Table of Contents
Welcome to the latest edition of TCDD Extra, a newsletter published every two months with a selection of recent disability news, resources, training, advocacy opportunities, and more. This newsletter may include TCDD-led initiatives as well as information from other organizations.
In this edition:
- tools to track activity in the Texas Legislature;
- winter readiness information for people with disabilities;
- new resources on complex mental health needs;
- and more.
Keeping Up with the 89th Texas Legislature
During Texas legislative sessions, TCDD monitors legislative activities and public policy changes that could impact programs and services for people with developmental disabilities (DD). For the 89th session, which started Jan. 14 and continues until June 2, TCDD is sharing the following information:
- Bill of the Week: Highlights of noteworthy bills that relate to TCDD’s Public Policy Priorities and other important disability issues.
- Texas Legislative News: Regular updates from the Capitol, including hearings to watch, legislative resources, and more.
- Video Updates on Instagram: Quick updates from Scott Daigle, TCDD’s public policy director, on the latest activities from the Legislature.
Here are some additional tools to use and share with other advocates:
- Legislative Advocacy Resources: Get information about meeting with legislators, giving public testimony on bills, and more.
- Track Legislative Activity Online: View how-to videos on using the Texas Legislature Online website to search for bills and track legislative activity.
- How a Bill Becomes Law (PDF): This handout briefly explains how a bill moves through the Texas Legislature. The handout is also available in Spanish (PDF).
- Who Represents Me?: Find names, phone numbers, and other information about your elected representatives in the Texas Legislature, the State Board of Education, and the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives.
- Texas Legislative Glossary: Look up meanings of legislative terms in an online glossary from the Texas Legislative Council.
Winter Preparedness Resources and Survey Results
As winter weather impacts areas across our state, you can find winter preparedness resources for people with disabilities from Disability Rights Texas (DRTx). Along with information on preparing for winter weather emergencies, DRTx offers a checklist of important supplies to keep with you in case a weather emergency forces you to shelter in place or causes other disruptions. You can also visit the TCDD website to find additional emergency preparedness information and strategies to advocate for Texans with disabilities to have access to emergency information that is responsive to their needs.
DRTx recently released findings from its 2024 Disaster Resilience Survey, which asked Texans with disabilities how prepared they felt in staying safe during emergency situations. Overall, survey respondents reported feeling less prepared and more worried about natural disasters and other emergencies, according to DRTx. You can find more information on the survey on the DRTx website.
Mental Health Disparities Faced by Texans with DD
The Arc of Texas has published an investigative report, videos, and additional resources as part of a TCDD-funded project to identify disparities in mental health care for people with DD in Texas. The report, titled “Out of Options: Addressing Inequities in Care for Texans with IDD and Mental Illness,” examines areas where mental health support is lacking for Texans with DD. The report includes recommendations to lawmakers on how to address mental health disparities. Along with developing educational resources for mental health providers, the project seeks to expand access to mental health care for people with DD across the state.
Community Guide on Supporting Youth Mental Health
The Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute recently published a Community Action Guide that summarizes the organization’s research into improving care and support for young adults with DD experiencing mental health crises. The guide includes recommendations on how other organizations can collaborate to better support the mental health of young adults with DD in their communities. The guide is part of a TCDD-funded project that is also developing recommendations to improve emergency care for youth and young adults with DD experiencing mental health crises.
Quotable
"Policies that promote competitive integrated employment actively dismantle barriers that limit people with disabilities from the fully included and valued roles they deserve in society."
— Excerpt from a commentary by Roni Jo Frazier, a TCDD Council member and CEO of Bloom Consulting, in a recent newsletter from the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities.
Project Spotlight
Increasing Employment for South Texans with DD
The Valley Association for Independent Living (VAIL) is coordinating a TCDD-funded project to increase job opportunities for people with DD in the Rio Grande Valley. Through the South Texas Disability Employment Collaborative, the project offers training for participants to enhance their workplace skills and be better prepared to achieve their job and career goals. The project is part of a TCDD strategic initiative to address targeted disparity and barriers to employment for people with DD in South Texas. Learn more about the project by visiting VAIL on Facebook and Instagram.
Photo: As part of a training program coordinated by the Valley Association for Independent Living, participants develop foundational life skills through equine-assisted classes at Rancho Encino Life Skills in Brownsville.
