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Advocating for the civil rights of people with developmental disabilities (DD) is an ongoing effort led across generations in the United States. To continue this legacy, TCDD is paving the way for a new wave of disability advocates in Texas. Through our transformative TCDD Policy Fellow projects, we develop a cohort of passionate professionals, equipping them to champion the rights of individuals with DD. TCDD Policy Fellow projects increase the number of people with the knowledge and skills needed to engage in public policy activities to help people with DD become fully included in their communities and exercise control over their own lives.
Meet the Fellows
TCDD has three policy fellows working with disability-advocacy organizations in Texas. Their fellowships span two years, overlapping with a 140-day Texas legislative session so that fellows can connect with legislators and their staff to discuss bills related to disability issues. During this legislative session, our three policy fellows worked to expand the understanding, inclusion, and civil rights of Texans with DD.
Jennifer Toon, Coalition of Texans with Disabilities
Jennifer Toon is a policy fellow with the Coalition of Texans with Disabilities. During the 88th Texas Legislature, Toon helped educate and organize formerly incarcerated women on how to provide written comments, in-person testimony, and office visits at the state Capitol. Toon primarily focused on bills related to higher education programming for incarcerated women with disabilities, medical transportation, emergency planning, and closing youth prisons. She was honored on the House floor during the session for her efforts in criminal justice reform and rehabilitation.
Hannah Gill, NAMI Texas
Hannah Gill is spending her time as a policy fellow with NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Texas. Gill was busy during the 88th legislative session; she hosted the NAMI Texas Mental Health Capitol Day and scheduled about 100 office visits with legislators and their staff. Gill especially focused on two bills during the session:
- House Bill (HB) 727, which would have banned the death penalty for people with severe mental illnesses, and
- HB 4713, relating to group health benefit plan coverage for the early treatment of first-episode psychosis.
As a result of Gill’s efforts with NAMI Texas, hundreds of participants gathered at the Capitol for the Texas Mental Health Capitol Day.
Dylan Bricker, Epilepsy Foundation Central and South Texas
Dylan Bricker is a policy fellow with the Epilepsy Foundation Central and South Texas. During the legislative session, Bricker focused on two goals. First, he aimed to increase lawmakers’ awareness of epilepsy and give legislative staff information about the resources that are available in Texas for their constituents that are living with epilepsy. Bricker also worked to help pass legislation to better protect children with epilepsy in schools. Two bills that he focused on, HB 3610 and Senate Bill (SB) 1506, related to increasing the amount of information required in a seizure action plan provided to school personnel by parents and doctors. SB 1506 was signed into law by the governor on May 27, 2023. The new law went into effect immediately.
A Capitol Recap: Disability Policy in the 88th Legislature
TCDD is proud of the incredible work done by our policy fellows during this session. Their diligence in advocacy is helping shape a more inclusive, equitable Texas for people with DD. We are hopeful that this will lead to lifelong efforts as professionals in disability advocacy.
The disability-related issues that were addressed during the 88th Texas legislative session at our Disability Policy Academy, “A Capitol Recap: Disability Policy in the 88th Legislature” The event was free, open to the public, and was be held via Zoom. The registration period has ended however, you can visit the Disability Policy Academy page to learn more.
