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Independent Living

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Independent living services help people with disabilities achieve greater independence in the home and community. Many programs for people with disabilities require documentation of disability and services may be limited, so it is important for you to understand these community supports and how to work with them to receive needed services. The sites below will help you know what services are available to help you become an active part of your community.

 

PACER Center
The PACER Center works to enhance the quality of life of individuals with disabilities by providing information to students and their families. On this website, you can find information about transitioning to life after high school.

 

Texas Health and Human Services: Disability 
The disability section of the Texas Health and Humans Services website has a lot of information pertaining to people who have disabilities, including information about federal programs such as Medicaid, Social Security, and Supplemental Security Income. There is also information about programs and services for specific disabilities such as brain injury, autism, visual impairments, hearing impairments, intellectual disability, and medical or physical disabilities.

 

Texas Health and Human Services: Independent Living Services
Independent living services are provided by centers for independent living (CILs), which are located throughout the state. CILs are not residential living centers. CILs help people with disabilities achieve greater independence in their homes and communities by providing information and referrals, skills training, goals counseling, advocacy training, and transition services. This website has links to all the CILs in Texas and describes who is eligible for independent living services and the type of services available.

 

Texas Health and Human Services: Local Intellectual and Developmental Disability Authority

The Local Intellectual and Developmental Disability Authority (LIDDA) provides services and supports for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and enrolls eligible individuals into Medicaid programs. On this website, you can find detailed information about the services provided by LIDDAs.

 

Texas Health and Human Services: Local Mental Health Authorities/Local Behavioral Health Authorities
Community mental health services are provided through Local Mental Health Authorities/Local Behavioral Health Authorities (LMHA/LBHA), also referred to as community mental health centers. The LMHAs/LBHAs provide services to a specific geographic area of the state, called the local service area. You can find contact information for all the community mental health centers in Texas on this website.

 

Texas Reality Check
Texas Reality Check will show you how much your living expenses will cost and the amount of money you will need to earn to pay for them. A Lifestyle Calculator will walk you through the expenses you will have each month, help you decide how much to spend on your lifestyle, determine the minimum amount of money you need to earn to have the lifestyle you want, and explore careers that may provide the salary you will need.

 

The Arc of Texas
The Arc of Texas promotes, protects, and advocates for the human rights and self-determination of Texans with intellectual and developmental disabilities. On this website you will find information and resources to help you understand alternatives to guardianship and supported decision-making and how you can work with a disability. 

 

Your Texas Benefits
This website has information about state benefit programs that help people with and without disabilities who have little or no money get access to basic needs such as food, health care, and support services.