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Make sure Texans with intellectual and developmental disabilities are part of the conversation. Now is the time to let legislators know who you are, who The Arc of Texas is, and what’s important to you. With a simple click, you can send your message to your Texas legislators.
There are a few spots in the letter that you will need to fill in yourself. Here are some tips on what to say:
- Make sure to include your name and explain your connection to the IDD community. Are you an individual with a disability? A relative of someone who has a disability? Are you just a big believer in human rights? Now is your chance to say so.
- What do you want your legislators to think about when they are meeting about legislation that could affect Texans with IDD? Does your child receive special education services in public school and you are passionate about inclusion? Have you had your own experience job-searching with a disability? Have you been on waitlist for services? Write a one or two sentences about what matters to you!
Thank you for speaking out and supporting the human rights and self-determination of Texans with IDD.
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Draft legislation was released earlier this week in the House and Senate to make access to home and community-based services accessible to all, eliminate waiting lists, require states to ensure direct support professionals are paid a fair wage, and allow an individual's Medicaid-funded services to remain in tact regardless of whether the individual moves to another state. This is an exciting development for individuals with intellectual and
developmental disabilities and allies.
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In honor of Developmental Disability Awareness Month, Texas Council of Community Centers will host a virtual event March 25 from 1:30 to 3 p.m. CT. featuring Jodi Rodgers, who is on the Netflix show Love on the Spectrum. Rodgers is an
experienced counselor and special education teacher who specializes in educating people with disabilities and the people who support them about relationships and intimacy. This event is sponsored by the IDD Consortium. More session information and registration link are forthcoming. If you have questions about Texas Council virtual events, contact Maria Rios.
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The Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities (TCDD) is hosting its next free virtual Disability Policy Academy, "Plugging the School-to-Prison Pipeline for Students with DD," on March 25.
The school-to-prison pipeline refers to policies and practices that funnel students, often those from marginalized communities, from the classroom into the juvenile and criminal justice system. Students with developmental disabilities (DD), especially those of color, are profoundly impacted by the perpetuation of the school-to-prison pipeline.
The event will feature a legislative update and conversation with a panel of criminal justice experts who are working to end the pipeline through policy reform, plus a Q&A session.
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