Webinar Archive - Health
The Accessibility and Disability Policy Webinars are free, real-time captioned sessions held on a monthly basis that cover a variety of topics regarding people with disabilities in ten issue areas. Topics of interest can benefit employers, governmental entities, service providers and individuals with disabilities.
Go back to the main Webinar Archive page.
Save for Today and Plan for Tomorrow with a Texas ABLE Account
Presented on July 31, 2024
Having a disability can be expensive. Many disability-related expenses are critical to maintaining the individual’s life, independence, and quality of life. The Texas Achieving a Better Life Experience (Texas ABLE®) Program was established to assist individuals with disabilities and their families build up savings to pay for qualified disability expenses which include education, housing, and transportation.
There are many benefits to having an ABLE Account:
- People with disabilities who rely on Social Supplemental Income (SSI) can only have savings up to a limit of $2,000 a month. Having an ABLE account allows people to save more.
- People with disabilities can use their ABLE account as an investment that will allow their savings to grow even faster.
- Anyone can contribute to an ABLE account, including family and friends.
GCPD has invited guests from the Educational Opportunities and Investment Division of the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts to join us for a webinar on Texas ABLE accounts. They’ll cover all the basics of ABLE accounts and give you details on how to open an account in Texas.
Presenters:
Linda Fernandez, Director, Educational Opportunities and Investment Division, Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts.
Anna Mallett, Outreach Specialist, Texas ABLE Program, Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts.
Vanessa Goodson, Outreach Specialist, Texas ABLE Program, Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts
Texas Brain Injury Programs: An Integrated Approach to Supports
Presented on March 22, 2022
In recognition of Brain Injury Awareness month, the Governor's Committee on People with Disabilities brings you this session. The Brain Injury Programs, under the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC), aim to provide resource facilitation and access to rehabilitation services and supports for persons in various stages of recovery as well as awareness, education, and prevention throughout the state of Texas. This presentation will give an overview of the specialized services and supports that each program offers. This includes support to those with an injury, their families, and the community. The Presenters will also discuss program eligibility, access to services, and the integration of a person-centered, wraparound approach to comprehensive services.
HHSC and TEA COVID-19 Disability Policy Q&A
Presented on April 17, 2020
The Governor's Committee on People with Disabilities (GCPD) invites you to join us for an important question and answer webinar focusing on health and education policy considerations for people with disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic. A follow-up to our previous COVID-19: Considerations for People with Disabilities, this webinar will be held on Friday, April 17th from 10:00-11:30am.
Justin Porter, State Director of Special Education at the Texas Education Agency (TEA), and representatives from the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) will answer your questions on COVID-19 and its impact on health and education policy. GCPD will be taking questions in advance in order for our panelists to be able to provide immediate answers.
COVID-19: Considerations for Individuals with Disabilities
Presented on April 1, 2020
Community preparedness planning and response for COVID-19 should include older adults and people with disabilities, as well as the organizations that support them. The majority of people with disabilities live in the community, and many depend on receiving services and supports in their home in order to maintain their health and independence. This webinar will give an overview of how best to include people with disabilities in emergency preparedness, as well as provide information on resources for people in the community.
Everything You Need to Know About Developmental Disabilities in Texas
Presented on March 5, 2019
In recognition of Developmental Disabilities (DD) Awareness Month, the Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities (TCDD) will cover everything you need to know about DD – from the principles outlined in the DD Act originally passed in 1963 to the work being done today to build community capacity and change systems in Texas. In the webinar, you’ll find out about TCDD’s cutting-edge projects, strategic public policy efforts, and innovative public awareness campaigns. Participate in the webinar to learn how you can get involved and replicate TCDD initiatives in your community.
Supported Decision Making: An Alternative to Guardianship
Presented on February 7, 2018
Most people with disabilities can manage their own affairs with assistance and guidance from a person whom they trust and do not need a guardian. There are many alternatives to guardianship that give people with disabilities support to make decisions without taking away their rights. During the 84th Texas Legislative Session in 2015, legislators passed new laws that made Texas the first state to have laws recognizing supported decision-making agreements as an alternative to guardianship. Supported decision-making allows individuals to make their own decisions and stay in charge of their lives, while receiving the help and assistance they need to do so. Presented by Richard LaVallo, Disability Rights Texas.