Public commenters urge focus on rural treatment access and outreach to people with disabilities

Two members of the public addressed the subcommittee during the meeting’s public-comment period, urging continued funding and attention to treatment access and service capacity.

Alan Feldman, director of strategic initiatives at UNLV’s International Gaming Institute and chair of the governor’s advisory committee on problem gambling, updated the subcommittee on activities funded last year for problem-gambling awareness. Feldman said the committee held meetings in Reno, Elko and Las Vegas, engaged a range of stakeholders — including treatment providers and people with lived experience — and that treatment volume has increased by 19 percent. He told legislators that the system needs more workforce capacity in rural communities and Spanish-language treatment resources. “The number of people who are going for treatment is up 19 percent,” he said, and he noted rural workforce and language gaps in treatment supply.

Dora Martinez, representing the Nevada Disability Action Coalition, said her advocacy had led to a reopened vocational-rehabilitation case and praised Assemblymember Brown-May and DETR staff for responsive follow-up. Martinez said many students and people with disabilities do not know VR services are available beginning at age 14 and urged the agency to expand outreach and culturally appropriate services. Martinez said in part that she has seen improved email responsiveness after copying legislative staff on correspondence.

Ending: Both commenters urged continued attention to workforce capacity and outreach so that increased demand for treatment and vocational services can be met across Nevada, including in rural areas and for non-English-speaking residents.