Family to Family Network

TX Parent to Parent conference in July - great opportunity for families!

Free AC give away by - https://forms.monday.com/forms/3c63c30a3301152bd4b71099f31fdba8?r=use1
Applications open through end of may to seniors, low income households, veterans, and individuals with disabilities. Must live in Precinct 4 and not have received free AC unit in past 2 years, qualify in at least one of the categories.

Sorteo gratuito de unidades de aire acondicionado por parte de - https://forms.monday.com/forms/3c63c30a3301152bd4b71099f31fdba8?r=use1
Las solicitudes estarán abiertas hasta finales de mayo para personas mayores, hogares de bajos ingresos, veteranos y personas con discapacidades. Es requisito residir en el Precinto 4, no haber recibido una unidad de aire acondicionado gratuita en los últimos 2 años y cumplir con los criterios de elegibilidad de al menos una de las categorías mencionadas.

Advocates and families keep watch and contact your legislators

Lawmakers Knew All Along They Were Voting to Cut Medicaid for Older Adults - Justice in Aging The battle to protect Medicaid for older adults and people with disabilities now moves to state capitals — where care hangs in the balance.

We cannot forget history, nor can we return to a time where individuals with disabilities are not valued and forced into segregation. Thanks to the - we are on a school to prison pipeline with no waivers funded for this biennium. Texas already has an institutional bias with 13 SSLCs with 2x more state employees than residents that cost more than group homes or community attendant care.

Before Special Ed, There Was the School-to-Asylum Pipeline. How One Lawsuit Helped End It 50 years ago, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act ended the routine institutionalization of kids with disabilities. Advocates fear a return to that dark time.

So many may be wondering about SNAP work requirements - "Taking care of someone who needs help caring for themselves" OR "Not working because of physical or mental health reason".
Questions - How do you prove either thing?
If a young adult is not getting SSI yet because they are waiting on the "backlog" at SSA, do they fall under the rules of having to work 80 hrs/month (especially if not going to school) to receive SNAP benefits?
On a plus - Simplified SNAP applications that are approved are approved for three years. Got to look at the silver lining some days. :)
Learn more at HHSC: https://www.hhs.texas.gov/services/food/snap-food-benefits/snap-work-rules

Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms who go the extra mile every day for their kids with disabilities ❤️

If you don't have a rental agreement with your adult child with disability, it may be time to do so. https://www.propublica.org/article/trump-social-security-ssi-disability-benefits-cuts-parents-children
SSI is NOT easy to get or keep. There are lots of hoops to jump through. Just because your family receives SNAP benefits (which means the household is earning less than $20,000 per year) should not mean that your adult child living with you should have their $994 benefit reduced by 1/3....to $662.

Tell me where you can get shelter, utilities and food for $994/month ($33/day)...unless it is with your family?

Institutionalization costs approx. $500/day...if not more.

As we come to a close on Autism Acceptance Month, Did you know there is an TX Autism Supplement in your IEP? Does your school talk about each section?

Autism Supplement Guidance Document | Texas SPED Support Download this helpful guidance document developed by TEA that explains the eleven strategies required for annual consideration as part of the Autism Supplement.

Did you know that HHSC implemented new functionality on the Your Texas Benefits (YTB) website that allows people to add themselves to the Home and Community-based Services (HCS) and Texas Home Living (TxHmL) interest lists?
Your Texas Benefits is a website for Texans to apply for help, join an interest list for certain Medicaid waiver programs, or update their phone number and address on program interest lists they joined
Already have a YTB account - Under quick links, click on Interest List Manager.