Developmental Disabilities

Texas Contacts

State Agency Responsible for Providing Services to the Developmentally Disabled

The Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS) was established in September 2004. The DADS mission is to provide a comprehensive array of aging and disability services, supports, and opportunities that are easily accessed in local communities. Key responsibilities include: 1) working in partnership with consumers, caregivers, service providers, and other stakeholders; 2) developing and improving service options that are responsive to individual needs and preferences; and ensuring and protecting self-determination, consumer rights, and safety.

State Agency Responsible for Overseeing Employment Opportunities for the Developmentally Disabled

The Texas Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services is designated as the state's principal authority on the vocational rehabilitation of Texans with disabilities, except persons with visual impairments and the legally blind. The Division's main purpose is to assist people with disabilities to participate in their communities by achieving employment of choice, living as independently as possible and accessing high quality services. The Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) program helps people with disabilities prepare for, find and keep jobs. Gaining skills needed for a career, learning how to prepare for a job interview or getting the accommodations needed to stay employed are just a few of the ways this program helps people with disabilities increase productivity and independence.

Sheltered Employment

Although the Texas Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services (DARS) offers the option of non-integrated/sheltered employment, it emphasizes use of integrated or community-integrated employment when possible. The DARS pursues and maintains relationships with employers in business and industry to develop collaborative efforts to employ people with disabilities.

Competitive Employment

Supported employment serves consumers of the Vocational Rehabilitation Program who need on-going support to maintain competitive employment. Counselors ensure that consumers in this program have the opportunity and support necessary to work in their communities.

Health and Safety

The Occupational Safety and Health Consultation (OSHCON) program is a free service available to private Texas employers through the Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers' compensation. Our professional safety and health consultants across the state are available to help identify and eliminate occupational hazards in your workplace, whether or not your company carries workers' compensation insurance. OSHCON helps employers understand and comply with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) health and safety requirements, and teaches them how to maintain safe and healthy workplaces.

The Occupational Safety and Health (OSHA) Texas Area Offices provide safety and health protections to most private sector workers and state and local government employees within the state. OSHA investigates complaints about workplace safety and health hazards.

Reporting Abuse and Neglect

Abuse, neglect and exploitation are against the law in Texas, and so is failure to report it. The mission of the Adult Protective Services (APS) program, Department of Family and Protective Services, is to protect older adults and persons with disabilities from abuse, neglect and exploitation by investigating and providing or arranging for services as necessary to alleviate or prevent further maltreatment. If you suspect a child or a person 65 years or older or an adult with disabilities has been abused or mistreated, you are required to report it to the APS or to a law enforcement agency. You are required to make a report immediately. To report suspicions of abuse/neglect, please contact the APS, Texas Department of Family and Protective Services Statewide Intake Program toll free at 1-800-252-5400, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. For further information, contact:

Protection and Advocacy

Advocacy, Inc. is a nonprofit corporation funded by the U.S. Congress to protect and advocate for the legal rights of people with disabilities in Texas. It is not a part of state or local government. It has offices throughout the State of Texas, and a Board of Directors appointed mainly by disability organizations. The Board of Directors selects annual priorities which are the issues the organization will focus on that year. For more information on Advocacy, Inc. priorities and programs, contact: