In the U.S., individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) make up 1-3% of the general population but are 3-4 times more likely to have a mental health condition. People with IDD can develop higher rates of mental health disorders due to increased experiences of trauma, neglect, and/or exploitation.
The Arc of Texas established the Whole Person Project (WPP) to help eliminate barriers to care for Texans with IDD and
co-occurring mental health conditions. The WPP collaborates with self-advocates to share their stories to create solutions and strategically advocate for systemic policy change.
If you or someone you know needs mental health crisis support, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline).
The National Center for State Courts (NCSC) published a revised guide to help judges promote and implement diversion strategies that more effectively guide individuals with mental illness or co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders toward appropriate treatment and away from the court system. In addition, the NCSC hosted a Mental Health Diversion webinar.
The Texas House of Representatives recently released its interim charges, a list of topics its committees must focus on in preparation for the upcoming legislative session. We’re keeping an eye on the following interim charges which could impact people with disabilities:
The Appropriations Committee is charged with examining cross-article funding streams within the Texas Education Agency, such as School Health and Related Services (SHARS), determining where overlapping programs are best fit and funded, and making policy recommendations to improve transparency and accountability between agencies.
The Human Services Committee is
charged with evaluating access to Home and Community-based Services (HCS) waivers, including the interest list, effects of inflation on the cost of services, and availability of services and service providers. They must also consider the long-term stability of long-term services and supports in waiver programs and consider alternative delivery models.
The Youth Health & Safety Committee is
charged with evaluating programs and services currently available to children and families that are either involved with, or at high risk for becoming involved with, the foster care and juvenile justice systems. They must also study the current barriers for accessing community-based behavioral health services for children with intense behavioral health needs, with an emphasis on ensuring that parents do not have to give up custody of children to gain access to services.
The Texas Senate also released its list of interim charges. Stay tuned for more information
and to learn about opportunities to provide feedback to the legislature.
Make a recurring monthly donation, one-time gift, and/or round-up your purchases to the next dollar to donate the change to The Arc of Texas.
This two-day summit focused on promoting and protecting the health of our communities and the actions needed to create social, political, and systemic changes includes panel discussions and individual speakers. Director of Public Policy & Advocacy for The Arc of Texas, Ashley Ford, will moderate the panel “Health for All: Challenging Inequities,
Building Solutions.”
Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities (TCDD) and AgriLife will host an online workshop on making summer camps inclusive and accessible for youth with disabilities. Dr. Amanda Kloo, director of inclusive recreation at the National Inclusion Project, will discuss program designs, participation considerations, and engagement strategies to meet the
physical, social-emotional, intellectual, and wellness needs of every camper. The workshop is the second of a two-part series. A recording of the first workshop is available here.
This webinar will explore a new grant opportunity from the AT&T Foundation for chapters of The Arc aimed at enhancing digital literacy accessibility. Please watch for a request for proposals the week of May 22.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has proposed a rule that could ban the use of electro-shock devices on people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Provide feedback to the administration by submitting a comment.
On April 11, the White House held a fireside chat about the importance of care. Home and community-based services (HCBS) advocate and board member of The Arc of Colorado, Carson Covey, participated in the event, along with his sister, Brynne Covey, and others. Watch their full remarks.
