Are you registered to vote? To have your vote count in the election on November 4, make sure you register to vote by October 6. Learn how to register to vote: www.drtx.org/Register-Vote #VotingRights #DisabilityRights #Texas

What do you do when a disaster strikes? In recognition of National Preparedness Month, we're hosting a webinar next week to help you understand what to do and how to get help after a disaster. Attend the webinar so you're prepared ahead of time. disabilityrightstx.org/en/2025/09/0...

Look good. Do good. Back by popular demand, our Capitol Crawl t-shirt is now available in our Bonfire store. We have new colors in super-soft material plus a budget-conscious option. Proceeds from every sale supports our critical work. Visit: www.bonfire.com/capitol-crawl-shirt/

Watch: Back to School Webinar Watch the recording of our 2025 Back to School Webinar to learn about Education Savings Accounts, changes to school discipline, and more. #SpecialEducation #DisabilityRights #Texas disabilityrightstx.org/en/video/202...

When there's a disaster, you hear about stuff like FEMA, SBA, SNAP, and DUA. But what are these things? In our Navigating Disaster Resources Webinar on September 30, we'll break down these things and more so you know how to get help after a disaster. More: www.drtx.org/DisasterWebinar

Virtual public comment: the rights of people with mental illness Our Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness Advisory Council is accepting public comments for its virtual meeting this Saturday, September 27. Sign-up by Wednesday. Sign-up form: www.drtx.org/PAIMI-Comment

Provide public comment for the DRTx board meeting. The DRTx board of directors will hold its quarterly meeting virtually on Saturday, September 27. You can provide public comment to the board virtually during the meeting or in writing ahead of time. Provide your comment: www.drtx.org/PublicComment

In September, we'll be sharing information during these events: • 9/10: Back to School Webinar • 9/12: Empowered Families Conference • 9/25: Texas Public Health Summit • 9/26: Thrive Together: Transitions in Focus Conference • 9/30: Navigating Disaster Resources Webinar More: www.DRTx.org/Events

New school year, new laws. Don't miss this week's Back to School Webinar, where our policy staff will discuss new laws that could impact students with disabilities in Texas. Webinar details: 12-1 p.m. Central Time on Wednesday, September 10 Learn more and register: www.drtx.org/BTS-Webinar

Making a difference for Texans: Stephanie Duke Join us in congratulating Stephanie Duke, DRTx Supervising Attorney, who is a recipient of a 2025 State Bar of Texas Impact Award. She was awarded for her ongoing work to ensure disaster planning is inclusive and accessible.

What's the Fair Housing Act? The Fair Housing Act protects people with disabilities from housing discrimination and allows you to request reasonable accommodations so you can stay in your home. Learn about your fair housing rights: www.drtx.org/HousingRights #FairHousing #DisabilityRights

Hill Country floods: FEMA deadline extended People impacted by the Hill Country floods now have until September 28 to apply for FEMA disaster assistance. This can help cover things like temporary housing, emergency home repairs, medical expenses, and more. Learn more: www.drtx.org/HillCountryFlood

The DRTx offices are closed today in observance of Labor Day. We will re-open tomorrow, Tuesday, September 2.

Make sure you ace back to school. There are a bunch of new laws in Texas that could impact students with disabilities. Our 2025 Back to School webinar will cover the new laws so you can have a strong start to the school year. Register now: www.drtx.org/BTS-Webinar

If you were impacted by the Hill Country floods, help is available, but some deadlines are coming up: • SNAP food replacement: 8/25 • FEMA disaster assistance: 9/4 • TWC Disaster Unemployment Assistance: 9/4 • SBA disaster loans for physical damage: 9/4 disabilityrightstx.org/en/disaster-...

Back to school in Texas: what you need to know The Texas Legislature recently passed new laws that could impact students with disabilities. Some of the laws address things like Education Savings Accounts (ESAs), school discipline, and school safety. Learn more: www.drtx.org/BackToSchool

The Making Connections Pediatric Brain Injury Conference connects families and provides resources. This year's conference will be held in Austin on October 24 & 25. Travel scholarships are available. Peter Hofer, a senior litigation attorney at DRTx, will speak about Medicaid fair hearings.

Making sure you know your rights. At the recent Abilities Expo in Houston, we were able to connect with many of the attendees and educate them about disability rights. #DisabilityRights

In August, we'll be sharing information about disability rights during these events: • Aug. 1-3: Abilities Expo (Houston) • Aug. 13: Disability Rights in TX (San Marcos) • Aug. 13: Predatory Lending in Housing Webinar • Aug. 16: IDD Resource and Disaster Prep Event (Houston) www.drtx.org/Events

Thank you to all of the amazing interns who spent their summer with DRTx! Learn more about them at: www.drtx.org/Interns

ICYMI: Our federal funding is under threat of severe cuts by Congress. This AP article explains what agencies like ours do and the danger faced by people with disabilities if our funding gets further slashed.

Our Hill Country Flood Resources page has been updated to include the following: • FEMA assistance for individuals includes 10 counties • SNAP benefit replacement deadline extended to Aug. 18 • Help available to pay for accessibility improvements at home • Disaster Recovery Centers in 7 communities

ADA celebrations: bigger in Texas. Last weekend, there were many events across Texas to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). We were thrilled to participate in some of these events that celebrated the ADA and brought the community together.

Share your comments about the rights of Texans with disabilities. The DRTx board of directors will hold its quarterly meeting virtually on Saturday, August 9. You can provide public comment to the board virtually during the meeting or in writing ahead of time. More: www.drtx.org/PublicComment

At this weekend's free Abilities Expo in Houston, people with disabilities can: • Check out new products and tech • Play adaptive sports • Climb an all-inclusive climbing wall • Meet a service dog We’ll be at the Abilities Expo and we hope to see you there. Learn more: abilities.com/houston

"Civil rights aren't given. You have to fight to get them, and then you have to fight to keep them." - Anita Cameron, disability advocate who pushed for the passage of the ADA #ADA35 #DisabilityRightsAreHumanRights #EqualAccessForAll

Abilities Expo coming to Houston! We’re excited to be exhibiting at the Abilities Expo in Houston on August 1-3. The free event will be held at NRG Center. Learn more and register: abilities.com/houston

Our Hill Country Flood Resources page has been updated to include the following information: • Financial assistance from the Red Cross • Replacing durable medical equipment (DME) or assistive technology (AT) • New Disaster Recovery Center in San Angelo Learn more: www.drtx.org/HillCountryFlood

Buying a house? Don't get ripped off by a lender. Attend a Predatory Lending Webinar to learn how to spot predatory lending practices so you can avoid getting taken advantage of. • July 16, noon CT: www.drtx.org/PredatoryLendingWebinar1 • July 17, 6 p.m. CT: www.drtx.org/PredatoryLendingWebinar2

Steven and Maia are in the house! Well, actually, they WERE in the house at KOOP radio earlier this week to talk about all things special education at the recent Texas legislative session. To hear what they had to say, visit KOOP.org and look for the July 7th episode of the Art Spark Radio Hour.

Our Hill Country Floods Resource page has been updated to include the following information: • SNAP recipients can get food replaced • Disaster Unemployment Assistance is available • Get help at the Disaster Recovery Center in Kerrville Learn more: www.drtx.org/HillCountryFlood

Which color are you? Happy Disability Pride Month! Do you know what the colors in the Disability Pride flag represent? • Red: physical disabilities • Gold: neurodiversity • White: invisible and undiagnosed disabilities • Blue: emotional and psychiatric disabilities • Green: sensory disabilities

Sharing disability rights info far and wide. DRTx conducts webinars and participates in local events so we can bring disability rights information to you. In July, we're conducting webinars and we'll be at events in Austin, Houston, and San Antonio. See our event calendar: www.drtx.org/Events

Impacted by the floods? If you were impacted by the recent flooding event, our website has resources and information to help you recover. Learn about things like: • shelter locations • getting help from FEMA • disaster loans • reporting damage #Flood #HillCountry #Texas #DisasterResilience

Please note that our offices will be closed July 3 & 4 in observation of Independence Day. Our offices will reopen on Monday, July 7.

Just one more day to honor our Capitol Crawl heroes and the disability rights movement in our country. Tomorrow, July 1, is the absolute last day you can buy our limited-edition Capitol Crawl t-shirt. Buy yours and pick up a few more for your friends and family at: www.DRTx.org/CapitolCrawl

You asked how you could help. Here’s how. With threats of funding cuts, we need this year’s t-shirt fundraiser to break records. Buy our Capitol Crawl shirt in celebration of the ADA 35th anniversary and help us continue to advance disability rights. And please share this post to spread the word!

"Disability is so often the root of innovation." When you create products with accessibility in mind, you create products that work better for everyone — not just people with disabilities. For example, who wouldn't rather roll their luggage instead of carrying a suitcase? youtu.be/0ud1mN6JjrU?...

How will ESAs impact your child? Starting in the 2026-2027 school year, Texas will have an Education Savings Account (ESA) program that provides money for students to attend private schools instead of public schools. Learn what you need to know: www.DRTx.org/ESAs

An important moment in time. Part of a movement that is still critical today. The Capitol Crawl in March of 1990 was the tipping point to finally getting the ADA passed. We’re commemorating that day and the ADA 35th anniversary with our Capitol Crawl t-shirt. Get yours: www.drtx.org/CapitolCrawl

Our clients have waited FIFTEEN years for this ruling. But finally - justice.

Celebrate the ADA 35th anniversary by getting our limited-edition Capitol Crawl t-shirt! It’s only available for a short time – until July 1. Get yours today: www.drtx.org/CapitolCrawl (Our thanks to photographer Tom Olin for permission to use his image.) #ADA35 #CapitolCrawl #DisabilityRights

Please note that our offices will be closed today, Thursday, June 19, in observance of Juneteenth and will reopen on Friday, June 20.

Unlock your self-advocacy superpower. Summer means movies about superheroes using their superpowers to make the world better. But do you have any superpowers? You do — you have the superpower of self-advocacy. Tap into it: www.drtx.org/Superpower #SelfAdvocacy #Superpower #DisabilityRights

They crawled. And they changed history. Purchase our limited-edition Capitol Crawl t-shirt so you can honor those who crawled up the Capitol steps 35 years ago making a bold statement that pushed Congress to pass the ADA. Order yours by July 1: www.customink.com/fundraising/...

Get ready for the next school year...now. During a webinar tomorrow, DRTx's Steven Aleman will cover the special education issues that were addressed during the recent Texas legislative session. Attend the webinar so you know what to expect for the 2025-2026 school year.

Comment on the rights of people with mental illness. Our PAIMI Advisory Council focuses on the rights of people with mental illness. The council is accepting public comments for its virtual meeting on June 28. Sign-up by June 25: www.drtx.org/PAIMI-Comment #MentalIllness #DisabilityRights

How will new laws affect you? The Texas legislative session ended recently and you might be wondering if any of the new laws will impact you or your family. To find out, register to attend the Disability Policy Capitol Recap webinar on June 25. #DisabilityRights #TxLege

Easy button: legal help for child welfare issues. With one simple online application, Texas Family Help Link connects families with legal aid organizations that can help with child welfare issues, including special education and school access, foster youth rights, and more.

Our intake department is open for business again. Please note our new hours: Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Central Time. Since intake has been closed for 3 weeks, we expect a high volume of calls and ask for your patience. Consider applying for our services online at intake.DRTx.org.