For more information about training, research and guidance to support the needs of individuals with disabilities recovering from disaster, contact Dr. Laura Stough, project director of Project REDD (Research and Education on Disability and Disaster) at 979.845.8257 or lstough@coe.tamu.edu.
Disaster Acronym Guide (Emergency Management and Disability-Related Acronyms)
PDF version (last updated 06/07)
Ever confused by all those acronyms like FAS, HOH, LRG...? Print this handy list for easy reference.
Texas Guide to Supports and Services for Individuals with Disabilities and their Families Affected By Disasters
PDF version (last updated 03/07) or online version
Over 3,000 of these guides have been distributed to case managers, county extension agents, and emergency management personnel throughout Texas. Print and laminate for use in case of a disaster situation.
Advocacy & Support Groups |
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| ADAPT | Contact for assistance with institutionalization issues. Assists with community-based attendant services & accessible housing. | 512.442.0252 www.adapt.org |
| Advocacy, Inc. (AI) | Contact for advocating the legal rights of Texans, adults and children, with disabilities. Provides case management for some cases. | 800.252.9108 www.advocacyinc.org |
| The ARC of Texas | Contact to receive referrals and find out about local opportunities for mental retardation and other developmental disabilities. | 800.252.9729 www.thearcoftexas.org |
| Family to Family Network (F2F) | Contact for help to families of children with disabilities. F2F provides information, training, referral and support. | 713.466.6304 www.familytofamilynetwork.org |
| Family Support Network (FSN) | Contact for information, support and skills needed to make informed educational decisions about children, especially those decisions regarding special education. | 979.845.4612 http://fsn.tamu.edu |
| Mental Health Association in Texas (MHAT) | Contact for information, brochures and education on mental health issues to case workers and survivors. Also has brochures on emotional disabilities that may occur due to disaster, and connects people to assistance in their area of the state. | 512.454.3706 www.mhatexas.org |
| National Association for the Mentally Ill (NAMI TX) | Contact for local support systems for people with mental illness. | 800.633.3760 www.namitexas.org |
| Partners Resource Network (PRN) | Contact for services for parents of children with disabilities. Free services designed to help families: 1) understand their child’s disability; 2) understand their rights/responsibilities under IDEA; 3) obtain and evaluate resources and services; and 4) participate as team members with professionals in planning and decision making. | 800.866.4726 www.partnerstx.org |
| Texas Center for Disability Studies | Contact for assistance for people with disabilities in navigating the support systems in Texas. | 512.232.0740 http://tcds.edb.utexas.edu |
| Texas Talking Book Program | Contact for new players as well as reference materials. The Texas Talking Book Program also can assist callers in finding necessary services in the state with regard to disabilities and health conditions. | 800.252.9605 www.texastalkingbooks.com |
| Texas Parent to Parent (TxP2P) | Contact for information and resources, a one-on-one match with a trained Parent Volunteer, and guidance on the disability arena. | 866.896.6001 www.txp2p.org |
Health and Medical Services |
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| Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) | Contact for families who earn too much money to qualify for Medicaid, yet cannot afford to buy private insurance for their children. | 800.647.6558 www.chipmedicaid.org |
| SAMHSA National Helpline | A toll-free referral service for locating drug and alcohol abuse treatment programs that is operated by SAMHSA’s Center for Substance Abuse Treatment. | 800.662.HELP (4357) (English and Español) 800.487.4889 (TDD) |
Communication |
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| Program for Amplification for Children in Texas (DSHS) | Contact for diagnostic and remedial services needed by children birth–20 with hearing loss who are Medicaid eligible. Services are for children who have a hearing loss that is permanent. | 800.422.2956 |
| Relay Texas | Contact for Voice to TDD and TDD to Voice. | 800.735.2988 |
| Texas Commission for the Deaf & Hard of Hearing | Contact for issues with communication barriers and to improve equal access for people who are deaf or hard of hearing of all ages. | 800.628.5115 www.dars.state.tx.us/dhhs |
State Agencies |
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| Department of Aging & Disability Services (DADS) | The DADS mission is to provide a comprehensive array of aging and disability services, supports, and opportunities that are easily accessed in local communities. See detailed services below. | 512.438-.3011 www.dads.state.tx.us |
| Department of Assistive & Rehabilitative Services (DARS) | Division for Rehabilitation Services helps Texans with disabilities to obtain employment of choice and to live independently in their communities. Office for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services helps eliminate communication barriers, provide vocational support and can provide telecommunication devices. Division for Blind Services helps Texans who are blind or visually impaired to obtain employment of choice and to live independently in their communities. Division for Early Childhood Intervention assures that families with young children with developmental delays have the resources and supports they need to reach their goals, particularly educational goals. Division for Disability Determination Services makes disability determinations for Texans with disabilities who apply for or receive SSA disability benefits. |
512.377.0800 www.dars.state.tx.us |
| Department of State Health Services (DSHS) | Contact for coordinating disaster behavioral health preparedness, response, and recovery efforts for Texas during and after a state or federally declared emergency. Provides guidance, technical assistance, and collaboration with decision makers at all levels of government. | 888.963.7111 www.dshs.state.tx.us |
| Health & Human Services Commission (HHSC) | Contact for Medicaid, Children’s Health Insurance Program, food stamps, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families and long-term care. | 512.424.6500 www.hhsc.state.tx.us |
| Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities (TCDD) | Contact for grants given to organizations that help people with developmental disabilities. | 800.262.0334 www.txddc.state.tx.us |
| 2-1-1 The Texas Information and Referral Network | Contact for statewide information around-the-clock mainly on health and human services. Includes access to medical care; requests for food; requests for prescription assistance; and other topics such as housing, child care and crisis counseling. | 2-1-1 or 888.312.4567 www.211texas.org www.uwbz.org |
Early Intervention and Childhhood Services |
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| National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies (NACCRRA) | Contact to locate a network of child care resource and referral agencies serving communities throughout the state of Texas. Includes section on children with special needs. | www.naccrra.org |
| Texas Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) | Contact for free statewide programs for families with children birth–3, with disabilities and developmental delays. | 512.424.6745 |
Education Services |
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| Texas Education Agency Special Education Hotline | Contact this hotline for special education issues in public schools in Texas. | 800.252.9668 |
| Texas School for the Blind & Visually Impaired (TSBVI) | Contact for information on the special public school serving students who have a visual impairment AND as a statewide resource to parents of these children and professionals who serve them. | 800.872.5273 www.tsbvi.edu |
| Texas School for the Deaf (TSD) | Contact for educating students who are deaf and hard of hearing, also serves as a resource center on deafness. | 512.462.5353 www.tsd.state. tx.us |
Tip Sheets for First Responders and Texas Resources for Services and Supports
Graphics version / Text version
These tip sheets, distributed with permission from the University of New Mexico by the Texas Center for Disability Studies at the University of Texas, are a great resource for first responders in emergency situations.