Online Resources
The Arc Websites
Behavior Treatment Programs
- Association of Professional Behavior Analysts
- Texana Center’s Behavior Treatment and Training Center
- Texana’s Behavior Stabilization Team (BeST)
- Texana’s Behavior Improvement Center
Local Intellectual & Developmental Disability Authorities (MHMRAs)
- Texana Center (Serving Austin, Colorado, Fort Bend, Matagorda, Waller & Wharton Counties)
- MHMRA of Harris County (Serving Houston/Harris County)
- Gulf Coast Center (Serving Galveston & Brazoria Counties)
Statewide Disability Advocacy Organizations
- Brain Injury Association of Texas
- Coalition of Texans with Disabilities
- Texas Center for Disabilities Studies
- United Cerebral Palsy
Education/Special Education
- Affordable Online Colleges
- Council for Exceptional Children
- Online Colleges for Visually Impaired
- Parent Advocacy Coalition for Educational Rights (The PACER Center)
- TASH
- Texas Education Agency
- U.S. Department of Education
- Partners Resource Network
- Exceptional Parent Magazine
- Family to Family Network
- Internet Special Education Resources
- TEA Special Education Rules
- Texas Project First
- The Simple Dollar - How to Plan for a Special Needs Child
- Understood
- Worksupport
- Gateway to Counseling
- TeachingDegree.org
Employment/Transition
- Ft. Bend Center for Independent Living
- Texas Dept. of Assistive & Rehabilitative Services (DARS)
- The Workforce Solutions
- Business Ideas for People with Disabilities
- Navigate Life Texas
Financial Planning
Health and Human Services Agencies
- Texas Health and Human Services Commission
- Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS) (formerly TDMHMR)
- Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS)
Other Government Agencies
- National Council on Disability
- National Institutes of Health
- Social Security Administration
- The Texas Planning Council for Developmental Disabilities
- Disability Benefits Calculator
Legal Resources
- Disability Rights Texas
- Brazos Bend Guardianship Services
- Fort Bend BAR Association
- Wrights Law
- Council of Parent Attorneys & Advocates (COPAA)
Self-Advocacy
Local School Districts in Ft. Bend County
Asperger’s Syndrome
- Asperger’s Autism Spectrum Education Network
- OASIS (Online Asperger’s Syndrome Information & Support) @ MAAP
Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
- Children and Adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
- Attention Deficit Disorder Association
Autism
- Autism Now
- Autism Society of America
- Center for the Study of Autism
- Hope for Three
- National Autism Association
- Autism Spectrum Connection
- Autism Spectrum Disorder Guide
- Katy Autism Support Group
Brain Injury
Cerebral Palsy
- American Academy for Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine
- Easter Seals Greater Houston
- Cerebral Palsy Group
- Cerebral Palsy Guidance
- Cerebral Palsy Guide
- Cerebral Palsy Symptoms
- The Cord Blood Center
- United Cerebral Palsy
- Birth Injury Guide
Down Syndrome
- Association for Children with Down Syndrome
- Changing Minds Foundation
- Down Syndrome Amongst Us
- Down Syndrome Association of Houston
- GiGi’s Play House
- National Association for Down Syndrome
- National Down Syndrome Society
- Association for Children with Down Syndrome
- Father’s Joy
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
Fragile X Syndrome
Intellectual Disability
- American Association of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD)
- Angelman Syndrome Foundation
- BestColleges.com
- Birth Injury Guide
- Business Ideas for People With Disabilities
- Disability Benefits Calculator
- Fire Safety for People with Disabilities – A Reference Guide
- NAMI
- Private Providers Association of Texas
- Texas Assistive Technology Partnership
- Texas Council of Community MHMR Centers
- Texas Department of Aging & Disability Services
- The Simple Dollar - Disability Benefits Guide
- Special Olympics – Texas
- National Association for the Dually Diagnosed
- Texas Health Organizations
- TSBVI (Texas School for the Blind & Visually Impaired)
- Transition Coalition
- Worksupport
- Easter Seals
Prader-Willi Syndrome
Williams Syndrome
Other Disability Resources
Tax Software
Transportation Services
Vacations
Planning for the Future
General Transition Plan and Information
- Texas Project First - Families, Information, Resources, Support & Training
- Navigate Life Texas - For families raising children with disabilities
- Sam Houston State University Parent Transition Tools - Information to parents about teaching their child life skills and supporting their child's education.
- Your Texas Benefits - Learn how Your Texas Benefits can help you
High School Transition Planning
- ESC Region 4 Video: Graduation Options for Students with Disabilities - Graduation in Texas: Options for Students with Disabilities
- Texas Education Agency (TEA) Career and Technical Education (IEP Goal TEKS for Career)- - CTE Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills
- Texas Workforce Commission - Student/Parent Career Planning Tools - Explore Your Bright Future!
Future/Life Planning Tools
- The Arc U.S. Center for Future Planning - Planning ahead can help guide a person with an intellectual or developmental disability (I/DD) to lead a good life as independently as possible. A plan is important throughout all stages of life and especially in the future after the parent or caregiver is no longer able to provide support.
- The Arc U.S. Online Tool: Build your future plan - Enables you and your family to create an account within the Center and get started making a future plan.
Financial Planning
- Dearborn & Creggs - Dearborn & Creggs' mission is to educate, empower, and liberate our clients from financial concerns… for life!
- Consolidated Planning Group - Managing Wealth and Protecting Tomorrow
- MassMutual Greater Houston - We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a catalyst that fuels our growth and helps us achieve our purpose: to help people secure their future and protect the ones they love.
Financial Planning - Special Needs Trust
- Texas ABLE Accounts - Texas Legislature enacted the Texas Achieving a Better Life Experience Act that established the Texas ABLE® Program
- Social Security on ABLE Accounts - What Is An ABLE Account?
- The Arc of Texas Master Pooled Trusts - Is a pooled special needs trust managed by The Arc of Texas with approval from the Social Security Administration and the Texas Health and Human Services Commission.
- Special Needs Alliance Attorney Search - Attorneys for Special Needs Planning
Person-Centered Planning
- Institute of Person-Centered Practices - Overview of Pre-Employment Transition Services
- Inclusive Solutions - Person Centered Planning
Guardianship and Alternatives
- The Arc of U.S. Supported Decision Making - Alternatives to Guardianship: Supported Decision-Making Agreements
- Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities - Alternatives to Guardianship
- Brazos Bend Guardianship Services - Assists incapacitated and disabled adults and their families with legal guardianship, money management, and related alternatives.
Employment
- Texas Workforce Commission - Pre-Employment Transition Services - Pre-Employment Transition Services
- Texas Consumer Resource for Education and Workforce (2 & 4 year college info, cost & careers) - An interactive dashboard tool providing comparative information about Texas public 2-year and 4-year postsecondary institutions.
- ONet Online - Build your future with O Net Online
- Explore Work - Start Mapping Your Future!
- Job Accommodation Network - The leading source of free, expert, and confidential guidance on workplace accommodations and disability employment issues.
- The Career Index - Everything You Need in One Place
Publications
The following publications are useful for understanding and coping with disabilities:
- AbleNet - Teaching Products
- Arc of the U.S. Justice Advocacy Guide - An advocates guide on assisting victims and suspects/defendants with Intellectual Disabilities
- Brooke’s Publishing - All people deserve to reach their potential.
- ERIC - Clearinghouse on Disabilities and Gifted Education
- Exceptional Parent Magazine - eParent.com the online special needs resource
- Explanation of Services & Supports for I/DD - This is a brief description of intellectual and developmental disability (IDD) services and supports provided by Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC).
- IDEA Manual – English - Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
- IDEA Manual – Spanish - Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
- Inclusion Press Home Page - Publishers of books and various other publications on inclusion.
- LRPnet Online Education Services - Online, fee-based service providing current information on special education and disability-related products
- Special Child Magazine - Free online publication for parents and caregivers of children with special needs.
- Woodbine House - Publisher of the Special-Needs Collection…books for parents, children, teachers, and other professionals
- Your Rights.... In Local Authority Services - This handbook tells you about the rights and privileges you have if you are receiving services offered by a local authority.
- Your Rights..... In a Texas Home Living (TxHmL) Program - This handbook tells you about your rights and privileges if you are receiving Texas Home Living Program services .
- Your Rights..... In a Home and Community-Based Services (HCS) Program - This handbook tells you about the rights and privileges you have if you are receiving services offered through the Home and Community-based Services (HCS) program .