Life Path Systems

 

Life Stages & Resources

Persons with developmental disabilities experience additional challenges in the course of their lifespan and the people who support them may need additional guidance. Here is a   list of community resources that may help you.

General Information

Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services www.dads.state.tx.us
American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities http://www.aaidd.org
Clearinghouse for information and referral: https://www.211texas.org/211/

Children (0-3)

Services:

Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) Services are designed to assist young children with atypical development ages 0-3 and their families with support and developmental services.

Parent Support:

Other families who are facing similar issues can be a wonderful source of information and support.

Medicaid Waiver Programs

Medicaid Waiver Programs (CLASS, HCS, MDCP, etc) are a major resource for meeting long-term service and support needs. These programs are first come, first serves so it is important to place you child on an interest list as early as possible
Children with developmental delays can transition to services through their local school district. These resources will help you ease the transition.

Beyond ECI:

In most cases the services and supports needed during this time of life will be provided through your local school district special education services. These resources will help you understand and participate fully in the special education process for your child.

Transition Age (age 14-18)

  • The best time to plan for life after high school is during your high school career. The Future is Coming: Transition Guide for Families will help you think through some of the unique issues in planning a future for a person with a disability http://www.texasprojectfirst.org/Future.html
  • Learn about the unique nature of planning your financial future to ensure your child will be eligible for government benefits as an adult. These resources will introduce you to the concepts of special needs planning. http://www.wrightslaw.com/info/future.plan.index.htm http://www.txlifeplanning.com
  • Your family member may need assistance in making decisions about medical care, living arrangements, etc. Guardianship for Texans with Disabilities will explain under what circumstances guardianship may be the best course of action and the process for obtaining guardianship in Texas. http://www.advocacyinc.org/CS5.cfm
As your child enters adulthood there are a whole new set of opportunities and responsibilities to consider. This is the time for putting those plans for the future into action, and accessing the resources to support those dreams.