28.7% of Americans Have a Disability
I am deeply grateful for the almost 100 people who braved a torrential thunderstorm on Monday, April 20th to attend our first-ever State of Disabilities in the Hill Country Town Hall and Resource Fair. The lightning flashing behind our presenters in the Cana Ballroom made an exciting background. For anyone who was unable to attend, you can view the entire event here [View on Youtube].
We're also very grateful for our sponsors who made the event possible with their generous support: Gordon Hartman Family Foundation (Breakfast Sponsor); Disabled Outdoorsmen (Accessibility Sponsor); and Community Sponsors Ameriprise Financial/Sean Seamster, Fair Oaks Emergency Room, Kendall County Giving Connections, Project MEND, State Farm Insurance/Ruben Cardenas, TBI Warrior Foundation, and UPS Store Leon Springs.
Key points from the presentations:
28.7 percent of adults in the U.S. have at least one of six types of disabilities
Anyone can become disabled at any time
Children with disabilities grow up to be adults with disabilities
Critical gaps exist in services and funding that threaten the futures of individuals with disabilities, and are further in danger from attacks by Texas and federal administrations on Medicaid, Supplement Security Income (SSI), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, or food stamps), and the right to live in the community and avoid institutionalization
Adults with disabilities are 5 to 7x more likely to be victims of abuse than persons without disabilities
356 group homes in Texas closed in 2023-2024 displacing up to 2,000 residents, largely due to chronically inadequate pay rates for direct care workers
Selected comments from a post-event survey of attendees:
"I found the event very moving and eye-opening as someone with no first- or second-hand life experience regarding the disabilities that were discussed. It was a call to action for us all to prioritize the wellbeing of all members of community through whatever areas of influence we have."
"For the first town hall it was 10 out of 10. Super excited for the next one."
"This was a great time to share with folks that don't know the disability community the challenges we are facing as a community."
We plan to make the Town Hall an annual event, but we also uncovered significant interest in a greatly expanded Resource Fair.