Mental Health Resources: Special Populations
The following resources offer tailored assistance for children and youth with specialized needs.
Hurricane Harvey Relief Efforts Supporting Immigrant Communities: Guide to Disaster Assistance Services for Immigrant Houstonians
Organization: The Houston Mayor’s Office of New Americans & Immigrant Communities, Mayor’s Office of Public Safety, Office of Emergency Management
Description: This guide provides detailed information about the types of federal, state, and local disaster assistance services that are available and where you can go to access those services. Although some of the resources are restricted to individuals or households with lawful immigration status, there are many services available to all Houstonians affected by the storm.
Area(s): Houston
Eligibility & Access: Varies.
To download a copy of the guide visit: http://www.houstontx.gov/na/Harvey-Resource-Guide.pdf
Autism Response Team
Organization: Autism Speaks
Description: The on-call Autism Response Team is ready to connect families to the resources and support they may need. The Team can be reached from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM Monday through Friday at familyservices@autismspeaks.org or (888) 288-4762; for Spanish speaking families, please call (888) 772-9050.
Area(s): Houston area
Eligibility & Access: Specifically, for children with Autism and their families.
For more information contact familyservices@autismspeaks.org; or call (888) 288-4762 for English speakers; (888) 772-9050 for Spanish speakers
Natural Disaster Resources for Families Affected by Autism
Organization: Autism Speaks
Description: This resource provides tips to assist families with creating emergency preparedness and response plans that have been adapted from Autism Speaks resources, recommendations from Ready.gov, FEMA, and the Red Cross.
Area(s): Statewide
Eligibility & Access: Specifically for children with Autism and their families
For more information visit: https://www.autismspeaks.org/family-services/autism-safety-project/natural-disaster-resources
Hurricane Harvey Resources for People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) and their Families
Organization: The Arc of Texas
Description: The Arc of Texas has put together a specific set of resources for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities who have been affected by Hurricane Harvey.
Area(s): Statewide
Eligibility & Access: N/A
For more information visit: https://www.thearcoftexas.org
Guidelines for Evacuation of Individuals with Disabilities During Disasters Prepared Organization
Organization: American Medical Response, Office of Emergency Management, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Description: This resource, Guidelines for evacuation of Individuals with Disabilities (PDF 186 KB), is a guide that provides disaster evacuation and transportation recommendations for individuals with disabilities and their caregivers. It is primarily intended for individuals who live in the community; however some of the recommendations are applicable for individuals with disabilities who live in residential facilities as well other persons with special needs.
Area(s): Statewide
Eligibility & Access: N/A
New Schools for Students with Disabilities: Tips for Relocated Families
Organization: The National Association of School Psychologists (NASP)
Description: This NASP resource provides information for families with students with disabilities who are relocating. It reviews the educational rights and records for these students.
Area(s): Statewide
Eligibility & Access: Specifically for students with disabilities and their families
Resources for Helping Your Family Cope with an Emergency (ADHD)
Organization: Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD)
Description: This resource is provided by CHADD and addresses the topic of coping with emergencies when a family has a child with ADHD. Additionally, a list of articles and national resources are linked which may be helpful for families.
Area(s): Statewide
Eligibility & Access: Specifically for children with ADHD and their families
Contact / Link: https://chadd.org
Disaster, Trauma, and ADHD
Organization: Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD)
Description: This article provided by CHADD discusses the impact of trauma on children with ADHD and offers suggestions for coping with trauma effectively.
Area(s): Statewide
Eligibility & Access: Specifically for children with ADHD and their families
Contact / Link: https://chadd.org
Supporting Students with Autism and other Developmental Disabilities through Social Stories©
Organization: Carol Gray
Description: Social Stories© were developed by Carol Gray to support individuals with Autism that have experienced a tragedy such as the recent hurricane in Houston. Below are links to several pertinent Social Stories©.
Area(s): Statewide
Eligibility & Access: Specifically for children with Autism and their families
Contact / Link: Links include:
- http://carolgraysocialstories.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/2.-Safety-Wherever-I-Go-Girl.pdf
- http://carolgraysocialstories.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/1.-Safety-Wherever-I-Go-Boy.pdf
- http://carolgraysocialstories.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/3.-What-Is-a-Tragedy.pdf
Augmentative Communication Devices
Organization: United States Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication
Description: The United States Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication, the US chapter of a professional organization for professionals who serve students who use augmentative communication, has created a recovery fund to replace communication devices.
Area(s): Statewide
Eligibility & Access: Specifically for children who used Augmentative and Alternative communication (AAC) and their families
Contact / Link: https://harveyaac.recovers.org
Translation & Interpretation Services Stipends Available
Organization: The Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities (TCDD)
Description: TCDD has funds available to support translation and interpretation services to reduce linguistic barriers to access services and supports in Texas. These stipends may be useful for organizations that serve communities that have been impacted by Hurricane Harvey.
Area(s): Statewide
Eligibility & Access: Specifically for children who need translation and interpretation services and their families in communities impacted by Hurricane Harvey
Contact / Link: https://tcdd.texas.gov/grants-rfas/
Rehab Service Volunteer Project
Organization: Rehabilitation Services Volunteer Project (RSVP)
Description: RSVP is an all-volunteer, nonprofit organization that provides physical rehabilitation services and equipment to uninsured individuals with disabilities. The medical equipment division (RSVP-MED) provides durable medical equipment (such as wheelchairs, bathroom equipment, and walkers) to individuals in our community with disabilities (regardless of diagnosis) who lack access to this equipment.
Area(s): Statewide
Eligibility & Access: Specifically for children with disabilities and their families
Contact / Link: http://rsvptexas.org/maps-contact
Be an Angel
Organization: Be An Angel
Description: This organization provides children with multiple disabilities or profound deafness needed adaptive equipment and select services to improve their quality of life. This organization supports families to address the challenges of caring for a special needs child and provide personal equipment to children from low-income families.
Area(s): Statewide
Eligibility & Access: Specifically for children with special needs from low-income families
Contact / Link: http://beanangel.org
Variety of Texas
Organization: Variety: Children’s Charity of Texas
Description: Variety: Children’s Charity of Texas, is dedicated to empowering children with special needs. Through the Heart of Variety Fund, they provide financial assistance directly to children with special needs, serving hundreds of children with life-saving surgical procedures, customized wheelchair accessible vans, service dogs, wheelchairs, or anything that might empower a child with special needs to live a move full life. Variety also serves thousands of children every year at Variety's Peaceable Kingdom Retreat for Children (VPKRC), a fully accessible retreat in the heart of the Hill Country for children with special needs.
Area(s): Statewide
Eligibility & Access: Specifically for children with special needs and their families
Contact / Link: https://www.varietytexas.org
FEMA Resources for Deaf/Hard of Hearing Individuals
Organization: FEMA
Description: FEMA has videos that for registration, other needs assistance, and critical needs assistance which include an American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter. FEMA offers sign language interpreters upon request for survivors visiting a Disaster Recovery Center (DRC). Survivors can request a sign language interpreter for a DRC visit by sending a text to the following number: 470-379-5943. Please provide as much notice as possible before your visit. With less than 24 hours’ notice, FEMA cannot guarantee an interpreter will be available. The text should include the following information: 1) Name; 2) DRC address; 3) Date of your visit; 4) Time or time range of your visit; and 5) type of sign language requested. DRCs also have services and technologies available to support survivors with disabilities and others with access and functional needs. FEMA has amplified telephones, phones that display text, and amplified listening devices for people who are hard of hearing. Video Remote Interpreting is also available at DRCs for people who use sign language.
Area(s): Statewide
Eligibility & Access: Individuals impacted by Hurricane Harvey who are Deaf/Hard of Hearing impacted by Hurricane Harvey
Contact / Link: Links include:
- Registration – Answering disability-related questions: https://youtube/4Whdhmawpso
- Other Needs Assistance: https://youtube/B35t-x7k5Go
- Critical Needs Assistance: https://youtube/8oqgEQqlT3A
If you have questions or would like additional information please email: HarveyRecoveryMH@tea.texas.gov
Office of Academics | Department of Special Populations
Division of Highly Mobile and At-Risk Student Programs
Texas Education Agency
1701 N. Congress Ave.
Austin, Texas 78701-1494