Town Hall Meeting video and notes.....

[Guest guest]

I will post a complete re-cap of the Town Hall - as I did for the Region 4 Legislative Summit...

Just give this ole woman a few days!

I have a 10-day disagree ARD Monday morning and I'm busy stressing about that! LOL

I will also mail a copy of the DVD/CD of the Town Hall Session to Louis Geigerman to possibly put on the TOPAA website.

And I will see if our TAA webmaster can put it on that website as well.

Give me a few days.

Also - Colleen Horton gave me her presentation about the waiting lists and medicaid and what initiatives are going to be presented to deal with that issue. She asked me to wait unitl after the Baylor Transition conference to post that handout.

Mainly though -- EACH PERSON'S Senator and Representative needs to hear from parents.

Sincerely,

M. GuppyMy autism journey isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning to dance in the rain.... Texas Autism Advocacy: www.TexasAutismAdvocacy.org

"There are some aspects of a person's life that we have no right to compromise. We cannot negotiate the size of an institution. No one should live in one. We cannot debate who should get an inclusive education. Everyone should. We cannot determine who does and who does not get the right to make their own choices and forge their own futures. All must."

Subject: Re: Where Are The Best Services/Schools In The State?To: Texas-Autism-Advocacy Date: Sunday, November 9, 2008, 12:30 PM

Magnet schools could help address these issues in the public setting. On private placement, I think this whole arguement goes away (for at least 99% of the combatants) if vouchers had the following parameters:1. They're funded from a source other than existing school funds. I think the biggest concern that anti-voucher folks have is the reduction of already low education funds to support the vouchers. Have them supported by another means, and the idea may gain more traction.2. Have them available to all special education students.3. A way for low income families to take advantage of them, without having to take on the burden of covering the gap between voucher value and private school tuition.Changing topics, did Sentator offer any plans to reduce the Medicaid-waiver waiting lists in Texas?Thanks - Clay>> I do agree - well said....> > Senator said something along the lines of what Ms. Winklema was talking about when she came to meet with some of us in Houston...> > He said that the moment parents disagree with appropriate placement, etc. - that parents should then have the option to take their child elsewhere until the matter was settled -- I'm assuming with that scholarship money...> > There does need to be a choice.> > I think both sides can win here. > > 1. We DO need to reform the Due Process system - I think Senator got that totally drilled into him at our Town Hall Meeting. He asked for

LEGISLATION to be presented to him on that!> > 2. While the system is being fixed - parents need an option or choice.> > I do not see why both of the above cannot be worked on at the same time.> > > Sincerely,> M. Guppy>