Hayley here,
Here is today’s eBlast (dated 4/16/2021)
Below is the full report on Tuesday’s hearing:
A video of this hearing is here. Unfortunately, this video is not captioned, but the following is a summary of the important parts.
The House Committee first took up pending business, when they voted favorably on 3 bills, with recommendations that they “do pass in the full House.” I point this out, because we are optimistic that this committee will do the same thing for our bill during their next public hearing, which has not yet been scheduled. Again, we will keep you posted in our regular newsBlast.
The committee took up and considered our bill first. The following people testified, video timestamps shown in parentheses:
- Representative Mary González, Bill Author—explained HB 3287. (video from 8:30 to 10:32)
- Kim Powers, Board Member, DeafBlind Service Center of Austin, DeafBlind Witness—photo & written testimony below. (video from 10:33 to 14:55)
- Ron Lucey, Ex. Director, Governor’s Comm. on People with Disabilities, Resource Witness—explained the history of the Governor’s Committee’s involvement with the Texas DeafBlind community, and of his formal recommendations for CN legislation. (video from 15:08 to 17:06)
- Erik Hammer, Representing self, DeafBlind Witness—photo & written testimony below. Importantly, Erik addressed committee member Rep. Candy Noble’s concern about how often he would need to use CN services, i.e., whether he would need to use CNs on a daily basis. Erik explained that he would only need CNs on a limited basis—perhaps once a week to cover prearranged errands, and then on an as needed basis to cover pre-scheduled medical, employment or other types of appointments. (video from 17:07 to 24:05)
- Randi Turner, Accessibility & Disability Rights Coordinator, Governor’s Comm. on People with Disabilities, Resource Witness—advised that she was available to answer any questions going forward about the need for CN services in Texas. (video from 24:06 to 24:45)
- Representative Mary González, Bill Author—requested that HB 3287, a bill that simply authorizes the Texas Health & Human Services Commision to create a CN program, be voted favorably out of committee. And importantly, Rep. González closed discussion by emphasizing that—as Vice Chair of the House Committee on Appropriations, she would fight to find funding for the bill. (video from 24:50 to 26:02)
Thank you for your continued support!
Testimony from Kim Powers
Photo Description: Kim Powers, while testifying. To Kim’s left, is a Co-Navigator with a hand on Kim’s left shoulder, letting her know where each committee member is seated, and how they are responding as she testifies. There are two women standing in front of and facing Kim. The woman in front of and to Kim’s left is voice interpreting Kim’s signed testimony. The other woman in front of and to Kim’s right is relaying Kim’s signed testimony to the general audience members who are Deaf.
Written Testimony
Good morning Honorable Members of the House Committee on Human Services.
My name is Kim Powers. My native language is American Sign Language. Below is my testimony, transcribed into English.
I am a motivational speaker and have many years of personal experiences in the Texas DeafBlind community. Below are highlights.
At nineteen years of age, as a representative from the Junior National Association for the Deaf, I advocated along with Deaf Texans at the Texas Legislature, for improving educational opportunities for DeafBlind children.
In my early twenties, I hosted a television show called “Kim’s World” with Silent Network—the nation’s first national sign language television network. My show featured me in a variety of settings, where I demonstrated a myriad of experiences as a DeafBlind adult. I did not have a co-navigator at that time, and my mother and other volunteers filled in, getting me into the studio, and to and from the shooting locations.
I am a charter board member of the DeafBlind Service Center of Austin. Our mission is to assist people who are DeafBlind reach and maintain their highest possible quality of life and level of independence.
I have testified before the Texas Legislature numerous times, as recently as 2019, here in this room in front of many of you, testifying for HB 1564. I had an Interpreter and a CN during that testimony—unlike one particular experience, at a 30-year celebration of the ADA, when I did not have a SSP/CN, and I ended up being totally embarrassed because I was not aware of where or who people were in front of me.
During COVID, I have had to rely totally on my daughter or other volunteers, for getting through my pile of bills, buying and organizing my medicines, buying groceries .… My daughter is over-burdened and should not be my Co-Navigator.
People who volunteer to co-navigate are very often untrained. HB 3287 would train and compensate co-navigators, who are oftentimes Deaf individuals—ideally suited for this position because of their native fluency in ASL. HB 3287 would create jobs.
I am very grateful to the many advocates for Co-Navigator services: The Texas Association of the Deaf, the Texas DeafBlind Coalition, the Helen Keller National Center, and too many individuals to name.
I thank you for your time and thoughtful consideration of the lives of adult DeafBlind Texans, and the overlooked, crucial need for co-navigator services. Please vote this bill favorably out of committee.
Kim Powers
April 12, 2021
Testimony from Erik Hammer
Photo Description: Erik Hammer, while testifying. Behind him is a Co-Navigator signalling by touch on his back, where each committee member is seated, and how they are responding as he testifies. There is one woman standing in front and to Erik’s right side, facing him. This woman is interpreting Erik’s spoken testimony into American Sign Language for the general audience members who are Deaf.
Written Testimony
My name is Erik Hammer, and I am representing myself as a DeafBlind person in favor of the House Bill 3287.
I have been an occupational therapist for 27 years who teaches patients to regain independence in daily activities related to impairments in a trauma hospital, acute hospital, and skilled nursing facilities. I am an advocate for independence and being a valued member in the community. Co-navigators are trained to provide important visual and auditory information in daily activities to DeafBind citizens like myself with our preferred mode of communications, so that we make fully informed decisions and participate in daily activities—just like you. As my vision continues to deteriorate, I worked more and more with co-navigators to complete my errands and participate in events, and not burden the immediate family members and friends. I have personally educated volunteers and a sign language interpreter student to co-navigate with me, as there is no service in Austin. There is such service in Washington state where I am from originally, and there are 13 other states that provide state-funded statewide CN services.
I would like to share my experiences with a trained co-navigator to show some of the ways a CN impacts my daily activities.
- The job application or medical questionnaire forms always contain small print size and poor contrast. The CN and I read the forms together and fill in my responses.
- Grocery stores are challenging for me. There are stressful cashier experiences. The CN and I co-navigate interactions with the cashier, card terminal machine, and self-checkout touch screen. With a CN, I am more orientated in browsing the shelves and searching for specific items, and I learn of sales and other useful information.
- Accessing the community safely. With a CN, I am able to safely social distance at places outside of my home, that guide dogs are not trained to achieve. Noisy and busy environments are challenging due to my poor vision and profound hearing loss. A CN conveys environmental information, including questions or comments from others, so I can respond.
Please support these co-navigator services for adult DeafBlind Texans, by voting HB 3287 favorably out of committee. We are viable citizens. We are able to make our own life choices. We are able to be independent. We need Co-Navigators.
Thank you for your time and attention in listening. Feel free to ask me questions that you may have.
Respectfully,
Erik Hammer