 THHSC
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Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC)
With the Texas Department of State Health Services, and the Texas Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services, HHSC administers health care and financial assistance programs to support low-income families and individuals who qualify for benefits. Phone: 1-877-541-7905 or 2-1-1.
Many people with ASD and their families may qualify for these programs. Among others, these programs include:
- Children's Health Insurance Program;
- Medicaid (including STAR+PLUS and the Medicaid Buy-In Programs);
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program food benefits;
- Temporary Assistance for Needy Families; and
- Disability Determination Services.
The Medicaid Buy-In program can help pay medical bills for children with disabilities. This program helps families who need health insurance, but make too much money to get traditional Medicaid. Families “buy in” to Medicaid by making a monthly payment (premium).
The federal Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program pays benefits to disabled children [pdf] who have limited income and resources. This website also provides a Child Disability Starter Kit for assistance with the application process. 1-800-772-1213
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TEXAS
Department of Aging
and Disability Services
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Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS)
provides a variety of home, community and residential services to help people with physical, medical or intellectual disabilities live their lives as independently as possible. DADS also offers services for their families who help care for them.
Look up your Local “Authority” office by zip code or county by clicking here.
Learn about the process of eligibility determination- read information provided by the Mental Health Mental Retardation Authority (MHMRA) of Harris County by clicking here. [pdf]
Medicaid waivers allow the state to be more flexible in how it spends money to provide some long-term services to some people with disabilities who are eligible for Medicaid. In the past, people had to be in nursing homes/facilities or other large institutions for Medicaid to pay for long-term services. Waivers override certain rules for how Medicaid funding can be used. If they meet the eligibility requirements, people can get the services they need in their own homes or other community settings, instead of having to go into a nursing facility or institution.
However, the Interest Lists (waiting lists) for these services in Texas can be as long as 10 or more years, and DADS maintains “Interest Lists” for the services. It is very important to put your child on the waiver Interest List as soon as you have a diagnosis. You can always decline the service when your name comes up, but it is better to be on the waitlist than wish you had access to services.
Please carefully read the booklets A Roadmap to Understanding Texas Medicaid Waivers and Which Waiver Does What?. [PDF] It is very important to follow the checklist provided in the booklet to remain on the Waiver List over the years waiting for services.
Call 1-877-438-5658 to put your child’s name on the following Waiver lists:
- Community Based Alternatives (CBA)
- Community Living Assistance and Support Services (CLASS
- Medically Dependent Children Program (MDCP)
Call your local Authority (see DADS entry above) to put your child’s name on the following Waiver lists:
- Home and Community Services (HCS)
- Texas Home Living Waiver (TxHmL)
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TEXAS
Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services
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Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services (DARS)
includes four Divisions: Early Childhood Intervention, Blind, Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Disability Determination, and Rehabilitative Services. DARS administers programs that help Texans with disabilities find jobs through vocational rehabilitation, ensure that Texans with disabilities live independently in their communities, and assist families in helping their children under age 3 with disabilities and delays in development to reach their full potential.
The DARS Autism Program champions excellence in the delivery of services for families of children with autism. Services are provided through grant contracts with local community agencies and organizations that provide applied behavioral analysis (ABA) and other positive behavior support strategies. The program helps improve the quality of life for children on the autism spectrum and their families.
The DARS Office of Autism Services was created on September 1, 2014. The Office of Autism Services includes the DARS Autism Program, the Texas Autism Research and Resource Center (TARCC), and administrative support for the Texas Council on Autism and Pervasive Developmental Disorders (TCAPDD). The Office of Autism Services facilitates collaboration among agencies, organizations, universities, and community partners; advances research and evaluation in the diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorder (ASD); and improves access to resources and services for Texans on the autism spectrum and their families to improve the quality of their lives and enable their full participation in society.
Texas Council on Autism and Pervasive Developmental Disorders
4800 North Lamar Blvd.
MC 1411
Austin, Texas 78756
[email protected]
1-800-628-5115 (DARS Inquiries Line)
Texas Council on Autism and PDD’s (TCAPDD) mission is to advise and make recommendations to state agencies and the Texas Legislature to help ensure that the needs of persons of all ages with autism, and other pervasive developmental disorders, and their families are addressed and that available resources are coordinated to meet those needs. The Council is composed of seven public members, the majority of whom are family members of a person with autism or a pervasive developmental disorder, appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the Texas Senate, with six representatives of the major state agencies.
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Texas Education Agency
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TEA’s mission is to provide leadership, guidance, and resources to help schools meet the educational needs of all students and prepare them for success in the global economy. TEA administers the distribution of state and federal funding to public schools; administers the statewide assessment program and accountability system; provides support to the State Board of Education in the development of the statewide curriculum, adoption of instructional materials, and managing the distribution process; administers a data collection system on public school information; performs the administrative functions of the State Board for Educator Certification; supports agency operations; and monitors for compliance with federal and state guidelines.
There are 20 regional Education Service Centers (ESCs) in Texas that provide leadership, training, and technical assistance in the area of special education for students with disabilities in accordance with the Texas Education Agency's focus on increasing student achievement. Each serves as first point of contact for school districts, parents, and other community stakeholders, and provides for the joint training of parents and special education, related services, and general education personnel.
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2-1-1 Texas
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2-1-1 Texas, a program of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, is committed to helping Texas citizens connect with the services they need. Whether by phone or internet, their goal is to present accurate, well-organized and easy-to-find information from over 50,000 state and local health and human services programs. This site is a comprehensive guide to the community resources in Texas. Agency profiles include service descriptions, contact information, and information about availability, disability access, fees, and eligibility requirements. Phone: 2-1-1. |
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