Support Programs Resources
When you have a child with a disability, finding help can be confusing and time consuming. To make the search a little easier, we’ve put together this list of state agencies and government funded resources and services.
Government Funded Resources
Disability Rights Texas – DRTx
DRTx is the federally designated legal protection and advocacy agency (P&A) for persons with disabilities in Texas. DRTx advocates for and helps protect the rights of individuals with disabilities to have full and equal participation in society.
Education Services Centers – ESCs
ESCs provide for the joint training of parents, education professionals, and others who express an interest. Contact the ESC in your region. Certain ESCs have special functions (see below).
- Texas Assistive Technology Network
- Low Incidence Disabilities (LID) in Sp. Ed.
- Parent Coordination
- Texas Statewide Leadership for Autism Training
- Texas Behavior Support
- The Legal Framework
- Texas Transition
Partner’s Resource Network – PRN
PRN operates the Texas statewide network of Parent Training and Information (PTI) Centers. The PATH Project serves families living in ESC Regions 5-13.
Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities – TCDD
TCDD helps people with developmental disabilities achieve their potential for independence, productivity and integration into their communities by working to develop a comprehensive system of service and supports in Texas.
University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities – UCEDD
UCEDDs work to create a better world through research, education, practice, and policy. There are two UCEDDs in Texas (see below).
- Center on Disability and Development – Texas A&M University (TAMU). Programs include, but are not limited to, the Institute for Person-Centered Practices & the Texas Technology Access Project (TTAP)
- Texas Center for Disability Studies University of Texas Austin (UT Austin). Programs include, but are not limited to, the Aggie Guide Dogs and Service Dogs, Family Support Network, Leadership, Employability, and Advocacy Project (Project LEAP) & Project REDD: Research and Education on Disability and Disaster.
Government Funded Services
Children with Special Health Care Needs – CSHCN
CSHCN is a service provided for children under 21 with special health care needs and individuals of any age with cystic fibrosis.
Child Care Services Program
TWC’s Child Care Services Program subsidizes child care for low-income families enabling parents to work or attend workforce training or education activities.
Community First Choice – CFC
CFC provides certain services and supports to individuals living in the community who are enrolled in the Medicaid program and meet CFC eligibility requirements.
Early Childhood Intervention Services – ECI
ECI serves children from birth to 36 months with a developmental delay or disability.
Deaf and hard of Hearing Services – DHHS
DHHS help eliminate societal and communication barriers to improve equal access for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing.
General Revenue – GR
*aka IDD Community Services
GR services, provided by or through the Local IDD Authority (LIDDA), are primarily intended to help people remain in their own or family’s home. Services may vary by location.
Health Insurance Premium Payment – HIPP Program
HIPP is the Texas Medicaid program that helps families pay for employer-sponsored health insurance premiums. It is for families with at least 1 person who gets Medicaid.
Independent Living Services – ILS
Independent living (IL) services help persons with disabilities, including vision-related disabilities achieve greater independence in the home and community.
Intermediate Care Facilities for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities or Related Conditions – ICF/IID
*institution-based model of care
The ICF/IID program provides residential and habilitation services to persons with intellectual disabilities or a related condition. There are two types of ICF/IIDs in Texas: Community ICF/IID (up to 6 residents, few are larger) and State Supported Living Centers (60-460 residents).
Lifeline
Lifeline is the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) program to help make communications services more affordable for eligible consumers.
Medicaid & the Children’s Health Insurance Program – CHIP
Medicaid and the CHIP help you cover medical expenses for children and persons with disabilities who meet income requirements.
Medicaid Buy-In
The program offers low-cost Medicaid health care services — including community-based services and supports – to individuals with disabilities who work. Some people in the program might have to pay a monthly fee.
Medicare
Medicare is the federal health insurance program for: people who are 65 or older, certain younger people with disabilities & people with end-state renal disease.
Mental Health Services: Adults
Texas HHS contracts with 37 local mental health authorities (MHA) and two local behavioral health authorities (BHA) to deliver adult mental health services in communities across TX.
Mental Health Services: Children & Adolescents
Children’s Mental Health serves children 3 to 17 with a mental health diagnosis who:
- are at risk of having to move away from their home or school
- are enrolled in special education
National Parks & Federal Recreational Lands Access Pass
The Access Pass if a free, lifetime pass – available to U.S. citizens or permanent residents of the United States that have been medically determined to have a permanent disability (does not have to be a 100% disability) – that provides admittance to more than 2,000 recreation sites managed by five Federal agencies.
Navigate Life Texas
This website is especially for families and parents of children with disabilities or special health-care needs and is designed to offer support, inspiration, resources, and links to services available.
Non-educational Community-Based Support Services
Non-educational community-based support services are designed to help families of certain students with disabilities care for their children and help them better cope with having an individual with a disability at home.
Parent Companion
This website is designed help you connect with other parents who know what you are going through, as well as help you find the support and services you need to improve the quality of life for your child and your family.
Project Access Housing Project
Rental assistance for qualifying persons with disabilities transitioning from institutions into the community.
Section 8 – Housing Choice Voucher Program
Rental assistance to low income individuals and families, including seniors and persons with disabilities.
Social Security Disability Insurance – SSDI
SSDI pays benefits to you and certain members of your family if you are “insured,” meaning that you worked long enough and paid Social Security taxes.
Specialized Telecommunications Assistance Program – STAP
STAP helps individuals who have a disability that interferes with their access to telephone networks purchase basic specialized assistive equipment or services.
Special Education Information Center – SpedTex
SPEDTex delivers accurate and timely answers to questions about special education by phone, email or live chat.
STAR+PLUS
STAR+PLUS is a Texas Medicaid managed care program for people who have disabilities or are age 65 or older. Individuals in STAR+PLUS get Medicaid health-care and long-term services and support through a medical plan that they choose.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program – SNAP
SNAP offers nutrition assistance to low income individuals and families.
Supplemental Security Income – SSI
SSI pays benefits to qualified individuals who have a disability based on financial need.
Targeted HCS SSLC Diversion Vacancy
A Targeted HCS SSLC diversion vacancy may be made available to a qualified individual with an intellectual disability who is determined to be at imminent risk of admission to an SSLC. View the HCS SSLC diversion vacancy protocol here. Contact your LIDDA to request an HCS SSLC diversion vacancy.
Texas Long-term Services and Support Wavier Programs: Medicaid Long-term Services and Supports Programs – LTSS
*Contact your LIDDA to place your child on the HCS, MDCP, STAR+PLUS HCBS or TXHmL interest list.
*Call 1-877-438-5658 to place your child on the CLASS or DBMD interest list.
LTSS programs assist individuals of all ages to live in the community instead of an institution.
Texas Long-term Services and Supports Waiver Programs
- Community Living Assistance and Support Services (CLASS)
- Deaf Blind with Multiple Disabilities (DBMD)
- Home and Community-based Services (HCS)
- Medically Dependent Children’s Program (MDCP) *under 21
- STAR+PLUS HCBS
- Texas Home Living (TxHmL) *considers family income for children
Most LTSS programs have an interest list because of funding limitations. The wait time can be as long as 17-18 years for services.
While we don’t want to tell you what to do, we strongly encourage you to place your child on the interest list sooner than later.
Texas Medicaid State Plan Services and Supports: Medicaid Long-term Services and Supports Programs – LTSS
LTSS programs assist individuals of all ages to live in the community instead of an institution.
Texas Medicaid State Plan Services and Supports
- Community Attendant Services (CAS)
- Community First Choice (CFC)
- Day Activity and Health Services (DAHS)
- Hospice
- ICF/IID
- Nursing Facility (NF)
- Primary Home Care (PHC)
- Programs of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE)
Youth Empowerment Services (YES) Waiver
The YES waiver provides comprehensive home and community-based mental health services to youth between the ages of 3 and 18, up to a month before a youth’s 19th birthday, who have a serious emotional disturbance.
The maze of multiple intake systems and eligibility processes can be as confusing and time consuming as locating the help you need. Aging and Disability Resource Centers (ADRCs) help cut through the maze. ADRCs serve as a key point of access to person centered LTSS specialized information, referral and assistance and provide one-stop access to information for people who need help finding long-term care services. Locate the ADRC near you.
State Agencies
Texas Education Agency – TEA
TEA is the state agency that oversees public education in Texas. While not directly providing special education services, TEA has the responsibility of managing them.
Texas Department of State Health Services – DSHS
DSHS provides state-operated health care services. Mental Health Services and the CSHCN program are 2 specific to individuals with disabilities.
Texas Health & Human Services Commission – HHSC
HHSC offers programs that help with food, health care, safety and disaster.
Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs – TDHCA
TDHCA provides housing and community development opportunities for low income individuals, nonprofit organizations and private companies, contractors, banking institutions, rural communities, local governments and investors.
Texas Workforce Commission – TWC
TWC is the state agency charged with overseeing and providing workforce development services to employers and job seekers of Texas.