Resources
Agency Supports/Services
211 Texas: No matter where you live in Texas, you can dial 2-1-1, or (877) 541-7905, and find information about resources in your local community. Whether you need help finding food or housing, childcare, crisis counseling or substance abuse treatment, one number is all you need to know.
Aging and Disability Resource Center: Finding help for older adults and people with disabilities can be overwhelming. When you call 855-YES-ADRC (855-937-2372), it becomes much easier. By making the call, you will talk to a trained professional who will guide you to the right service options to help meet your needs.
Children’s Medicaid and CHIP: Children in Texas might be able to get low-cost or free health coverage through Children's Medicaid or the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
Department of Family and Protective Services: Everything you need for childcare, foster care, business, and more.
Department of State Health Services: SHS offers more than 150 programs supporting public health in Texas.
Local Intellectual and Developmental Disability Authority (LIDDA): Local intellectual and developmental disability authorities serve as the point of entry for publicly funded intellectual and developmental disability (IDD) programs. They are responsible for enrolling eligible individuals into the ICF/IID, Home and Community-based Services (HCS), and Texas Home Living (TxHmL) Medicaid wavier programs. Our local authority in Bexar County is the Alamo Area Council of Governments (AACOG)-IDD Services. You can find more information and an application for services here. Remember, it can take up to 20 years to receive services so get connected NOW!
SPEDTex: Resources to understand disabilities and rights under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), and to promote collaboration for effective services to children with disabilities in Texas.
Social Security for Children: Helpful information on SSI and how to apply from Navigate Life Texas.
Texas Driving with Disability Program: This program focuses on improving the interaction between law enforcement and drivers with disabilities with communication needs.
Texas Health and Human Services: Texas Health and Human Services, also known as the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC), helps more than 7.5 million Texans every month. The agency supports the needs of mothers, children and families through programs such as Medicaid, CHIP, SNAP, women’s health and behavioral health services.
Texas Medicaid Waiver Interest Lists: If you believe your child will need ANY type of continued support in the areas of education/training, employment, independent living, community participation, social/recreation, and/or related services, sign up for a waiver program interest list as soon as possible (as early as birth). The wait lists for these programs can exceed 15 years currently in Texas. To learn more about the waiver programs and for information on how to get on the interest lists, please visit Navigate Life Texas. (Testimony) Watch as a parent of a child with a disability discusses the importance of getting on waiting lists for resources early: https://spedsupport.tea.texas.gov/resource-library/straight-talk-parent-videos-english/resources-and-help-available-get-waiting-lists
VIAtrans: VIAtrans is a transportation service option for customers who cannot utilize regular bus service because of a disability. It is a shared-ride, curb-to-curb service that offers independence through mobility and expands access to opportunity via transit. For more information and to complete an application, click here.
Your Texas Benefits: Learn more about state benefit programs that help Texans who are in need with little or no money. You can also get on the Medicaid interest lists from this site and/or check your status on the list(s).
Careers/Employment
ASVAB - The ASVAB is a timed multi-aptitude test, which is given at over 14,000 schools and Military Entrance Processing Stations nationwide and is developed and maintained by the Department of Defense. This site gives you the opportunity to take ASVAB practice tests.
HHS Guide to Employment for People with Disabilities: This guide was designed for people who want to improve employment outcomes for people with disabilities including Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) employees, contracted case managers and service coordinators, service providers, and people who receive HHSC services and their families.
Texas Career Check: Explore careers, education, and complete some fun activities to learn more about yourself!
Texas Workforce Commission (TWC): TWC helps young adults ages 14 - 22 with services in preparing for life after high school. That decision could be to assist in gaining employment or helping to prepare students with educational opportunities for degrees or certifications. If you, or you know a student with a disability that wants to apply for services, click here.
The Office of Disability Employment Policy: This policy was created by Congress in 2001 so that people with disabilities are fully included in today’s workforce. Their website is rich with facts and tips for people with disabilities or special health care needs and for the places that want to hire them.
Workforce Solutions Alamo: This agency offers a free summer program called Summer Earn and Learn (SEAL) that provides students with disabilities in Bexar County paid work experiences.
Post-secondary Education
AlamoPromise: AlamoPROMISE offers graduating seniors in Bexar County the opportunity to pursue higher education without the financial burden. This “last-dollar” scholarship covers tuition and required fees after financial aid awards are applied for up to three years or until the completion of an associate degree or academic certificate, whichever comes first.
CTE Programs of Study: Perkins V is federal legislation requiring states that receive federal CTE funds to align CTE programs of study to high-wage, in-demand, and high-skill occupations. The Division of College, Career, and Military Preparation has engaged members of the workforce, secondary education, and higher education to advise on the development and recent refresh of programs of study, which include coherent course sequences, industry-based certifications, and work-based learning opportunities to ensure students are prepared for high-wage, in-demand, and high-skill careers in Texas.
Education Service Center Region 20: The ESC-20 transition program serves parents, families, and educators by offering resources and training on federal and state guidelines for transition.
Graduation Toolkit: Explore information on planning for your high school years and beyond.
Learning Disabilities Association of America: Learn about postsecondary educational options for students with learning disabilities.
TEA Secondary Transition Guidance: Useful information about the transition planning process.
Texas OnCourse: Your source for college and career preparation.
The Transition Guide by the US Department of Education: Provides guidance for educators, students, and families to ensure successful transitions for students with disabilities from high school to post-secondary education or employment.
Think College: This site features information on more than 300 postsecondary educational programs specifically for individuals with intellectual disabilities.
Parent Support
Texas Parent to Parent: Texas Parent to Parent provides support, information, and education for families of children and adults with disabilities, chronic and mental health conditions and other health care needs.
Autism Lifeline Links: A program of Texas A&M – San Antonio that is focused on helping individuals, families and professionals within the autism community in Bexar County and surrounding areas, connect with one another to share information, provide assistance and get needed support.
Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities: is committed to creating change so people with disabilities are fully included in their own communities and exercise control over their own lives.
Self-Determination/Alternatives to Guardianship
I’m Determined: The I’m Determined project is a state directed project funded by the Virginia Department of Education and facilitates youth to undertake the measure of control in their lives, helping to set and steer the course rather than remaining the silent passenger.
This website has tools for students, parents, and educators to assist in obtaining the self-determination skills needed for success such as ways to participate in an IEP meeting.
Self-Determination: Independence is crucial to post-secondary success. Click here to watch a short video on why it’s important for students to make their own decisions.
Alternatives to Guardianship: Most Texans with disabilities can make decisions for themselves with appropriate supports. The good news is that there are alternatives to guardianship that do not remove the person’s personal and civil rights.
Supported Decision-Making Agreement: One of the alternatives to guardianship is a supported decision-making agreement. A tool to assist in creating the document can also be found on this website.
Next Steps to Independence: Skills and Strategies (Birth-Kindergarten): The Next Steps checklist assists educators, families, and students monitor continued progress on skills needed for post-secondary success. This checklist focuses on four skill areas to include Choice Making & Decision Making, Goal Setting & Independence, Self-Management and Self-Awareness, and Self-Determination & Self-Advocacy. (English) (Spanish)
Meet the TED! Did you know there’s someone in your school district who is responsible for connecting students and their families with resources for transition planning? This person is called the Transition and Employment Services Designee, or “TED.” Most TEDs have other roles, so your TED may also be the special education director, a counselor, or a teacher. If you have questions about your transition plan or want help finding resources, call 210-354-9565.