Resources

Disabilities

Need information about disabilities? You’ve come to the right place! We have a large selection of resources on disabilities as well as information on Texas support groups and other helpful organizations. Topics include:

Categories under IDEA

• ADHD | Trastorno por Déficit de Atención /Hiperactividad (ADHD)
  
• Autism | El Espectro del Autismo
  
• Categories of Disability under IDEA | Categorías de Discapacidad bajo IDEA
  
• Deaf-Blindness
  
• Deafness | Sordera y la Pérdida de la Capacidad Auditiva
  
• Developmental Delay
  
• Emotional Disturbance (ED) | Trastornos Emocionales
  
• Hearing Impairment | Sordera y la Pérdida de la Capacidad Auditiva
  
• Intellectual Disability | Discapacidades Intelectuales
  
• Multiple Disabilities
  
• Learning Disability (LD) | Discapacidades Específicas del Aprendizaje
  
• Other Health Impairment (OHI) | Otro Impedimento de la Salud
  
• Speech and Language Impairments | Trastornos del Habla y Lenguaje
  
• Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) | Lesión Cerebral Traumática
  
• Tourette Syndrome (TS)
  
• Visual Impairment including Blindness | Impedimentos Visuales

More Disability Resources:

• New to Disability?
• Diabetes
• Epilepsy
• Tourette Syndrome
• Heart Conditions
• Hemophilia
• Lead Poisoning
• Leukemia
• Nephritis
• Rheumatic Fever
• Sickle Cell Anemia

Education Laws

Since the 1960s, there has been a virtual avalanche of federal legislation that relates directly or indirectly to individuals with disabilities, particularly children and youth. Use the links below to explore several of the most influential laws:

• IDEA | Sobre la Ley IDEA
• ESSA (replaces NCLB)
• Section 504 | Sección 504 de la Ley de Rehabilitación de 1973
• The ADA | ADA: El Acta para los Norteamericanos con Discapacidades

Babies & Toddlers (Ages 0-3)

Early intervention is an effective way to help very young children (birth to the third birthday) catch up or address specific developmental concerns as soon as possible in their lives. Early intervention services are authorized under Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. To learn more about these vital services, explore the topics in our resources for Babies & Toddlers (Ages 0-3):

• Overview of Early Intervention
• Key Terms to Know in Early Intervention
• Parent Notification and Consent
• Writing the IFSP for Your Child
• Providing Services in Natural Environments
• Resources for More Information

Children & Young Adults (3 to 26 years)

The education of children with disabilities is a top national priority. IDEA sets high standards for their achievement and guides how special help and services are made available in schools to address their individual needs. To learn more about these vital services, explore the topics in our resources for Children & Young Adults (3 to 26 Years):

• 10 Basic Steps in Special Education
• Key Terms to Know in Special Education
• Questions Often Asked by Parents about Special Education
• Special Education Services for Preschoolers with Disabilities
• Evaluating Children for Disability
• All About the IEP
• Supports, Modifications, and Accommodations for Students
• Back to School | Special Edition Newsletter – English version | Spanish version

More Resources:

• Placement Issues & LRE
• Behavior Issues
• USDOE Guidance on Students with Disabilities & Discipline
• Transition
  • How Can Parents Help with Transition?
  • Preparing Your Child for Life
  • Navigating Admissions to Colleges with Learning Disabilities
  • Employment Connections
  • Myth-Busting: Hiring Workers with Disabilities
• Connecting with Your Community
• Resolving Disputes Between Parents and Schools
• 7 Ways to Include Students in Physical Education
• Special Education Services for Preschoolers with Disabilities
• What is a PTI? – English version | Spanish version

Fact Sheets

We’ve put together a collection of fact sheets on a variety of topics to help you along on your way to becoming an advocate for your child.  Topics include: accommodations, disabilities, advocacy, ARD process, assistive technology, and much more.  Visit the Fact Sheets page to view the full collection.

Statewide Webinars

Throughout the year, our statewide team host free statewide webinars covering a variety of topics and including a Q&A session at the end.  All of our webinars are free!  Visit the Statewide Webinars page for information about upcoming webinars as well as recordings and resources from past webinars.

Online Courses

We are always looking for new ways to help parents and caregivers on their way to becoming advocates for their children. We believe the best way to meet this goal is to empower parents and caregivers through education. With this in mind, we hope the self-guided online courses will become a valuable resource on your way to advocacy.  Our online courses are available at https://prntexas.com/

Independent Futures that Work!

The Independent Futures that Work! project is a joint effort of the Parent Training and Information Centers (PTIs) in Alabama, Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Oklahoma.

The primary purpose of this 5-year project is to build the competence and confidence of young adults with disabilities in Region B-2 to access independent living and employment services so they can more successfully transition from the youth entitlement system to the adult eligibility system. Our Resource Center will also help family members and professionals improve their capacity to support these young adults with disabilities on their journey.

Visit the Independent Futures that Work! page to view the collection of resources.

School, Family, and Community Engagement Initiative

Partners Resource Network, Region 10 Education Service Center and SPEDTex are working with the Texas Education Agency (TEA) on the School, Family, and Community Engagement (SFCE) Network. The goal of the SFCE is to help school staff and parents build collaborative relationships and increase positive outcomes for students with disabilities.

SFCE Resources:

• Admission, Review and Dismissal (ARD) Committee Members
• Resolving Special Education Issues with Your Child’s School

Healthy Families Resources

• eResources for Suicide Prevention in Texas (PDF, 123KB)
• Youth Suicide Prevention (PDF, 2MB)
• Sexting: A Brief Guide for Educators and Parents (PDF, 200KB)
• Digital Drama Prevention Toolkit (PDF, 581KB)
• Healthy Families Staying Fit Learning Lab | Powerpoint (PDF, 2MB)

Learning Lab Resources

• Menu Planning Activity (PDF, 206KB) | Modelo del Plan de Alimentación (PDF, 211KB)
• Menu Planning Example (PDF, 209KB) | Modelo del Plan de Alimentación (PDF, 214KB)
• Portions Card (PDF, 490KB) | Tarjetas de Equivalencia (PDF, 417KB)
• Test Your Knowledge: Calorie Burn (PDF, 220KB) | Ponga a prueba su conocimiento: Consumo de calorías (PDF, 219KB)
• Test Your Knowledge: Portions (PDF, 337KB) | Ponga a prueba sus conocimientos: Porciones (PDF, 315KB

Military Families

• Step by Step Checklist-Resolve School Issues with the Interstate Compact
• School Issues Covered by the Interstate Compact
• School Support Plans for Deployment – Tips for Parents
• Relocation for Military Families
• Military Family Resources for Youth and Young Adults Transitioning from High School
• Military Families and Medicaid
• Military Families and Extended Care Option (ECHO)

Spanish Resources

ADA: El Acta para los Norteamericanos con Discapacidades
Apelación y Acción Civil
Ayuda para Niños con Discapacidades (3-26) 
Audiencia de Proceso Legal Debido
Ayuda para los Bebés Hasta Su Tercer Cumpleaños
Categorías de Discapacidad bajo IDEA
Cómo Resolver Disputas Entre Familias y Escuelas
Cómo Solicitar una Evaluación Independiente de Su Niño
Cómo Solicitar una Reunión para Revisar el IEP de su Niño
Derecho a Recibir una Explicación Completa Sobre Todas las Garantías Procesales
Derecho a Recibir una Notificación Previa por Escrito
Derecho de No Estar de Acuerdo
Derecho de Obtener una Evaluación Educativa Independiente
Derecho de los Padres de Participar en Reuniones
Determinando la Ubicación del Niño
Discapacidades Específicas del Aprendizaje (LD)
Discapacidades Intelectuales
El Espectro del Autismo
El Equipo y el Contenido del IEP
El Proceso de Determinar la Elegibilidad del Niño
El Proceso de Resolución
Impedimentos Visuales
La Evaluación Gratuita de Niños
La Mediación
Lesión Cerebral Traumática
Más Sobre el Equipo del IEP
Otro Impedimento de la Salud
Preguntas Comunes de los Padres sobre la Educación Especial
Queja de Proceso Debido
Queja Estatal
Reuniones para Desarrollar el IEP
Revisando el IEP
Sección 504 de la Ley de Rehabilitación de 1973
Servicios Relacionados
Sobre el Proceso de Educación Especial
Sobre la Ley IDEA
Sordera y la Pérdida de la Capacidad Auditiva
Trastornos Emocionales
Trastornos del Habla y Lenguaje
Trastorno por Déficit de Atención /Hiperactividad (ADHD)