Resources

Local Resources

MHMR (Mental Health & Mental Retardation)

The center assists eligible persons with mental retardation, autism, and pervasive developmental disorders in their efforts to access community-based services available from a range of providers, including the center itself.

Programs that are offered to you and your child who has an cognitive disability.

In-Home & Family Support Program;

Provides limited funding for family support services;

Available statewide to children (and adults) with both physical and cognitive disabilities (currently, two separate programs exist – one serving those with mental retardation, and the other serving individuals with physical disabilities);

Website: http://www.dads.state.tx.us/business/mental_retardation/in-home/;

For information or to place a name on the waiting list, contact your local DADS office. To find the office nearest you, visit http://www.dads.state.tx.us/contact/dads_offices.html

Home & Community Based Services - as a parent you need to put your child on this waiting list. The list is exteremely long 15 years or so. These are services that your child will be able to use when they reach adulthood.

Provides a broad array of services to both children and adults who have mental retardation and certain related conditions;

Must meet functional eligibility requirements for intermediate care facilities for the mentally retarded;

Services are available statewide;

Website: http://www.dads.state.tx.us/services/dads_help/mental_retardation/index.html ;

For information and to place a name on the waiting/interest list, contact your local Mental Health/Mental Retardation Community Center. To find the center nearest you call (512) 794-9268, or go to the web directory at http://www.dads.state.tx.us/contact/mra/index.cfm

Respite Care

Texas Home Living (TxHmL)

Serves children and adults with mental retardation;

Must meet functional eligibility requirements for intermediate care facilities for the mentally retarded;

Services are available statewide;

Website: http://www.dads.state.tx.us/services/dads_help/mental_retardation/index.html

For information contact your local Mental Health/Mental Retardation Community Center.

To find the center nearest you call (512) 794-9268, or go to the web directory at

http://www.dads.state.tx.us/contact/mra/index.cfm

Early Childhood Intervention

Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) helps babies and toddlers, ages birth to 3, with disabilities or delays in their development. ECI supports families through education and family services to help their children reach their potential. Families and staff work as a team to develop a plan outlining services for their child and family. Together, they plan appropriate activities. Services are provided in home and community settings and help children learn basic skills as part of their family’s daily routine.

Baby Signs of Bryan/College Station

The Baby Signs® Program helps children develop both language and cognitive skills. Babies who sign are able to develop speech sooner and long-term studies show these early skills can translate into better grades. The Baby Signs® Program is based on the groundbreaking research which began an international movement to teach hearing babies to use signs. After 20 years of careful study, researchers proved that using signs actually enhances language, cognitive, and social-emotional development. The Baby Signs Institute offers parent workshops and classes to teach parents how to use the Baby Signs Program at home. To find out more about classes and products, please look through our website or contact Stacy at 979 731-1653. You can also visit our Contact/Links page for information about the Baby Signs® Program.

Family Support Network

Our goal is to be a resource for families who have children with disabilities to get the information, support and skills needed to make informed decisions about their lives and those of their children, especially those decisions regarding special education.

Project Sunshine

Project Sunshine is a non-denominational, not-for-profit, national organization, which provides numerous free programs and services to children with long-term illnesses and disabilities, along with children who possess special needs. Through programs such as the Buddy Program, Super Saturdays, Parent Support Group, and hospital carnivals, Project Sunshine and its staff of over 150 Aggies, work together towards the goal of bringing smiles and joy to the children of the Brazos Valley along with children found in many Texas children's hospitals. Although we cannot answer the question "why", we can hold their hands and provide a shoulder to lean on.

Childrens' Adapted Movement Program (CAMP)

This is an exciting program designed for two purposes: (1) to serve children with special needs and their parents who live in the Brazos County and surrounding areas; and (2) to prepare undergraduate majors in Health and Kinesiology and other related programs in working with children with special needs. We hope that you and your child will enjoy participating in the program. Without your participation, our Aggies would not be getting this wonderful experience.

Special Populations Learn Aquatics with Aggie Students Helping (SPLASH)

City of College Station Youth Challenged Sports

Understanding that these children would have limitations that would probably not allow them to gain the success desired through existing programs, the Parks & Recreation has developed a year around series that is scheduled to include Soccer, Basketball and Bowling. The desire is to provide for those who want to learn basic fundamentals of athletic activities, have fun, improve physical skills, experience success and feel special in a safe and controlled environment.

Power Sports Gymnastics

Power Sports now offer gymnastic classes for special needs children. For more information please contact MS. Stephanie at 979-693-0417

Brazos Valley Rehabilitation Center

The Center provides physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, hippotherapy (the use of horses in therapy) aquatic therapy and sensory integration therapy. Our highly qualified, caring team of professionals is at the top of their professional fields and have the most current training available. Multidisciplinary teams work together to assist patients in achieving their highest degree of functional independence.

S.H.A.R.E ( Special Horses and Riders Excelling)

You’ve Got To Have Heart (d/b/a S.H.A.R.E.) was started in 1996 to provide recreational activities for diffently-abled individuals and their families. Our primary focus at this time is in providing recreational horseback riding. Currently housed on 10 acres between the towns of Wellborn and Millican (about 12 miles from TAMU) S.H.A.R.E. has riding slots available on Monday and Thursday evenings and Saturday mornings. We have no upper or lower age limits, although a doctor’s approval is required, in order for the qualified individual to start riding. By allowing siblings (and parents if they wish) to ride together family time and a family activity is provided. Individuals receive as much support as needed while riding (ranging from a back rider with side walkers and a leader up though independent riding lessons). S.H.A.R.E. is active in Special Olympics (both regional and chapter games) and tries to provide access to other show events so that all riders may compete and “show off their talents”. Riding helmets are required and are provided by S.H.A.R.E. Horses eat a lot, so a donation of $10.00 for the first rider, $7.50 for the second rider, and $5.00 per rider thereafter is requested. All help is provided by volunteers, we have no paid staff. All monies are used to support the care and feeding of the horses, tack, maintenance, and financial support of athletes who are showing. We have riding slots open (adding additional days if the other days fill up). we welcome new riders and new volunteers.Riding horses provides increased confidence as well as improving motor and verbal skills. For more information, please contact us by phone at (979) 690-2364; by mail at S.H.A.R.E, 4996 Schehin Road, College Station, Texas 77845; or by email at share_program_cs@yahoo.com

Arc (Association of Retarded Citizens)

The Arc supports individuals with intellectual and other developmental disabilities. The Arc of Bryan-College Station became instrumental in establishing programs to improve the lives of these citizens living in the Brazos Valley. We provide social events, educational and enrichment programs and act as an extended family for those individuals who live in our community. We support and encourage community employment of the mentally retarded--employment not to be limited to food service and janitorial services. We support and facilitate independent living facilities. We aid the general public in understanding individuals with intellectual and other developmental disabilities and in accepting these persons as equal citizens in the community. Membership dues are: Individual $15.00; Family $25.00 and Corporate $50.00. Our general meetings are held on the 4th Thursday of the month at The Heritage at Dartmouth Clubhouse 2518 Dartmouth at 7pm. For more information, please call Paula Etheridge (2008 President) at 979-693-5770.

International Mosaic Down Syndrome

The International Mosaic Down Syndrome Association is designed to assist any family or individual who's life has been affected by Mosaic Down Syndrome, assist in research, and provide support without regard to race, sex or religion. IMDSA strives to increase awareness in the medical, educational, and public communities throughout the world.

State Insurance Programs in Texas

Insurance for Children with Special Needs in Texas applications

Children with Special Health Care Needs Services Program

Aimed at providing services to uninsured or underinsured children with special health care needs;
Administered through the Texas Department of State Health Services; includes both medical and family support services;
Website: http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/cshcn/default.shtml;
Telephone number for information and to place a name on the waiting list: (800) 252-8023.

Medicaid

Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP)

Designed to provide healthcare benefits for children in families who earn too much to qualify for Medicaid, yet cannot afford to buy private insurance; provides medical care only;
Does not offer family support services;
Is available to children with disabilities and children with special health care needs;
Website: http://www.hhsc.state.tx.us/chip/;
Telephone number for additional information or to obtain an application: (800) 647-6558.

Resouces

National Down Syndrome Society

National Down syndrome Congress

Down Syndrome Association of Houston

The Down Syndrome Association of Houston is a non-profit organization. Our goal is to provide information and support to anyone interested in Down Syndrome. Our monthly meetings are held the second Thursday of every month. The meetings are held at the Metropolitan Multi-Service Center at 1475 West Gray from 6:30pm - 8:30pm. We will have pizza and snacks--families can visit before and after the speaker and we do have babysitting. We'd love to see you there.

Down Syndrome For New Parents

Buddy Walk

The Buddy Walk was established in 1995 to promote acceptance and inclusion of people with Down syndrome.

Welcome to Holland

A Poem

Down Syndrome Research and Treatment Foundation

The mission of the Down Syndrome Research and Treatment Foundation (DSRTF) is to support bio-medical research that will result in: treatments to significantly improve memory, learning and speech for all persons with Down syndrome so that they can lead more independent lives, and to prevent early cognitive decline in adults with Down syndrome.

Texas Council for Exceptional Children (TCEC)

We will strive to keep you informed about activities and issues important to special education across Texas. The primary purpose of The Texas Council for Exceptional Children is to advance the education of individuals with exceptionalities and to promote related educational, scientific, and charitable purposes. Specifically, TCEC intends to assist and provide support to The Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) in all its efforts on behalf of persons with exceptionalities, and to participate in all appropriate governance activities of CEC subject to the general supervision and control of CEC.

Texas Parent to Parent

Texas Parent to Parent is a nonprofit organization that was created by parents for families of children with disabilities, chronic illness and other special needs throughout the state of Texas. The majority of our staff, Board of Directors, and volunteers are parents of children with disabilities or chronic illness and many years experience providing parent to parent support. We offer families a place to access information and resources, a one-on-one match with a trained Supporting Parent Volunteer, someone to call or email when you just need to hear a friendly voice, a bit of encouragement, or help figuring out the next step in your journey of raising a child with a disability or special need. We hope you find our services and resource directory helpful. We're here to support you and your family! We also provide services to parents and parent group facilitators to help create local support for families. We also provide trainings for the professionals who work with our kids!

Partners Resource Network

Welcome to our site! Partners Resource Network (PRN) is a non-profit agency that operates the statewide network of federally funded Parent Training and Information Centers in Texas. Our mission is to empower parents of children and youth with disabilities in their roles as parents, decision makers, and advocates for their children and to promote partnerships among parents and professionals.

National Council for Independent Living

The National Council on Independent Living (NCIL) Since 1982 As a membership organization, NCIL advances independent living and the rights of people with disabilities through consumer-driven advocacy. NCIL envisions a world in which people with disabilities are valued equally and participate fully.