mobile tablet standard" data-adunit="TexasTribune_Content_StoryPage_InsideStory_468x60"> </div> </div> <p>“This is a community that’s not asking for the moon,” said Dennis Borel, executive director of the Coalition of Texans with Disabilities. “This is a very disadvantaged population.”</p> <p>Last month, the Sunset Advisory Commission, which evaluates the efficiency of state agencies, called on lawmakers to <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/2014/08/13/commission-recommends-reforms-state-agencies/">shutter</a> an Austin-area institution for people with disabilities and to identify others around the state that might be closed later. And the Texas Public Policy Foundation, a conservative think tank, has jumped aboard the plan to consolidate or close the institutions — which have fallen under federal scrutiny for abuse and neglect allegations — as a cost-saving mechanism. </p> <p>Texas spends more than $600 million a year to operate its state-supported living centers, which are home to 3,600 people — far fewer than their capacity. Meanwhile, more than 100,000 people are waiting to get into community-based programs. The situation has prompted public outcry from disability advocates and presents a tough challenge for lawmakers going into the 2015 legislative session. </p> <p>Wednesday’s forum was billed as a nonpartisan event for candidates for governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general, but only Democratic candidates showed.</p> <p>Gubernatorial hopeful <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/directory/wendy-davis/">Wendy Davis</a> told attendees that people with disabilities were included in her campaign promises to invest in health care and public education. “As a state, we have to decide that this is a priority, that every single person in our state deserves to be successful and to optimize their opportunity to be a vibrant part of their community,” Davis said.</p> <p>Davis, a state senator from Fort Worth, has called for raising the minimum wage, a change she said would help curb the shortage of attendants for people with disabilities and reduce the long waiting lists that people with disabilities face when seeking community-based care. "If people are asked to do something that is challenging and they are underpaid to do it, we can’t expect that there are going to be people who want to do these roles,” Davis said.</p> <p>She took the opportunity to criticize <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/directory/greg-abbott/">Abbott</a>, <span>her Republican opponent,</span> for his opposition to the Affordable Care Act and his actions as attorney general to defend cuts the state Legislature made to public school districts in 2011.</p> <p>While Abbott did not attend, he was the lone Republican candidate to fill out a policy questionnaire provided by the disability rights groups. His campaign said he could not<strong> </strong>attend the forum because he had already agreed to be in Midland and Odessa. </p><div class="ad_container ad_container--adify"> <div class="ad adunit mobile tablet standard" data-adunit="TexasTribune_Content_StoryPage_InsideStory2_468x60"> </div> </div> <p>In his written answers, Abbott expressed support for higher wages for community caregivers and for turning Medicaid into a system of block grants to give the state more flexibility to administer the program, which he said was “in dire need of reform.”</p> <p>“Most importantly, as a Texan with a disability, I will be a strong advocate for Texans with disabilities by demonstrating that individuals with disabilities have a rightful place in the mainstream of Texas culture,” he wrote.</p> <p>Abbott has frequently mentioned his disability and talked about overcoming adversity during his campaign. It is the subject of a recent campaign advertisement that has been <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150805150242/http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2014/09/03/greg-abbotts-new-ad-is-very-very-good/">praised</a> by some political analysts.</p> <p>But Borel said Abbott’s personal history is largely irrelevant to his policy positions. “Having a disability doesn’t make him less qualified or more qualified, and I don’t think he should be held to a different standard,” Borel said by phone Tuesday. “He’s not living in poverty. He’s not on Medicaid.”</p> <p>Democratic candidates <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/directory/leticia-van-de-putte/">Leticia Van de Putte</a>, who is running for lieutenant governor, and <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/directory/sam-houston/">Sam Houston</a>, a candidate for attorney general, hold many of the same positions as Davis and took shots at their absent opponents for not filling out the policy questionnaire.</p> <p>Van de Putte said she had developed a more nuanced appreciation of disability rights issues when, after reconstructive surgery to her foot, she briefly had to use a wheelchair.</p> <p>“People always say that you never know until you walk a mile in someone else’s shoes,” she said. “I’m telling you, you never know until you spend a couple of days in a chair.”</p> <p><em>Bobby Blanchard contributed to this story.</em></p> <p><sub>Editor's note: An earlier version of this story said the Sunset Advisory Commission recommended that the state identify five state-supported living centers for closure. The commission has since recommended the state identify an unspecified number for closure.</sub></p> </div> <aside> <ul class="social_links"> <li class="comment"> <a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/2014/09/25/disability-groups-candidates-talk-issues-session/comments/" title=""> <i class="icon-comments-alt"></i> <span>Comment</span> </a> </li> <li class="republish"> <a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/content/republish/75792/"> <i class="icon-share"></i> <span>Republish</span> </a> </li> <li class="email"> <a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#f6c98583949c939582cba29e93d3c4c6a2938e9785d3c4c6a2849f94839893ccd3c4c6b29f8597949f9a9f828fd3c4c6b18499838685d3c4c6be998693d3c4c6a283Xrnover%20Leads%20to%20Reform&body=I%20read an article%20that%20you%20might%20be%20interested%20in%20at%20The%20Texas%20Tribune:%20Disability%20Groups%20Hope%20Turnover%20Leads%20to%20Reform%2C%20by%20Edgar Walters.%20http://www.texastribune.org/2014/09/25/disability-groups-candidates-talk-issues-session/%0DAdvocates%20for%20Texans%20with%20disabilities%20are%26nbsp%3Bseeking%20serious%20reform%20in%20the%202015%20legislative%20session%20%26mdash%3B%20and%20they%27re%20hopeful%20that%20the%20turnover%20in%20statewide%20offices%20in%20November%20might%20help%20them%20get%20what%20they%27ve%20long%20sought.%26nbsp%3B" title="" class="email"> <i class="icon-envelope"></i> <span>Email</span> </a> </li> <li class="twitter"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150805150242/http://twitter.com/share?text=Disability Groups Hope Turnover Leads to Reform&url=http://trib.it/1qvvAiJ&via=TexasTribune&related=TexasTribune,TribData"> <i class="icon-twitter"></i> <span>Tweet</span> </a> </li> <li class="facebook"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150805150242/http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=http://www.texastribune.org/2014/09/25/disability-groups-candidates-talk-issues-session/"> <i class="icon-facebook"></i> <span>Recommend</span> </a> </li> </ul> </aside> <footer> <div class="grid"> <div class="cell w-6"> <aside class="sidebar_block related content_list"> <header> <h2>Related Content</h2> </header> <dl> <dt> <a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/2014/08/13/commission-recommends-reforms-state-agencies/">Commission Formally Calls for Closure of Institutions</a> </dt> <dt> <a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/2014/06/23/advocates-disabled-end-texas-institutional-bias/">Advocates for Disabled: End Texas' "Institutional Bias"</a> </dt> </dl> </aside> </div> <div class="cell w-6"> <aside class="sidebar_block related"> <header> <h2>Related Tribpedia</h2> </header> <ul class="related topics indent sans-serif"> <li> <a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/tribpedia/wendy-davis/">Wendy Davis</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/tribpedia/state-supported-living-centers/">State-supported Living Centers</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/tribpedia/leticia-van-de-putte/">Leticia Van De Putte</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/tribpedia/sunset-advisory-commission/">Sunset Advisory Commission</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/tribpedia/greg-abbott/">Greg Abbott</a> </li> </ul> </aside> </div> </div> </footer> </article> <nav class="back_to_top"> <a href="#"><i class="icon-arrow-up"></i> Back To Top</a> </nav> </div> <div class=" rail cell w-4 hide-for-medium-down"> <section class="trib_newsletter"> <form action="https://web.archive.org/web/20150805150242/http://texastribune.us3.list-manage2.com/subscribe/post?u=3d0ce87edeeb6df90043897db&id=68501b81bf" method="post" id="mc-embedded-subscribe-form" name="mc-embedded-subscribe-form" class="validate" target="_blank" novalidate> <header> <h2>Sign Up for The Brief</h2> </header> <p>Our daily news summary</p> <div class="mc-field-group nowrap"> <input type="email" value="" name="EMAIL" class="input_neue required email" id="mce-EMAIL" placeholder="enter your email here"> <input type="submit" value="Submit" name="subscribe" id="mc-embedded-subscribe" class="btn_neue"> </div> <div style="position: absolute; left: -5000px;"><input type="text" name="b_3d0ce87edeeb6df90043897db_68501b81bf" tabindex="-1" value=""></div> </form> </section> <section class="ad_container sidebar_block"> <div class="sponsor_image_holder"> <div class="ad adunit tablet standard" data-dimensions="300x250" data-adunit="TexasTribune_Content_StoryPage_ATF_RightRail1_MediumRectangle_300x250"> </div> </div> </section> <section class="sidebar_block content_list"> <header> <h1>New on the Trib</h1> </header> <dl> <dt> <a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/08/05/new-law-will-let-more-texans-go-solar/">New Law Will Help More Texans Go Solar</a> </dt> <dd> <ul class="meta short separator relative-time"><li class="byline"> by <a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/jim-malewitz/">Jim Malewitz</a> and <a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/jeremy-lin/">Jeremy Lin</a></li><li><time datetime="Wed, 5 Aug 2015 06:00:00 -0500" title="2015-08-05 06:00"> Aug. 5, 2015 </time></li></ul> </dd> <dt> <a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/08/05/dallas-county-rule-change-fuels-birth-certificate-/">Dallas County Drawn Into Birth Certificate Debate</a> </dt> <dd> <ul class="meta short separator relative-time"><li class="byline"> by <a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/julian-aguilar/">Juli谩n Aguilar</a></li><li><time datetime="Wed, 5 Aug 2015 06:00:00 -0500" title="2015-08-05 06:00"> Aug. 5, 2015 </time></li><li class="comments"><a class="comments" href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/08/05/dallas-county-rule-change-fuels-birth-certificate-/comments/"><span class="value">1</span><span class="label">Comment</span></a></li></ul> </dd> <dt> <a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/08/05/brief-august-5-2015/">The Brief: Paxton Says He'll Be "Fully Vindicated"</a> </dt> <dd> <ul class="meta short separator relative-time"><li class="byline"> by <a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/polo-rocha/">Polo Rocha</a></li><li><time datetime="Wed, 5 Aug 2015 05:59:00 -0500" title="2015-08-05 05:59"> Aug. 5, 2015 </time></li><li class="comments"><a class="comments" href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/08/05/brief-august-5-2015/comments/"><span class="value">2</span><span class="label">Comments</span></a></li></ul> </dd> <dt> <a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/08/04/mystery-solved-maritime-appropriation-claimed/">Otto Explains Maritime Museum Money Mixup</a> </dt> <dd> <ul class="meta short separator relative-time"><li class="byline"> by <a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/sophia-bollag/">Sophia Bollag</a></li><li><time datetime="Tue, 4 Aug 2015 18:22:56 -0500" title="2015-08-04 18:22"> Aug. 4, 2015 </time></li><li class="comments"><a class="comments" href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/08/04/mystery-solved-maritime-appropriation-claimed/comments/"><span class="value">4</span><span class="label">Comments</span></a></li></ul> </dd> </dl> </section> <section class="ad_container sidebar_block"> <div class="sponsor_image_holder"> <div class="ad adunit tablet standard" data-dimensions="300x250" data-adunit="TexasTribune_Content_StoryPage_BTF_RightRail2_MediumRectangle_300x250"> </div> </div> </section> <aside id="the_most" class="featurebox "> <header class="featurebox-header"> <h1><span>The</span>Most</h1> </header> <div class="featurebox-content tabs ui-tabs"> <ul class="ui-tabs-nav"> <li class="most_commented"> <a href="#most_commented">Commented</a> </li> <li class="most_viewed"> <a href="#most_viewed">Viewed</a> </li> </ul> <div id="most_commented" class="ui-tabs-panel ui-tabs-hide"> <ol> <li> <a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/08/04/perry-doesnt-make-cut-first-gop-presidential-debat/">Perry Doesn't Make Cut for Presidential Debate</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/08/03/paxton-set-surrender-securities-fraud-indictment/">Paxton Surrenders in Securities Fraud Indictment</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/08/03/obama-unveils-climate-rules-texas-wide-implication/">Obama Unveils Climate Rules, With Texas-Wide Implications</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/08/02/utilities-texas-should-devise-emissions-reduction-/">Utilities Hope Texas Plays Ball on Clean Air Plan</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/08/04/brief-august-4-2015/">The Brief: Aug. 4, 2015</a> </li> </ol> </div> <div id="most_viewed" class="ui-tabs-panel ui-tabs-hide"> <ol> <li style="list-style: none;"> This data is currently unavailable. </li> </ol> </div> </div> <footer class="clearfix featurebox-footer"> <div class="ad adunit tablet standard" data-dimensions="200x38" data-adunit="TexasTribune_Content_TheMostWidget_Bottom_Text_200x38"> </div> </footer> </aside> <section class="ad_container sidebar_block"> <div class="sponsor_image_holder"> <div class="ad adunit tablet standard" data-dimensions="300x250" data-adunit="TexasTribune_Content_StoryPage_BTF_RightRail3_MediumRectangle_300x250"> </div> </div> </section> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="wrapper-r"> <footer id="site_footer" class="wrapper-r"> <div class="hide-for-medium-down"> <div class="ad adunit tablet standard" data-dimensions="728x90" data-adunit="TexasTribune_Content_StoryLanding_BTF_Footer_Leaderboard_728x90"> </div> </div> <div id="footer" class="grid"> <dl id="staff_writers" class="cell w-3"> <dt>Writers</dt> <div class="cell w-6"> <dd> <a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/becca-aaronson/">Becca Aaronson</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/julian-aguilar/">Juli谩n Aguilar</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/aman-batheja/">Aman Batheja</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/sophia-bollag/">Sophia Bollag</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/mallory-busch/">Mallory Busch</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/kiah-kiah-collier/">Kiah Collier</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/liz-crampton/">Liz Crampton</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/annie-daniel/">Annie Daniel</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/justin-dehn/">Justin Dehn</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/rodney-gibbs/">Rodney Gibbs</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/john-jordan/">John Jordan</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/terri-langford/">Terri Langford</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/jeremy-lin/">Jeremy Lin</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/abby-livingston/">Abby Livingston</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/corrie-maclaggan/">Corrie MacLaggan</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/jim-malewitz/">Jim Malewitz</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/jolie-mccullough/">Jolie McCullough</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/ayan-mittra/">Ayan Mittra</a> </dd> </div> <div class="cell w-6"> <dd> <a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/ryan-murphy/">Ryan Murphy</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/ally-mutnick/">Ally Mutnick</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/david-muto/">David Muto</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/david-pasztor/">David Pasztor</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/ross-ramsey/">Ross Ramsey</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/emily-ramshaw/">Emily Ramshaw</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/reynolds-john/">John Reynolds</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/rocha-alana/">Alana Rocha</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/polo-rocha/">Polo Rocha</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/jay-root/">Jay Root</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/neena-satija/">Neena Satija</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/evan-smith/">Evan Smith</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/morgan-smith/">Morgan Smith</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/patrick-svitek/">Patrick Svitek</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/alexa-ura/">Alexa Ura</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/edgar-walters/">Edgar Walters</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/matthew-watkins/">Matthew Watkins</a> </dd> </div> </dl> <div id="footer_topics" class="cell w-3"> <h6>Sections</h6> <ul> <li><a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/economy/" data-section="economy"> Economy </a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/education/" data-section="education"> Education </a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/energy-and-environment/" data-section="energy-and-environment"> Energy & Environment</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/government/" data-section="government"> Government </a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/health-and-human-services/" data-section="health-and-human-services"> Health & Human Services </a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/law-and-order/" data-section="law-and-order"> Law & Order </a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/people/" data-section="people"> People </a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/politics/" data-section="politics"> Politics </a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/race-and-immigration/" data-section="race-and-immigration"> Race & Immigration </a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/transportation/" data-section="transportation"> Transportation </a></li> </ul> </div> <dl id="offsite_outlets" class="cell w-3"> <dt>TT Social Media</dt> <dd> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150805150242/http://facebook.com/texastribune" title="Facebook" class="external"><span class="favicon facebook"></span>Facebook</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150805150242/http://twitter.com/texastribune" title="Twitter" class="external"><span class="favicon twitter"></span>Twitter</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150805150242/http://youtube.com/user/thetexastribune" title="YouTube" class="external"><span class="favicon youtube"></span>YouTube</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150805150242/http://instagram.com/texas_tribune" title="Instagram" class="external"><span class="favicon instagram"></span>Instagram</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150805150242/http://www.linkedin.com/company/texas-tribune" title="LinkedIn" class="external"><span class="favicon linkedin"></span>LinkedIn</a> </dd> <dd class="hidden"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150805150242/https://plus.google.com/116406259333166116089" class="external" rel="publisher">Google+</a> </dd> </dl> <ul id="footer_nav" class="cell w-3"> <li>© 2015 The Texas Tribune</li> <li> <a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/about/" title="About Us">About Us</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/support-us/donors-and-members/" title="Who Funds Us?">Who Funds Us?</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/terms-of-service/" title="Terms of Service">Terms of Service</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/republishing-guidelines/" title="Republishing Guidelines">Republishing Guidelines</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/ethics/" title="Code of Ethics">Code of Ethics</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/privacy/" title="Privacy Policy">Privacy Policy</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#8de4e3fcf8e4ffe4e8fecdf9e8f5ecfef9ffe4eff8e3e8a3e2ffea" title="Contact Us">Contact Us</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/tips/" title="Send a Tip">Send a Tip</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/corrections/" title="Corrections">Corrections</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/feeds/" title="Feeds">Feeds</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/mobile/" title="Mobile">Mobile</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/advertise/" class="advertise">Advertise</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20150805150242/http://www.texastribune.org/signup/" title="Newsletter Signup">Newsletter Signup</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150805150242/http://support.texastribune.org/" title="Donate" class="donate">Donate</a> </li> </ul> </div> </footer> </div> <div class="hide-for-medium-down"> <div class="ad adunit tablet standard" data-dimensions="1x1" data-adunit="TexasTribune_Content_StoryPage_Invisible_1x1"> </div> </div> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150805150242js_/https://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/COMPRESSED/js/38cc1e8308b2.js"></script> <script> tt.ads.addTarget("content", "story"); tt.ads.addTarget("slug", "disability-groups-candidates-talk-issues"); tt.ads.addTarget("tribpedia", ["wendy-davis", "state-supported-living-centers", "leticia-van-de-putte", "sunset-advisory-commission", "greg-abbott"]); tt.ads.addTarget("sections", ["front-page/", "health-and-human-services/"]); try { tt.ads.addTarget("is_member", "no"); tt.ads.addTarget("logged_in", "no"); var tt = tt || {}; tt.username = ''; } catch(e) {} </script> <script type="text/javascript"> window._tpm = window._tpm || []; window._tpm['paywallID'] = '36783210'; window._tpm['trackPageview'] = true; </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150805150242js_/http://code.tinypass.com/tpl/d1/tpm.js"></script> <script> (function(){ function loadAddThis() { var addthis = document.createElement('script'); addthis.src = document.location.protocol+'//web.archive.org/web/20150805150242/http://s7.addthis.com/js/300/addthis_widget.js#pubid=ra-53beb39e1b9725fb&domready=1'; addthis.type = 'text/javascript'; addthis.async = true; var at = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; at.parentNode.insertBefore(addthis, at); } window.onload(loadAddThis()); })(); </script> <script type="text/javascript" charset="utf-8" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150805150242js_/http://bit.ly/javascript-api.js?version=latest&login=texastribune&apiKey=R_6f6057d6b4eb2cded750a1bfde821d16"></script> <div id="parsely-root" style="display: none"> <div id="parsely-cfg" data-parsely-site="texastribune.org"></div> </div> <script> (function(s, p, d) { var h=d.location.protocol, i=p+"-"+s, e=d.getElementById(i), r=d.getElementById(p+"-root"), u=h==="https:"?"d1z2jf7jlzjs58.cloudfront.net" :"static."+p+".com"; if (e) return; e = d.createElement(s); e.id = i; e.async = true; e.src = h+"//"+u+"/p.js"; r.appendChild(e); })("script", "parsely", document); </script> <script type="text/javascript"> _qevents.push( { qacct:"p-f74d4O38hiiiM"} ); </script> <noscript> <div style="display: none;"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150805150242im_/http://pixel.quantserve.com/pixel/p-f74d4O38hiiiM.gif" height="1" width="1" alt="Quantcast"/> </div> </noscript> <script type="text/javascript"> var _sf_async_config={}; /** CONFIGURATION START **/ _sf_async_config.uid = 14324; _sf_async_config.domain = 'texastribune.org'; if (window.tt && tt.currentPage) { if (tt.currentPage.sections) { _sf_async_config.sections = tt.currentPage.sections.join(','); } if (tt.currentPage.authors) { _sf_async_config.authors = tt.currentPage.authors.join(','); } else if (tt.currentPage.authorsText) { _sf_async_config.authors = tt.currentPage.authorsText; } } /** CONFIGURATION END **/ (function(){ function loadChartbeat() { window._sf_endpt=(new Date()).getTime(); var e = document.createElement('script'); e.setAttribute('language', 'javascript'); e.setAttribute('type', 'text/javascript'); e.setAttribute('src', (('https:' == document.location.protocol) ? 'https://web.archive.org/web/20150805150242/https://a248.e.akamai.net/chartbeat.download.akamai.com/102508/' : 'https://web.archive.org/web/20150805150242/http://static.chartbeat.com/') + 'js/chartbeat.js'); document.body.appendChild(e); } var oldonload = window.onload; window.onload = (typeof window.onload != 'function') ? loadChartbeat : function() { oldonload(); loadChartbeat(); }; })(); </script> <script> (function() { jQuery.scrollDepth(); })(); </script> <script type="text/javascript"> /* <![CDATA[ */ (function(){try{var s,a,i,j,r,c,l=document.getElementsByTagName("a"),t=document.createElement("textarea");for(i=0;l.length-i;i++){try{a=l[i].getAttribute("href");if(a&&a.indexOf("/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection") > -1 && (a.length > 28)){s='';j=27+ 1 + a.indexOf("/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection");if (a.length > j) {r=parseInt(a.substr(j,2),16);for(j+=2;a.length>j&&a.substr(j,1)!='X';j+=2){c=parseInt(a.substr(j,2),16)^r;s+=String.fromCharCode(c);}j+=1;s+=a.substr(j,a.length-j);}t.innerHTML=s.replace(/</g,"<").replace(/>/g,">");l[i].setAttribute("href","mailto:"+t.value);}}catch(e){}}}catch(e){}})(); /* ]]> */ </script> </body> </html>