The Arc of Texas

04/01/2026

Register to join this virtual training on April 11!

There is strength in numbers! Join the 70+ self-advocates, family members, professionals, and other community members who have already participated in our ACE advocacy training! Our first all-virtual workshop will be on Saturday, April 11. Register at bit.ly/ace-virtual-workshop or use the QR code below!

03/31/2026

RSVP at the link to join the conversation with Ricky tomorrow!

Join us for Real Talk With Ricky-Session 2 on April 1, 12:30pm. Use the Zoom registration link to RSVP: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/b1Pgf7xeQJqc6nzH8K5tog

03/30/2026

Great coverage from KERA on proposed Texas Medicaid rule for children with complex medical needs. Here's an excerpt: Michael Clarke, deputy director of public policy and advocacy at The Arc of Texas, said requiring children to meet “at least two very high acuity medical conditions” may leave families in crisis and risk of institutionalization.

“Medically fragile children often have complex overlapping needs that do not fit neatly into rigid categories,” he said. “As written, the eligibility criteria is narrow and risks excluding children who are clearly at risk of nursing facility admission, but do not meet multiple highly specific conditions.”

HHSC says the slots are for “crisis diversion,” which Clarke said should include more factors than just a narrow list of medical conditions.

“Families may experience crisis due to a range of factors, including limited caregiver capacity, loss of private duty nursing, and inability to safely sustain care at home or other criteria,” he said. “Many families would not qualify until their situation has deteriorated to an extreme and potentially dangerous point rather than receiving services early enough to prevent institutionalization.”

A proposed rule would allow some children to qualify for the Medically Dependent Children Program — a Medicaid program that offers home- and community-based services to children with complex medical needs — without needing a nursing facility stay. But, advocates said the language is too “narro...

03/26/2026

Way to go, team Texas! Our Public Policy and Advocacy team was in Washington, D.C. this week for the annual, leading disability rights policy advocacy training. Sabrina Gonzalez-Saucedo, our director of public policy and advocacy, served as state captain for the Texas contingent, which included folks from The Arc of Greater Beaumont, The Arc of Greater East Texas, and advocates from other disability-related organizations. The group spent a day on Capitol Hill to advocate for disability rights, meeting with the offices of Congressman Lloyd Doggett, Representative Randy Weber, and Senators Ted Cruz and John Cornyn. This is always an important chance each year to connect advocates with their elected officials so that their voices can be heard firsthand.

The Arc of Greater Beaumont The Arc of Greater East Texas

03/18/2026

Thanks Fort Worth Star-Telegram and The Lunday Family for putting a face to the devastating impacts the Texas v. Kennedy lawsuit will have if it succeeds. Luke and other kiddos with IDD deserve to live full lives with their families and friends, rather than in isolating institutions. Luke, we can't wait to see you in Casa Mañana's all-abilities production of the Sound of Music! You are going to rock it!

Texas is leading a federal lawsuit that challenges a cornerstone of disability rights law, advocates say.

03/12/2026

VIRTUAL SUPPORT GROUP for ADULTS NAVIGATING FAMILY DISABILITY: We understand that the dynamic of being a family member who is non-disabled can be challenging and isolating. This April, The Arc of Texas will provide a safe and supportive space where adult family members of people with disabilities can come together to engage in interactive, educational discussions, share experiences, offer advice, and provide emotional support to one another.

Led by The Arc of Texas Master Pooled Trust's social work team, this five-session virtual support group is limited to seven to 10 family members of people with disabilities who can attend at least three of the five sessions (Noon-1:30 p.m. CST on April 2, 6, 9, 13, and 16).
Interested? Submit an interest form at tinyurl.com/supportgroupform.

Questions? Contact careconnect@thearcoftexas.org. Sessions are supervised by The Arc of Texas' Education and Outreach Manager, Ashley Melero, MSW.

03/11/2026

Thank you KERA for covering the Texas v. Kennedy lawsuit threatening disability protections of Section 504. James Lunday, board president for The Arc of DFW Area, said: “It would greatly limit the ability of people with disabilities to remain in the community and would force more people into institutionalized care.” Full article below.

For info about the lawsuit, how to call/email Texas Attorney General Paxton, and sample language for your message, visit tinyurl.com/txvkennedy

Texas is leading a group of states that claim part of the Americans with Disabilities Act is unconstitutional, which disability advocates warn could lead more people into institutional care settings. Advocates said they want to put pressure on state policymakers to withdraw from the lawsuit.

03/10/2026

Help lead the future of disability rights!

We are seeking candidates for our national Board of Directors. Our board reflects the community we serve, including people with disabilities, family members, and leaders from across the country.

If you believe in disability rights and want to help guide our mission and impact, we invite you to learn more and apply.

Use the link in comments to get started. ⬇️

02/25/2026

🚨TAKE ACTION: See below or view our press release: https://ow.ly/1QaL50Ym49G

On Monday, we sent a letter to Texas Attorney General Paxton requesting his office withdraw from the Texas v. Kennedy lawsuit, which seeks to invalidate long-standing, critical protections under federal law for people with disabilities. This lawsuit threatens to upend decades of progress made toward community living, independence, inclusion, and self-determination for people with disabilities in Texas and throughout the U.S. It's part of a broader effort to weaken in and across the nation.
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Disability rights advocates, including The Arc of Texas, warn that if this case succeeds, it will make it harder for people with disabilities to exercise their right to live in the most integrated setting and access already limited home and community-based services. The likely result would be increased, unnecessary for people with disabilities and fewer opportunities to live independently and fully integrated into their communities.

TAKE ACTION TODAY:
We encourage all Texans to contact Paxton to demand the state’s withdrawal from the Texas v. Kennedy lawsuit and to stop attacks on . People with disabilities are in every community, every family, and every political party — so this impacts all of us.

--Email Attorney General Paxton (Ken.Paxton@oag.texas.gov) and Ryan Kercher (Ryan.Kercher@oag.texas.gov), chief of the special litigation division at the Texas Attorney General’s office.
--Call Special Litigation Division within Texas Attorney General’s Office (512-936-0567).
--Submit comment through Texas Attorney General’s online form: https://ow.ly/640t50Ym49H

Sample Language:
“My name is [NAME] and I live in [CITY, Texas]. I am reaching out to ask Attorney General Ken Paxton to withdraw Texas from the Texas v. Kennedy lawsuit. People with disabilities should be able to live in the community with needed supports and services, and Texas should not be part of a lawsuit that puts that at risk. Our state should keep people with disabilities connected to their communities and families, rather than force them into he isolation of institutions. Thank you.”

02/24/2026

In a letter sent yesterday to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, we called for the State of Texas to withdraw from Texas v. Kennedy, warning that the lawsuit threatens long-standing federal disability rights protections and will make it harder for Texans with disabilities to live in and receive services in their communities. Read our full press release at https://tinyurl.com/txvkennedypressrelease and register for tomorrow's briefing (link below). Stay tuned for ways to take action via email and on our social channels tomorrow!

Nine states are once again trying to weaken Section 504 and roll back our right to live in the community.

In Texas v. Kennedy (2026), Alaska, Florida, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Montana, South Dakota, and Texas are asking the court to say that updated Section 504 rules are unlawful.

At stake is the integration mandate that codifies the right of disabled people to live in their community with needed supports.

Join us to learn what this lawsuit means and how we can fight back.

Wednesday, February 25, 2026
10:30 am PT / 1:30 pm ET

Register here: https://dredf-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Q1oN3icfRrCY36saLlwgJA #/registration

02/20/2026

A great listen! The Arc of Texas’ Education & Outreach Manager, Ashley Melero, appeared on “Babies Down, Bottles Up” -- a podcast hosted by three blind moms -- to talk about ABLE accounts and Special Needs Trusts, and why knowing the difference matters. She explains how people with disabilities can save money without risking Medicaid or Social Security, and more.

Money planning gets a whole lot more complicated when disability benefits are part of the picture, so in this episode we sit down with Ashley Melero from The Arc of Texas for a clear, practical conversation about ABLE accounts and Special Needs Trusts 💰♿ We break down what each option is, why the differences really matter, and how families can save and plan without accidentally putting Medicaid or Social Security at risk. From contribution limits and qualified expenses to trusts, inheritances, and common planning mistakes, this episode is packed with information you actually need, explained in a way that makes sense and feels doable 🧠✨ If you have a disability, love someone who does, or just want to be better prepared for the future, this one is a must-listen 🎧💜 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/babies-down-bottles-up/id1531015317?i=1000747145093

02/18/2026

Considering a Texas Education Freedom Account (TEFA), also referred to as a school voucher? Public and private schools have very different legal requirements. Check out this quick resource to learn what rights and protections apply in public schools versus private schools, how much funding a family can receive and how it can be used, and what to know before applying: https://ow.ly/j2Nk50WzAib

Background: Senate Bill 2 passed during the 89th Texas Legislative Session last year, establishing an Education Savings Account program that allows eligible Texan families to use state funding for private school tuition and other educational expenses. To help you understand the impact of the new school voucher program on Texas kids with disabilities, we collaborated with Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities to create the resource above.