Guest Blog: Notes from the $10 Campaign for Attendant Wages
Julie Espinoza
REACH of Plano CIL
April 29, 2015
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On April 1st, I traveled quite a distance from North Texas to Austin and participated in the $10 Campaign for Attendant Wages (see right, addressing the ralliers). The $10 Campaign was a rally in support of a wage increase for attendants of people with disabilities (PWDs) because their pay rate is so low that it threatens the independence of the people they work for. In turn, this causes the disability community to lose other battles that harm them, because if advocates are institutionalized, they lose the freedom to fight on legislative issues. Through my many years of work at a Center for Independent Living (CIL), I have gained extensive experience in helping PWDs get involved in self-advocacy and the continued push for disability rights. However, this rally gave me a new perspective on how PWDs in North Texas can further their self-advocacy efforts.
Many PWDs are so removed from the legislative process that this is a foreign concept. Before the $10 Campaign Rally, organizers prompted PWDs to educate themselves on the issues regarding attendant wages. Then, they encouraged them to email and/or call their representatives about how low attendant wages personally affect them. Stipends were even provided in order to allow PWDs and their attendants to come and speak at the rally! I learned that-- with encouragement from CILs, continued funding from advocates and events like the $10 Campaign-- it is completely possible for Texans with disabilities to engage in direct action and increase their independence.
The $10 Campaign set up stipend recipients in a wonderful hotel, right off the river; hosted a friendly supper with Texans from all over who were coming together for the event; and provided a quick, complete training on how to talk to legislators and their aides. During the whole experience, I met such dedicated attendants and PWDs. I felt so proud of Texas and the organizations that ensure this state is a good place for PWDs.
I have visited the Capitol on other actions, but never with CTD and ADAPT of Texas. It was a beautiful experience to see how smoothly and powerfully these two entities and their partners organize, educate, and battle issues that affect PWDs.
About Julie
I have been involved with Disability Rights for over 26 years. I have worked at the Dallas Center for Independent Living, which became REACH of Dallas and now I am with the newer REACH of Plano office. I assist people with disabilities with skills training, assistive technology demonstrations, peer counseling training, leadership development, and coordinating health & fitness sessions. I have been involved in collaborative efforts with violence and abuse of PWDs, youth transition and sexuality and safety studies. My favorite topics are civil rights and women's/parenting issues. I love watching all the history unfold around us in this current time period. I feel fortunate to get to be a part of the movement and see such progress being made by PWDs.
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