Family to Family Network

03/18/2026

Tonight March 18th Katy ISD

03/15/2026

March is Developmental Disabilities month. If you have never watched - watch on Netflix & remember the rights your children benefit from now - so many brave fought for them. Don’t forget our disability elders. Keep advocating.

03/15/2026

Schools say they want students to self-advocate… until that advocacy challenges authority, exposes barriers, or makes adults uncomfortable.

Too often, “self-advocacy” is only welcomed when it looks polite, quiet, and convenient for adults. But real self-advocacy means a student might say:
• “This environment isn’t working for me.”
• “I need a break before I can continue.”
• “I don’t understand the instructions.”
• “This support isn’t helping.”

Self-advocacy isn’t just asking nicely for help.

It’s naming needs.
It’s identifying barriers.
It’s expressing disagreement.
It’s communicating when something isn’t accessible.

And sometimes that will challenge systems that were designed without disabled learners in mind.

If we truly want students to self-advocate, we have to be willing to listen without defensiveness and adjust the environment, not just expect the student to adjust themselves.

Because self-advocacy that only exists when adults feel comfortable isn’t self-advocacy. It’s controlled compliance.

02/27/2026

Protect your child's and your family's personal data - Largest data breach reported impacting thousands of Texans. Set up credit monitoring to ensure no one is using your personal information and contact one of the three U.S. credit reporting agencies (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) to set up a fraud alert on your account
Texas Health and Human Services Commission
https://www.inc.com/chris-morris/conduent-breach-how-to-know-if-youre-affected-largest-data-breaches-u-s-history/91308076

Massive ransomware attack on government contractor Conduent may have exposed data of tens of millions across multiple states including Texas and Oregon.

02/26/2026

Passing along valuable information - check out this webinar for families and professionals! 💻

HHSC Deaf and Hard of Hearing Presents:
Overview of the Certificate of Deafness Tuition Waiver Program

Join Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services for an overview of the Certificate of Deafness Tuition Waiver (CODTW) program. The CODTW program provides qualified students who are deaf, deafblind, or hard of hearing with a waiver for tuition and tuition-based fees at state-supported post-secondary schools in Texas.

🌟 What: Information Session on the CODTW Program
🌟 When: Thursday, March 5, 2026, 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. CST
🌟 Register: Register for the CODTW Information Session at this link https://zurl.co/YKRcN

This information session will outline the program's requirements, review the application process, and provide an opportunity for attendees to ask questions.

It is intended for professionals who work with current and prospective students, high school or college students, and families of students who are deaf, deafblind, or hard of hearing.

Contact dhhs.training@hhs.texas.gov with any questions.

[White background, with blue and black text of the info above. Texas Health and Human Services logo - red, blue, and gold crest.]

02/26/2026

Please contact the attorney generals office as noted in the The Arc of Texas posting below.

https://ow.ly/640t50Ym49H

02/24/2026

Is your center owned by a private equity firm? 81 centers in Texas are owned by one - are financial gains prioritized over child/family needs? HUGE thank you to MJ Williams for posting this very important story.

A new study from researchers at the Brown University School of Public Health highlights a push from private equity investors into autism therapy centers across the nation.

02/23/2026

Is your center owned by a private equity firm? 81 centers in Texas are owned by one - are financial gains prioritized over child/family needs?

A new study from researchers at the Brown University School of Public Health highlights a push from private equity investors into autism therapy centers across the nation.

02/05/2026

Did you know that HHSC implemented new functionality on the Your Texas Benefits (YTB) website that allows people to add themselves to the Home and Community-based Services (HCS) and Texas Home Living (TxHmL) interest lists?
Your Texas Benefits is a website for Texans to apply for help, join an interest list for certain Medicaid waiver programs, or update their phone number and address on program interest lists they joined
Already have a YTB account - Under quick links, click on Interest List Manager.

02/03/2026

Sharing a community resource!

*This is not a TXHV event; please reach out to Oklahoma School for the Deaf with questions*

🎉 Who’s ready to take FREE online ASL classes with the Oklahoma School for the Deaf? 🤟

Registration is open! https://zurl.co/EhvCF There is still time to sign up!

Choose ASL 1, ASL 2, or both—and start your class immediately after registering. Learn at your own pace from anywhere.

🗓 Registration closes February 12 — don’t miss out!

👉 Sign up today and start learning ASL!

02/03/2026

01/30/2026

Start gathering needed documents BEFORE Feb 4 If you are applying for a Texas Freedom Account: SSN or ITIN number for parent and SSN for child, Tax Return for 2024 or 2025, drivers license number; Birth certificate for child, IEP/School district pesonal Identification number for child.