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Yes, at Kraft & Associates we are glad to provide our clients and friends with free information on a variety of subjects. If you want details about how to lower your automobile insurance rates, Texas Workers' Compensation law or Social Security Disability claims, please contact us and we will send you any of these brochures without charge or obligation.

Brain Injury Association of Texas and the Coalition of Texans With Disabilities

Attorney Joseph R. Morrison of our firm recently attended a joint convention of the Brain Injury Association of Texas (BIATX) and the Coalition of Texans with Disabilities (CTD) in Austin, Texas. The BIATX is a non-profit public service organization dedicated to providing emotional support, advice, guidance, and other help to brain injury victims and their families. The CTD is a cross-disability organization that advocates for the rights of Texans with disabilities. Our law firm supports the work of each of these fine organizations and appreciates the assistance they provide to disabled Texans.

The CTD, for example, successfully advocated for the rededication of hundreds of millions of dollars in funding to community services for Texans with disabilities during the 78^th legislative session in 2001. The CTD was also instrumental in restoring a 15% cut in home-based attendant care for people with disabilities.

Mr. Morrison enjoyed a session entitled "Critical Bills for Texans with Disabilities" featuring a panel of disability advocates. The panel did an excellent job of identifying current legislation impacting Texans with disabilities, and counseled attendees on the need to raise their voice. For example, as of this time the Senate has approved less than half of the funds requested by the Health and Human Services Executive Commissioner to reduce the waiting list for community-based services. More than 80,000 disabled Texans remain on waiting lists for community-based services.

Mr. Jonas Schwartz gave a presentation entitled "How Do I Work and Not Lose My Social Security Benefits - Medicaid Buy-In." If you are a former Social Security disability client and plan on attempting a return to work, please feel free to contact our law firm if you have any questions about this.

Mr. Morrison also learned more about a resolution that should be supported by current as well as former Social Security Disability clients. House Concurrent Resolution 35 is a proposed bill that urges the U.S. Congress to enact legislation to eliminate the 24-month Medicare waiting period for participants in Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). As many former clients are aware, SSDI is for people who have worked and paid into the system. People who have worked and paid into the system should not be required to wait 24 months to be eligible to receive the medical care they desperately need. During the 24-month waiting period, many disabled Texans without insurance will incur significant medical expenses or forgo necessary treatment, in which case their conditions will likely deteriorate. All Texans should support House Concurrent Resolution 35.

We strongly encourage our disabled clients to become active members of one of these wonderful organizations. Both of these groups will help you to get your voice heard and advocate passionately on your behalf. An individual membership to the CTD is only $25 per year. The Coalition can be contacted at (512) 478-3366 or you can visit their Web site. You can learn more about the Brain Injury Association of Texas at their Web site. An individual membership to the BIATX is only $35 per year.

Over the years, our firm has fought to secure Social Security Disability Benefits for thousands of disabled Texans. We are happy to announce that we have joined the CTD as an affiliate member and we look forward to helping the group as they advocate for the rights of disabled Texans.

Our firm extends special thanks to Dennis Borel (Executive Director, CTD), Jodi Park (Director of Projects & Communications, CTD), and Eric Makowski (President, BIATX).