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Resources on the Internet

Note: The TCDD Links page connects to more resources on:

• Organizations
• Government and Legislative
• State Agencies
• Current TCDD Grant Projects
• Recent TCDD Grant Projects

National, State and Local Directories

National Resources

• Disability.gov
  Award-winning federal government website that provides an interactive, community-driven information network of disability-related programs, services, laws and benefits. New resources are added daily across 10 main subject areas — benefits, civil rights, community life, education, emergency preparedness, employment, health, housing, technology and transportation.
• Benefits.gov
  The official benefits website of the U.S. government. Informs citizens of benefits they may be eligible for and provides information on how to apply for assistance. The site also has information and links to state benefit programs.
• Social Security Disability Help
  Information and assistance to individuals interested in filing a disability claim for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits.
• Social Security Disability Benefits/Resources and Offices in Texas
  Provides links to Social Security Disability resources; lists offices that process disability applications.
• Administration on Developmental Disabilities (ADD)
• ADD's DD Programs/Partners
  Includes State Councils on Developmental Disabilities; Protection and Advocacy Agencies; and University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities; plus more.
• Administration on Developmental Disabilities (ADD) Programs
  Adoption/Foster Care; Child Abuse/Neglect; Child Care; Child Support Enforcement; Children, Youth & Families; Communities; DD/MR; Early Childhood Education; Head Start; Health; and more.

Texas Resources

• 2-1-1 Information and Referral
  Information on services that provide food, shelter, rent assistance, utility bill assistance, counseling, child care, after-school programs, senior services, disaster relief and other programs. You can also call 2-1-1 from anywhere in Texas to be connected to your Area Information Center. If you have trouble reaching 2-1-1 or if you are outside of Texas, call 1-877-541-7905.
• Attendant Network
  Online registry registry that helps to connect personal attendants with people needing attendant services in Austin, Dallas/Fort Worth, El Paso, Houston and San Antonio.
• Center on Disability and Development at Texas A&M University
  Supports the self-determination, community integration and quality of life of people with disabilities and their families.
• Aunt Bertha (resource directory)
  Locates needs-based services such as food, health, housing, employment and education programs. Started in Central Texas, and expanding into Houston, San Antonio and other Texas cities.
• Disability Rights Texas
  Federally funded protection and advocacy system for Texans with disabilities that provides free legal guidance for eligible people.
• Directory of Community Resources (DCR)
  Interactive directory of Texas disability resources and community services. Created by the Center on Disability and Development at Texas A&M University.
• Project Mend, Inc.
  Assists low-income people with disabilities obtain medical equipment and specialized, fitted devices, and other assistive technologies necessary for rehabilitation and recovery.
• Relay Texas
  Provides telephone interpreting service between individuals who can hear and those who are deaf, hard-of-hearing, deaf-blind or speech-disabled.
• Specialized Telecommunications Assistance Program (STAP)
  Provides financial assistance statewide to purchase specialized communications equipment or services for Texans with a disability that interferes with their ability to use a telephone.
• Texas Parent to Parent (TxP2P)
  Available 24/7 for parents across the state to assist them in caring for a child with a disability, chronic illness, or special health care needs.
• Texas Assistive Technology Network (TATN)
  Provides training and information on assistive technology (AT) to educators and families for students with disabilities receiving special education services.
• Texas Center for Disability Studies at The University of Texas (UT) at Austin
  Serves as a catalyst so people with disabilities can live the lives they choose in supportive communities.
• Texas Technology Access Program (TTAP)
  Provides information and referral, training, and a database about assistive technology devices and sources.
• Texas Youth Connection
  Provides tips and resources on education, finances, jobs, housing, food, health, legal help, etc. Focuses on youth in the Texas foster care system, youth transitioning to adulthood, and youth who are looking for general tips and information.
• Statewide Resources - Helpful Links (PDF - link opens in new window)
  Compiled by The Arc of Northeast Tarrant County.
• Via Hope, a Texas Mental Health Resource
  Provides mental health consumers and family members with information and education that assists with their recovery, enables them to better navigate the public and private mental health care systems, and explains the supports that are available in the community.
• Video Relay Service (VRS)
  Enables persons who are deaf or hard of hearing and who use sign language to communicate with hearing persons through web cameras or video phone products.

Austin Area Resources

• Austin Area Autism Resource Guide
  Directory of providers and agencies that serve people with autism. Click on the link for: Austin Area Resource Guide (Austin_Area_Resource_Guide__Fall_2010.doc).
• Austin Area Resource Guide for Children with Special Needs (PDF - link opens in new window)
  Produced by the Complex Chronic Illness Parent Advisory Group Steering Committee.
• Actual Lives Austin
  Live theatre, which has focused on the disability experience since 2000.
• Mental Health Education and Support Group Resource Guide (PDF) (link opens in new window)
  A list of free or low-cost mental health classes and support groups in the Austin area. Compiled by the National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI) Austin.

Dallas-Fort Worth Area

• Tarrant Cares
  Information about health and social services programs in 60 languages.
• The Arc of Collin, Dallas and Rockwall Counties
  Online searchable resource directory.
• The Arc of Northeast Tarrant County - Dallas-Fort Worth area
  Disability newsletter and resource links.
  
• The United Way of Metropolitan Tarrant County - Tarrant County
  Online directory of information on health and human services in Erath, Hood, Johnson, Palo Pinto, Parker, Somervell, Tarrant and Wise counties.
  (817) 258-8000

Houston Area Resources

• Family to Family Network - Houston Organizations.
• Family to Family Network - Important Agencies
  
• The Arc of Greater Houston's Resource Page

San Antonio Area

• The Arc of San Antonio Directory for Bexar County (PDF) (link opens in a new window)

Texas Panhandle

• Children with Special Health Care Needs Family and Provider Resource Handbook (PDF) (link opens in new window)

State Agencies

• Texas.gov
  The official website for the State of Texas helps people connect to 1,000 state services, such as ordering an official birth certificate and renewing driver's licenses and vehicle registrations.

• 

  Texas Health and Human Services agencies have a shared Web page where people can sign up for a variety of electronic publications and list serves, including e-mail announcements, newsletters, reports and updates about services and supports, etc. To subscribe, go to http://www.hhs.state.tx.us and click on "Sign-up for E-mail Updates" (look for the red star below the menu on the left). In addition to choosing the items you would like to receive, you can return here to add or drop individual topics at any time.
• Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS)
  Administers long-term services and supports for people who are aging and people who have cognitive and physical disabilities.
• Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services (DARS)
  Helps Texans with disabilities find and keep jobs through vocational rehabilitation; ensures that Texans with disabilities live independently in their communities; and assists families in helping their children under age three with disabilities and delays in development reach their full potential (early childhood intervention). DARS also provides services for people who are blind, visually impaired, deaf or hard of hearing.
• Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS)
  Charged with protecting children and adults who are elderly or have disabilities living at home or in state facilities, and with licensing group day-care homes, day-care centers, and registered family homes. The agency manages community-based programs that prevent delinquency, abuse, neglect and exploitation of Texas children, senior citizens and adults with disabilities.
• Department of State Health Services (DSHS)
  Community mental health centers/programs/services and state hospitals, substance abuse treatment, and health care licensure and regulations. This includes Children with Special Health Care Needs.
  
• Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC)
  Oversees operation of the state's health and human services system. Programs administered by HHSC include Medicaid, the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and disaster assistance.
• Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT)
  Responsible for maintaining roads, and for supporting aviation, rail and public transportation across the state.
• Texas Education Agency (TEA)
  Provides leadership, guidance and resources to help schools meet the educational needs of all students, including students receiving special education services.
• TEA: Special Education
• Other State Agencies: The Texas Records and Information locator (TRAIL) links to state agency websites and also searches and locates information collected from more than 180 state agencies. See http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/apps/lrs/agencies and http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/trail/index.html.

Crisis Resources and Disability Hotlines

• Call 9-1-1 in a medical emergency.
• Texas Poison Control Network
  1-800-222-1222
• Mental Health Crisis Hotlines
  Or contact your Local MH Authority to access the crisis/information line.
• Local Substance Abuse Treatment Services
  Call 1-877-9-NO DRUG (1-877-966-3784) for immediate help.
  Or search for a treatment/prevention/intervention programs.
• Youth Substance Abuse Services and
  Child and Adolescent Services
  The Texas Department of State Health Services.
• National Sexual Assault Hotline
  Connect to local rape crisis center online or call 1-800-656-4673
• Crisis Chat
  Talk online about problems and stress; get information on mental health services.
• Texas Health and Human Services Commission
  Call 2-1-1 for local/statewide health and human services. Or call 1-877-541-7905.
  HHSC Ombudsman at 1-877-787-8999 or 1-888-425-6889 (TDD)
  HHSC Civil Rights Office at 1-888-388-6332
• Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS)
  Phone numbers and hotlines.
• DADS Consumer Rights and Services
  1-800-458-9858
• Texas Medicaid Client Hotline
  1-800-252-8263
• Texas Department of Family and Protective Services Hotlines
  Texas Abuse/Neglect Hotline at 1-800-252-5400 or report abuse online.
• Texas Youth Hotline
  1-800-98YOUTH (989-6884).

Government and Legislative Resources

Texas Legislature and State Government

• Texas Legislature Online
• Texas House of Representatives
• Texas Senate
• Who Represents Me
  Information about current districts and members of the Texas Senate, Texas House of Representatives, the Texas delegation to the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, and the State Board of Education.
• Texas Office of the Governor
• Governor's Appointments Office
• Governor's Committee on People with Disabilities
• Texas Comptroller's Window on State Government
• Texas Register
  Weekly journal of state agency rulemaking for Texas.

Open Government and Meetings

• Open Government
  Open Records Division of the Office of the Attorney General.
• Open Meeting Announcements for State and Regional Agencies
• 2012 Open Meetings Act Handbook (PDF) (link opens in new window)
  Explains the Texas Open Meetings Act.

Congress and Federal Government

• Federal Legislative Branch
  
• Thomas
  Search for bills before Congress and other information from the Library of Congress.
• Government Resources
  Links to Congressional information from official and non-official sources.
• U.S. Executive Branch
  Includes the President and many federal agencies.
• The White House
• U.S. Government Printing Office

State and Federal Advocacy Resources

• TCDD's Internet Resources for Disability Advocacy
• Consortium of Citizens with Disabilities
  Coalition of approximately 100 national disability organizations working together on national public policy.
• National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities
  Supports state DD Councils in implementing the federal DD Act and promoting the rights and interests of people with disabilities.
• Congress.org
  Nonpartisan news and information website devoted to encouraging civic participation.

Federal and State Laws Regarding TCDD Policies

• Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000
• DD Act of 2000/P. L. 106-402 (PDF)
• Texas Administrative Code regarding TCDD
• Chapter 112 of the Texas Human Resources Code regarding TCDD
• TCDD Policies

Employment

Employment - For Job Seekers

• Career One Stop
  Tools to help job seekers, students, businesses, and career professionals. Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor.
• Choose Work
  Videos and stories about people using the Ticket to Work and other SSA Work Incentives. Created by the Social Security Administration (SSA) for individuals on the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program and/or the Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
• Economic Independence through Jobs and Self-Employment at Disability.gov
  Career planning, job banks, job training, interviewing for a job, self-employment, small business ownership and more.
• JobTIPS
  Designed to help individuals with disabilities explore career interests, seek and obtain employment, and successfully maintain employment.
• Real People, Real Jobs - Stories from the front line
  Employment successes of people with Intellectual Disabilities/Developmental Disabilities (ID/DD) who are working in paid jobs in their communities.
• Direct Support: Working with People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
  Department of Aging and Disability Services video and related materials to help decide if you would like a direct service job.
• Texas Health and Human Services Jobs Center
  Search for and apply for positions in state health and human service agencies.
• Texas Workforce Commission
  Information about searching for a job, career planning, interviewing, etc.
• WorkInTexas.com
  Search for work by job type or occupation, location, salary, and state agency or employer.

Employment - For Employers

• Accommodating People with Cognitive Disabilities in the Workplace
  Online workshop designed to help employers and other people understand the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and legal responsibilities related to people with cognitive disabilities.
• Disabilities At Work Radio
• Disabilities At Work Radio Newsletter
  Spotlights businesses that go "beyond compliance" in finding and hiring qualified people with disabilities, or who support people with disabilities through philanthropy or in other ways.
• Diversifying Your Workforce: A Four-Step Reference Guide to Recruiting, Hiring, & Retaining Employees with Disabilities (PDF - link opens a new window)
  Information about tax incentives and other benefits, recruiting, interviewing and hiring, achieving workplace success and retention. From the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), U.S. Dept. of Labor.
• eLaws - Disability Nondiscrimination Law Advisor
  Designed to help employers determine which federal disability nondiscrimination laws apply to their business or organization, and to help recipients of federal financial assistance understand their responsibilities under these laws.
• Employer Resource Guide (PDF - link opens a new window)
  Provides links to organizations that assist employers in hiring employees with disabilities and in applying and paying for disability accommodations.
• Ten Employment Myths (captioned 17-minute video)
  Addresses concerns that employers may have about hiring individuals with disabilities, and how the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) relates to employment. From the U.S. Department of Justice.

Employment - For Parents, Educators, Counselors and Service Providers

• A Guide to Work Incentives - The Social Security Administration's 2011 Red Book
  A general reference source about the employment-related provisions of Social Security Disability Insurance and the Supplemental Security Income Programs for educators, advocates, rehabilitation professionals, and counselors who serve people with disabilities.
• Great Expectations: Preparing Your Child with Developmental Disabilities for Employment Success (PDF - 3MB)
  Workplace trends and available programs and supports to parents of children with developmental disabilities as they help their children prepare for a fulfilling and constructive role in the workforce. While some resources are related to New Jersey, there is general information such as the importance of being optimistic and maintaining high expectations.
• Transition in Texas
  For students, parents, educators and agencies. A project of the Texas Secondary Transition/Post-School Results Network in collaboration with the Texas Education Agency.
• Toolkit: Youth with Disabilities Entering the Workplace through Apprenticeship
  Information about how apprenticeships can provide employment opportunities for people with disabilities. Developed under contract with the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy.

Employment - Misc. Information

• Direct Support: Working with People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (Video)
  Shows real direct support workers at work, describing their job duties and talking honestly about the rewards and challenges of their work. Watching this video can help job applicants decide if a direct support position working with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities is right for them.

Education

Education - Agencies and Organizations

• Texas Project FIRST
  Provides information and resources (in English and Spanish) for students with disabilities and their families.
• Partners Resource Network (PRN)
  Provides training, information and technical assistance to families of infants, toddlers, children and young adults with disabilities about the nature and needs of disabling conditions and the rights of students with disabilities to a free appropriate public education.
• Texas Organization of Parents, Attorneys and Advocates
  Works to assist people in securing appropriate and quality educational services for children with a disability. Local chapters in Austin, Beaumont, Coppell, Houston, and the Rio Grande Valley.
• Inclusive Schools Network
  Supports inclusive education worldwide.
• National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities
  Provides information about education for children ages 3 to 22.
• Wrightslaw
  Provides information about special education law and advocacy for children with disabilities.

Education - Articles, Handouts and Publications

• Glossary of Education Terms
• It's a New IDEA
  Manual for Parents and Students about Special Education Services in Texas. English and Spanish.
• Autism Speaks - Toolkit for families and youth on transitioning to adulthood
• Behavior Management and School-Related Behavior Problems
• Behavior Problems Suspension, Expulsion, & IEPs
• Behavior Suite
• Positive Behavior Interventions (PDF link opens in new window)
• U.S. Department of Education Publications
  
• Will Retention Help Your Child?
• Handouts from the Arc of Texas Inclusion Works! Conference (Feb. 2011)

Education - ARDs/IEPs

Meetings in Texas that determine the special education supports and services for a student are called ARDs (Admission, Review and Dismissal). Other states call them IEP meetings (Individual Education Program).

• Tips for More Productive ARD/IEP Meetings (PDF) (link opens in new window)
• Overview of ARD meetings in Texas
• ARD Agenda and Details
• TEA Commissioner's Rules on ARDs/IEPs

Education - Extended School Year Services

Extended School Year (ESY) services help children maintain their skills when school is not in session. Eligibility is determined on an individual basis by the child's ARD committee from formal and/or informal evaluations provided by the local education agency or parents. Children are eligible when they have exhibited, or reasonably may be expected to exhibit, severe or substantial regression in critical skill area(s) that cannot be recouped within a reasonable period of time.

• Advocacy Strategies: Negotiating for ESY Services
• Will Your Child Need ESY This Summer?
• Texas Education Agency: Extended School Year Services for Students with Disabilities
• The Legal Framework for the Child Centered Special Education Process

Education - For Educators

• School Community Tool Kit
  Designed to assist members of the school community understand and support students with autism.
• National Center on Accessible Instructional Materials
  A resource to state- and district-level educators, parents, publishers, conversion houses, accessible media producers and others interested in learning more about and implementing AIM and NIMAS.
• Youth Services Mapping System for Austin/Travis County and the Capital Area
  Designed to help youth service professionals, educators, policy-makers and funders understand what services for children and youth are available and where they are offered.

Education - Moving and Changing Schools

• Changing Schools and IEPs
• Moving? Go Shopping! How to Find a Special Ed Program Before You Move
• Moving To A New Location

Education - Post-Secondary Education

• TCDD's Resource Guide on Higher Education for People with Disabilities
  Includes resources on Preparing for Higher Education; Educational and Career Opportunities; Specialized Resources (including Materials for Educators, Admissions Testing and Study Skills, College Costs and Financial Aid); Accommodations and Technology; and Information on Individual Colleges.
• Counselors and Mentors Handbook on Federal Student Aid (PDF link opens in new window)
  A Guide for Those Advising Students About Financial Aid for Postsecondary Education. Information about federal and non-federal student aid programs, how financial need is determined for students who may have expenses related to their disability and tips for completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
  
• Moving On: The Two-Four Step
  Tips for students with disabilities in transitioning from a two-year college to a four-year school.
• Navigating College: A Handbook on Self Advocacy
  A look at college life for students with autism by adults with autism.
• Off to College: Tips for Students with Visual Impairments (PDF link opens in new window)
  How to find the best school, determining whether any accommodations will be needed, communicating with teachers about one's disability, getting books and other materials, and orienting oneself around the campus.
• Postsecondary Education and Students with Intellectual, Developmental and Other Disabilities
  Newsletter produced by the Institute on Community Integration, University of Minnesota.
• Healthy and Ready for College (PDF link opens in new window)
  Explores health care challenges in higher education and beyond for youth with intellectual disabilities.

Education - Restraint and Seclusion

• Disability Scoop - Restraint & Seclusion
  Links to articles and information.
• Shouldn't School Be Safe? (PDF link opens in new window)
  A practical guide for parents about keeping school children safe from restraint, seclusion and other aversive practices. Offers recommendations on language that should be included in a student's individualized education program (IEP) and advice on spotting signs of restraint and seclusion.

Education - Technology

• Special Needs Apps for Kids (PDF) (link opens in new window)
  Information on using iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch and Android devices.
• There's an App for That (DOC) (link opens in new window)
  Apps (and Funding!) for special-needs.
• Applications for iPhone and iPod Touch Applications for (Special) Education (PDF) (link opens in new window).
• Seana's Wiki - Accessibility & Special Education
  Links to articles on accessibility and information about iPhone and iPad apps.

Community Living

• 2011 Directory of Texas Community Centers (PDF - link opens in new window)
  Information on community centers and related agencies and officials. The guide is updated annually by the Texas Council on Community Centers.
• Access and Intake Services: Community Options Booklet (PDF - link opens in new window)
  Prepared by the Community Services and Program Operations of the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS).
• Keeping Texans Independent - Celebrating Olmstead: 10 Years of Success
  Individual stories in celebration of the 10th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court's Olmstead decision, which supported the "integration mandate" of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
• Olmstead: Community Integration for Everyone and
  Technical Assistance Guide
  U.S. Department of Justice's information on Olmstead decision, cases and filing a complaint. Guide covers state and local government obligations.

Child Care Resources

• 2-1-1 Texas - Child Care and Education Services
  Database of child care and education services.
• Child Care Licensing
  How to select a child care provider, how to become a provider, plus a database of licensed day care centers, homes and other facilities. Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS).
• Child Care Training Courses
  Online training for child care professionals, parents and Child Care Licensing Staff. Created by the Texas Agrilife Extension Service, in collaboration with Texas Child Care Licensing Division of the Department of Family and Protective Services.
• Healthy Child Care Texas
  State initiative dedicated to promoting optimal health, safety, nutrition and development for children in out-of-home care programs, while training child health care and medical consultants.
• Texas Workforce Commission's Child Care Services
  Support service for parents who work, attend school or participate in job training.

Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies

• ChildCareGroup - Dallas
  Focus on expansion of quality child care, especially infant and partially subsidized care, for working poor families.
• Children's Resource and Referral Department, Family Service Association - San Antonio
  Free child care referrals. Call (210) 65-SMART (657-6278) or 1-800-332-3264 for outside of San Antonio.
• Collaborative for Children - Houston
  Resources for families and child care professionals. Includes information for children with special needs. (713) 600-1234.
• GetChildCareNOW.com
  Information about early childhood and after school programs in North Texas.

Long Term Care/Services

• CHIP/Children's Medicaid for Texas (PDF - link opens in new window)
  Brochure reflects income guidelines as of March 2011.
• Medicaid Long-term Care Services in Texas
  Information about Long-term care services from the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) and the Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS).
• Texas Quality Matters
  Information about quality improvement initiatives and supports for DADS long-term services and supports programs: Quality Monitoring Resources, Long Term Care Quality Reporting System, more.
• Home and Community Based Waiver Programs
  Describes the similarities and differences among the DADS waiver program services and eligibility criteria.
• Understanding Medicaid Home and Community Services: A Primer
  Explains how states can use Medicaid to meet Olmstead principles, minimize reliance on institutions and maximize community integration for people with disabilities in a cost-effective manner. Updated in October 2010 by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Guardianship and Alternatives

• TCDD's position statement on Guardianship
  The Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities believes guardianship should be granted only if all other alternatives are insufficient, and only to the extent and length of time necessary, with annual reviews to determine if it can be terminated or reduced.
• Guardianship for Texans with_Disabilities and Alternatives (PDF)
  A general guide for persons considering guardianship for family members or friends, updated March 2011. Includes alternatives to guardianship.
• Texas Guardianship Association
  Non-profit dedicated to providing education and options regarding guardianship in Texas for professionals, families, and volunteer guardians.
• Guardianship and Alternatives for Students with Disabilities
• Re-Thinking Guardianship (PDF)
• A Texas Guide to Adult Guardianship (PDF)
  Includes pros and cons of guardianship plus alternatives to guardianship.

Housing

Housing - Agencies, State and Federal

• Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA)
  Offers help with rent, utility bills, home repair or weatherization, buying a home, and foreclosure prevention.
• Contact TDHCA - Housing and Community Affairs Programs
• Help for Texans - Find Help in 3 Easy Steps
  Rental, home buying, weatherization, utility and barrier removal options by city or county in Texas.
• Section 8 and Project Access Information
  The Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher provides housing choice vouchers in 28 rural counties. Project Access provides housing choice vouchers to assist eligible persons with disabilities or mental illness or who are elderly in moving from institutions into the community.

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)

• Fair Housing Information
  For people with disabilities, providers, professionals and advocates.
• Rental Assistance Information
• How to File a Fair Housing/Discrimination Complaint
• HUD Approved Housing Counseling Agencies in Texas
  Agencies that can provide advice on buying a home, renting, defaults, foreclosures and credit issues.
• Search for an Affordable Apartment in Texas

Texas State Affordable Housing Corporation
Serves low-income Texans who do not have housing options through normal financial channels, including First Time Homebuyer programs.

U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development
Helps rural individuals, communities and businesses obtain financial and technical assistance to address their needs.

Rural Housing and Community Assistance
Assistance with rural rental, purchase and repair.

Housing - Information and Services

• Texas Housing Counselor
  Helps determine affordable housing options in Texas and which programs are best for an individual. Also links to state and federal housing programs.
• Accessible and Affordable Housing Options
  An interactive, community-driven information network of disability-related programs, services, laws and benefits.
• Affordable Housing Resources
  Compiled by the Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS).
• Texas Tenants Advisor
  General information about renters' rights, including preventing problems and how to fight back. Links to Austin, Dallas and Houston Tennant organizations plus legal aid organizations.
• How to File a Housing Discrimination Complaint
  With the Texas Workforce Commission Civil Rights Division. Or call 1-888-452-4778.
• The National Accessible Apartment Clearinghouse
  Information on affordable rental property in 13 Texas cities.
• Low-Income Assistance Paying for Telephone Services
  Lifeline helps pay for basic phone service. Link-Up reduces the cost of starting phone service.

Housing - Accessibility

• Amy Young Barrier Removal Program
  One-time grants up to $20,000 for low-income renters or home owners with disabilities for accessibility and elimination of hazardous conditions.
• Texas Ramp Project
  Volunteers build free ramps for people with disabilities and senior citizens who cannot afford them in 18 parts of the state. Referrals must come from social service agencies.
• Adaptable and Accessible Housing/Checklists
• Universal Design and Green Home Survey Checklist (PDF) (link opens in new window)
• Designing Visitable Homes in Texas (aXess Homes™)
• Step-By-Step Guide to Accessible Bathrooms
  Includes what to change, if you rent, finding a contractor and paying for modifications.
• Fair Housing Accessibility FIRST Guidance
  Technical assistance on accessibility requirements of the Fair Housing Act for new multifamily housing. Also call (888) 341-7781 or email Fair Housing FIRST.
• Access Texas Housing
  Search for accessible housing in Texas.
• Directory of Accessible Housing in Bexar County

Housing - Publications and Reports

• 2010 Guide to Affordable Housing in the Greater Austin Area (PDF - link opens in new window)
  Contains information on apartment complexes participating in affordable housing programs funded at the city, county, state and federal level. This includes accessible units, disability vouchers and fair housing.
• Program Guide of State and Federal Housing & Housing-Related Programs in Texas (PDF - link opens in new window)
  Created by the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA), the state's lead agency responsible for affordable housing.
• The State of Housing in America in the 21st Century: A Disability Perspective
  This report, released by the National Council on Disability (NCD) in 2010, examines housing needs and options for people with disabilities living in the United States and makes recommendations to improve housing opportunities.

Transportation

Transportation - Accessible Parking Placards

• Accessible Parking Placards - Texas Department of Motor Vehicles
  Eligibility requirements, application instructions and penalties for misuse.
• Parking and Buying Gas
  Information and statutes for people with parking placards. Office of the Governor.

Transportation - Air Travel

• Air Accessibility - Civil Rights
  Information about protections and accessibility requirements.
• Information for the Air Traveler with a Disability
  Planning a trip, at the airport, getting on and off the plane, on the plane, more. From the U.S. Department of Transportation.
• Toll-Free Hotline For Air Travelers With Disabilities
  The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has established a toll-free hotline to assist travelers with disabilities. Air travelers who experience disability-related air travel service problems may call the hotline at 1-800-778-4838 (voice) or 1-800-455-9880 (TTY) to obtain assistance.

Help With Transportation to Medical Services

• Houston Ground Angels
  Network of volunteers who provide free air and ground transportation to access health care. (281) 900-7377.
• Medical Transportation Program
  Helps CSHCN Services Program clients get to their doctor's office, drugstore or any place they get medical services.

Misc. Transportation Information

• Disability Rights Texas
  Publications and helpful links.
• Transportation to Work - A Toolkit for the Business Community
  Provides information to businesses about how to assist their employees in achieving a timely, cost-efficient commute that promotes productivity and job satisfaction.

Health

• Quality Care Finder
  Find and compare health care providers including doctors, hospitals, nursing facilities, home health agencies, health and drug plans, and equipment suppliers.
• Find and Compare Hospitals
• Access to Medical Care for Individuals with Mobility Disabilities
  A U.S. Department of Justice publication that provides guidance for health care professionals about the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements on accessible health care.
• Healthcare 411
  Audio podcast series produced by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. AHRQ shares news and information in the form of concise 60-second audio news programs that feature current research on important health care topics. (en Español).
• Partnering with your Doctor: The Medical Home Approach (PDF - link opens in new window)
  A guide for families with children who have genetic conditions that provides definitions, examples and tools for families to use, such as a "Tip Sheet for Choosing and Working with Doctors."
• Texas Health Care Primer
  Introduces factors shaping Texans' access to health care to help readers contribute to federal, state and local debates about how to improve health care access.
• Kids Well Texas
  A grassroots initiative to increase access to health care and build support for services for children and families.
• National Kids Well Campaign
  Monitors health care reform and opposition nationwide and in Texas.

Health - Children and Young Adults

• A Parent's Guide to Raising Healthy, Happy Children
  Explores development, health, and safety from birth to age 5, including milestones, child care, social/emotional development, medical home, and more. Also in Spanish.
• Parent Information - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
  Everything from safety at home and the community to immunization schedules and developmental milestones.
• Text4Baby: Advice for New Moms
  Provides free, health-related text messages by cell phone for pregnant women and new mothers.
• When You’re 18: A Health Care Transition Guide for Young Adults (PDF - link opens in new window)
  Explores what it means to be legally in charge of your own health care and how to stay healthy. It includes quizzes on being an adult with special needs, life as an adult, talking with doctors, and more.

Health - Flu

• Flu.gov
  The federal government's one-stop website on H1N1, seasonal flu and prevention.
• TexasFlu.org
  How to prevent the flu, symptoms, about the vaccine and what to do if you get sick. Specific information for individuals, health care professionals, schools and child care facilities, and communities and employers.

Health - Food and Nutrition

• ChooseMyPlate.gov
  Helps people select nutritious, well-balanced food. A new symbol was created by the United States Department of Agriculture in 2011 based on
• Dietary Guidelines for Americans
  The cornerstone of federal nutrition policy and nutrition education activities.

Healthcare Coverage and Insurance

• HealthCare.gov
  Created by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to help Americans access quality, affordable health coverage (en Español).
• Health insurance claim denied? Appeal, appeal, appeal.
  If you appeal a health insurance claim that was denied, the odds are about 50/50 that you'll win, according to this article in the Los Angeles Times.
• Private Health Insurance: Data on Application and Coverage Denials (PDF - link opens in new window)
  This report to the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Secretary of Labor states that more problems relate to billing and eligibility issues than whether the care was medically appropriate.
• TexasHealthOptions.com
  A State of Texas Resource for Finding Health Insurance Coverage from the Texas Department of Insurance.

Health - Medicare and Medicaid

• Medicare.gov
  The official U.S. government site for Medicare.
• The Medicaid Reference Desk
  National guide on Medicaid benefits, services and supports. Has state-by-state information on benefits, a glossary of terms, frequently asked questions, person-centered planning, and more.
• TMF Health Quality Institute
  The Quality Improvement Organization (QIO) for people with Medicare in Texas reviews medical records for Texans on Medicare to help protect patient's rights and improve the quality of care.
• What is Medicare? What Is Medicaid? (PDF - link opens in new window)
  Fact sheets explaining the differences between Medicare and Medicaid include who each program serves and the kinds of services covered.

Mental Health

• Mental Health and Substance Abuse
  Information about services available from the Texas Department of State Health Services.

Sports, Fitness & Recreation, plus Outdoor Activities & Camping

Camps for Children with Disabilities

• Directory of Community Resources in Texas
  Search for camps. A project of the Center on Disability and Development at Texas A&M University.
• Summer Camp List for Children with Special Needs in Texas (474 KB .DOC - link opens in new window)
  Summer Camp List for Children with Special Needs in Texas (93 KB, PDF - link opens in new window)
  Updated annually by the Children with Special Health Care Needs program.
• Summer Resources in the Dallas/Fort Worth area (PDF - link opens in new window)
  Camps, D/FW activities for $6 or less, and faith based respite resources. Compiled by The Arc of Northeast Tarrant County.
• Texas Camps for Children with Disabilities (.DOC - link opens in new window)
  Summer 2011 list compiled by the Arlington school district.
• Texas Camps For Special Kids
  Compiled by the Texas Occupational Therapy Association.
• Texas Parent to Parent
  Day and residential camps in Texas.

Camping in Texas

• Texas Campgrounds
  Information about RV travel and camping. From the Texas Association of Campground Owners.
• Texas Parklands Passport
  The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department provides a number of sports and recreational accommodations for people with disabilities, including half-price entry to state parks for people who receive Social Security disability benefits.

Exercise

• ExerciseIsMedicine - Your Prescription for Health
  Information and recommendations for exercising safely with a variety of health conditions, including cancer, muscular dystrophy, cystic fibrosis, hearing loss, brain injury and more.
• Exercise Tips for Power Mobility Device Users
  Information from the National Center on Physical Activity and Disability.
• Physical Activity and Disability Programs in Texas
  Resources listed by city. Provided by the National Center on Physical Activity and Disability.

Family Fun

• Morgan's Wonderland - San Antonio
  "The World's First Ultra Accessible Family Fun Park." This 25-acre, special needs park is designed as a haven for people with disabilities, their families, caregivers and invited friends.
  (210) 637-3434

Sports & Leisure Activities

• Adaptive Sports on Disaboom.com
  Articles, profiles, and videos to give you a good idea of the options available to in both competitive and noncompetitive sports for people with disabilities.
• Community Resources for People with Disabilities
  Indoor and outdoor sports and activities in the Houston area and nationwide.
• Special Olympics Texas
  Provides year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities.
• Texas State Travel Guide (traveltex.com)
  Texas events and attractions.
• The National Center on Physical Activity and Disability (NCPAD)
  Information on specific disabilities, nutrition, lifetime sports, competitive sports, exercise and fitness, fun and leisure, videos and more.
• Turning Point
  Provides free and low-cost outdoor adventures to the physically challenged. Founded in Terrell, Texas, there are chapters in East Texas, the Gulf Coast, North Texas and West Texas.
• United Cerebral Palsy - Sports & Leisure
  Creative ideas for inclusive community recreation programs, including therapeutic hobbies, arts & entertainment, camps, recreation & leisure, exercise & fitness, sports and team games, and advocacy.
• VSA Texas
  Nonprofit organization that works to create a society where people with disabilities learn through, participate in and enjoy the arts.

Sports & Leisure Activities - Fishing

• Accessible Fishing in Texas (PDF - link opens in new window)
  This article (see pages 6-8) in the Quarterly Journal of the Texas Technology Access Program provides information on Texas State Parks that have accessible fishing - plus links for accessible fishing supplies.
• Wheelchair Fisherman
  Information about adaptive fishing.

Discussion Groups and Social Media

TCDD Resources

• TCDD on Twitter - http://twitter.com/TxCDD.
• TCDD on Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/TxCDD.
• Sign up for TCDD e-mail announcements - http://www.txddc.state.tx.us/connect.

Misc. Discussion Group and Social Media Resources

• Disaboom Live Forward Disability Community
  Blogs, disability forums, caregiver support, and more.
• MyChildWithoutLimits - Support Community
  Designed to be an early intervention resource that includes social networking for professionals and for families of young children, ages 0-5, with developmental delays or disabilities.
• Self-Advocacy Online
  Educational and networking website for those involved in making change for people with disabilities.
• Self-Advocacy USA on facebook
  Organized by People First of New Hampshire for all self-advocates, advisors and those who support the self-advocacy movement across the USA.

Yahoo Groups

Note: To join these groups, you need to sign up for a free Yahoo account. Some of these discussion groups are very active. You can receive individual messages as they posted or select the "daily digest" so that the messages are bundled together and you only get them once a day.

• Northwest Houston Chapter of the Autism Society of America
• Self-Advocacy USA
• Texas Autism Advocacy
• Texas Parent 2 Parent (TxP2P) - Autism
  

Miscellaneous Disability Resources

Organizations

• WGBH National Center for Accessible Media
  A nonprofit organization dedicated to achieving media access equality for people with disabilities.

Accessibility for Documents and Technology

• Making Documents Accessible (PDF)
  By the Texas Governor's Committee on People with Disabilities.
• Video Captioning Essentials
  A free, self-study course designed to help managers master the basic tools needed to deliver captioned web videos.
• How to Make Online Presentations More Accessible
  Produced by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Target Center.
• Web Accessibility Standards
  Standards for all state agency and institution of higher learning websites.
• U.S. Access Board - Section 508: Electronic and Information Technology
  Information about the standards issued by the Board under Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act that cover access to electronic and information technology procured by Federal agencies.

Accessible Meetings

• Accessible Information Exchange: Meeting on a Level Playing Field
  The Department of Justice provides tips for planning and conducting accessible meetings.
• NASDDDS Handbook on Inclusive Meetings and Presentations (PDF - link opens in new window)
  Created by the National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disabilities Services.

Autism

• Autism News and Views
  Blog with news about education, health, safety, advocacy, service providers and more.
• PBS NewsHour - Autism Now
  Shows how families, schools and communities are affected, highlights research, and discusses how the current and future generations will be changed by people with autism.
• Texas Autism Research and Resource Center (TARRC)
  Information related to Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD).
• Texas Council on Autism and Pervasive Developmental Disorders
  Provides resources for individuals with autism spectrum disorder and their families. Spanish and opportunities to participate in research added summer 2011.

Books

• Bookshare - Books Without Barriers
  Accessible Books and Periodicals for Readers with Print Disabilities.
• Learning Ally
  A collection of more than 65,000 digitally recorded textbooks and literature titles is downloadable and accessible on mainstream and specialized assistive technology devices.
• National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS)
  Administers a free library program of braille and audio materials circulated to eligible borrowers in the United States by postage-free mail.
• Open Library
  Offers access for researchers, historians, scholars, people with disabilities, and the general public to more than one million books in digital format.
• Talking Book Program at the Texas State Library
  Free library service for Texans of all ages who are unable to read standard print material due to visual, physical, or reading disabilities.

Guides, Publications, Presentations, Reports and Toolkits

• Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Quick Tips: Customer Service (PDF - link opens in new window)
  Resource for businesses, with disability etiquette tips, areas businesses should check for accessibility and tips on serving customers with disabilities.
• A New Way of Thinking: More Than Twenty Years Later (PDF - link opens in new window)
  Traces the progress that has been made since 1987 to support people with disabilities in the community, while urging people to create a new, shared vision and forge a new reality.
• Communication Etiquette for Communicating with Customers with Disabilities (.doc - link opens in new window)
  How to communicate effectively with people with disabilities when using non face-to-face, real-time methods — such as telephones, text and instant messaging.
• Disability Policy Seminar Presentations
  2011 seminar sponsored by seven national disability organizations.
• Future Care Planning: A Roadmap for Family Caregivers (PDF - link opens in new window)
  A 64-page workbook to guide thoughts and discussion about future care planning. Created by the Sonoran University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, University of Arizona.
• Kids as Self-Advocates (KASA)
  More than 60 tip sheets and guides written by youth with disabilities for other youth with disabilities.
• Supporting the Social Well-Being of Children and Youth with Disabilities (PDF - link opens in new window)
  For one free print copy, call (612) 624-4512 or email the Impact Publication Office.
• Making the Move to Managing Your Own Personal Assistance Services: A Toolkit for Youth Transitioning to Adulthood
  Assists youth in strengthening fundamental skills needed to manage their own PAS. Includes sample worksheets, questions, charts and things to consider.
• Possibilities: A financial resource for parents of children with disabilities
  Free online publication created for parents of children under the age of 18 who have disabilities.
• Publications - The Minnesota Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities
  Misc. guidebooks and publications are available online.

News and Information

• Disability is Natural
  Articles and information about disability as a natural condition of the human experience.
• Disability Scoop
  Provides news, information and resources on disability issues, along with an in-depth look at what lies beyond the headlines.
• Patricia E. Bauer - News and Commentary on Disability Issues
  News of interest to the disability community.
• The Riot!
  Online newsletter by self-advocates for self-advocates.
• Radio for the Blind and Reading and Radio Resource
  For people who cannot read because of disabilities. Radio is online and broadcast in North Texas. Includes news, serialized books, self-help and special programming.

Parents with Disabilities

• Parents with Disabilities Online
  A resource for parents with disabilities. Includes an e-mail group for parents with disabilities, information on adaptive parenting aids, medical resources, family stories and links.
• Through the Looking Glass
  Focuses on issues facing parents with disabilities and their families.

Statistics

• Disability Status Reports
  Online resource for U.S. Disability Statistics. Sponsored by Cornell University.
• Disability Statistics Compendium
  Information on people with disabilities and government programs that serve them.
• Texas Department of State Health Services
  Links to data and reports.

Training

• Overview of Disability Rights Laws
  Free, self-paced course on federal disability rights laws.
• Partners in Policymaking E-Learning Courses
  Free, self-study courses on disability issues. Available from the Minnesota DD Council.
• Police Response to People with Disabilities
  Eight-part series that addresses law enforcement situations involving people with disabilities.

Online Resources

• ADA Requirements regarding service animals
  2010 Americans with Disabilities Act requirements.
• Family Web 2.0
  Offers parents tangible resources on the topics of education, inclusion, and advocacy that are rated by parents who have reviewed them together in family group meetings Funded by the U.S. Administration on Developmental Disabilities.
• Remedies under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
  Legal E-Bulletin that includes remedies for discrimination related to employment, state or local government, and public accommodations. Produced by the Southwest ADA Center.
• The Caregiver Tele-Connection
  Free, bilingual program that provides caregivers and family members information and support by telephone, through "tele-learning" sessions, hosted by professional facilitators and experts on a variety of topics.
• The Gene and Dave Show
  Billed as Austin's first TV show created for and by people with disabilities, provides "a glimpse into the lives and lifestyles of people with disabilities through entertaining, interviewing and informing."
• Sexuality and People with Intellectual, Developmental and Other Disabilities
  Produced by the Institute on Community Integration, University of Minnesota.
• Natural Supports Project of the Waisman Center
  Articles, guides, tip sheets and activities, designed to help support youth with disabilities so they can participate more fully and naturally in school, work and community activities.
• Early Intervention
  Guidelines for early intervention to maximize language and communication development of young children with autism, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome and other disabilities.
• Aging and People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
  Addresses what can be done today to support people who are aging and have intellectual and developmental disabilities.
• Museum of disABILITY History
  Dedicated to advancing the understanding, acceptance and independence of people with disabilities.
• Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASDs) - Information for Partners
  Prevention, diagnosis and treatment for children with FASD. Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

Miscellaneous General Resources

• The Texas Tribune
  A nonprofit, nonpartisan news site that focuses on state government and politics.
• National Parent Helpline
  Purpose is to help families prevent child abuse.
• Two federal programs -- Lifeline and Link Up -- make basic, local telephone service more affordable for more than 7 million Americans.
  • Lifeline - Lifeline provides qualified consumers with a discount on monthly charges for their primary home phone line, even if it's a cell phone. Americans who qualify for this program, Lifeline can save at least $10 a month on phone bills.
  • Link-Up - Link-Up lowers the price eligible consumers pay for setting up new phone service at their home, including cell phone service. Link-Up pays up to $30 of a qualified consumer's home phone startup fees (even if it's a cell phone), not including the cost of the phone. Link-Up also lets consumers borrow up to $200 of set-up fees, interest-free, for up to one year.
    
    For information on applying for these discounts, contact your phone company or click on Texas at http://www.lifelinesupport.org/li/low-income/lifelinesupport/browser. More details are at http://www.lifeline.gov/lifeline_Consumers.html or call the Federal Communications Commission at 1-888-CALL-FCC (1-888-225-5322) or TTY 1-888-TELL-FCC (1-888-835-5322).
• Best of the Web: Drugs is a resource for researching drugs/substance abuse at http://botw.org/top/Health/Addictions/Substance_Abuse/Drugs.
• Drug Watch.com provides information on thousands of prescription and over-the-counter medications, drug recall updates, recent Federal Drug Administration (FDA) approvals, drug interactions, side effects, and current developments in the medical field.

Links from the Texas Council on the Web to other sites do not constitute an endorsement from the Council, nor do other sites necessarily reflect the Council's policy or position. These links are provided as an information service only and the Council does not guarantee content, accuracy and/or completeness of the links provided.

If any of these links are outdated or do not work, please let us know by sending an e-mail to TCDD@tcdd.state.tx.us. We'd also like to know if you have suggestions for additional links.