Office of the Governor Rick Perry

Disabilities Header

The Governor’s Committee on People with Disabilities

The Governor's Committee on People with Disabilities is within the office of the Governor. The committee's mission is to further opportunities for persons with disabilities to enjoy full and equal access to lives of independence, productivity, and self-determination. The committee is composed of 12 members appointed by the governor and of nonvoting ex officio members. The members are appointed for staggered terms of two years. At least seven of the appointed members must be persons with disabilities. The Committee serves as a central source of information and education on the abilities, rights, problems, and needs of persons with disabilities. The staff of the Governor’s Committee supports and manages the work of the committee. The Committee’s enabling statute is in the Human Resources Code, Chapter 115.

Cold Weather Resources

Now that the cold winter weather is upon us, the Governor's Committee on People with Disabilities would like to share some resources specific to keeping Texans healthy and safe during this time.

First, use the widget below to locate a local flu vaccine provider:

 

Second, read this guide to cold weather preparedness for helpful information for Texans with disabilities: 

Cold Weather Preparedness (Word)
Cold Weather Preparedness (PDF)
Download the latest version of Adobe Reader.

 

ADA Roundtable: Long-term Planning for People with Disabilities: Public Benefits, Trusts, and Guardianships

Please join us for a webinar on Monday, December 5, 2011 at 1:00 p.m. central. This FREE online presentation will give caretakers the practical information they need to make long-term decisions with their loved-ones. Expert speakers will discuss a range of financial and legal tools for planning for a lifetime of support. Session topics include: government benefits (cash assistance and health care), supplemental needs trusts, myths and realities of guardianships, and guardianship procedures. Sessions are presented via a fully accessible Talking Communities webinar platform. To register for this webinar please visit: https://vovici.com/wsb.dll/s/12291g4d7a8. For more information, contact

Texas Persons with Disabilities History and Awareness Month

Thank you for helping us celebrate Texas Persons with Disabilities History and Awareness month throughout October! As part of this celebration, the Committee presented a daily Disability History Factoid each weekday in October. HB 3616, passed during the 82nd Legislative session, encouraged public schools and state agencies to celebrate the accomplishments of people with disabilities. To learn more about Disability History, go to http://governor.state.tx.us/disabilities/resources/disability_history/. To see each of the daily factoids, visit our archive: http://governor.state.tx.us/disabilities/resources/history_and_awareness_month_factoids.

 

Assistive Technology Survey

The Texas Governor's Committee on People with Disabilities is collaborating with Lex Frieden, the University of Texas Chancellor's Health Fellow on Disability and a Professor at UT Houston, to determine and help meet the technological needs of people with disabilities.

Will you help by taking a few minutes to complete this survey on Assistive Technology and by sharing it with people in your Texas community who may be interested? The survey will remain open until midnight on August 5, 2011. All questions are optional and all information will be held confidential. This survey should take about 15 minutes to complete. Your participation is greatly appreciated!

You can find the survey using the hyperlink above or by copying and pasting the following into your browser: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/LZGRXH2

If you would like a hard copy of the survey mailed to you, please email .

Veterans Survey

According to the Texas Veterans Commission Strategic Plan 2009-2013, Texas is home to approximately 1.7 million veterans, many with disabilities. Five months ago the Texas Governor's Committee on People with Disabilities implemented an accessible online survey regarding "Veterans with Disabilities in Texas." There were 9,300 veterans who took the Texas Governor's Committee on People with Disabilities survey representing all 254 counties in Texas. There were 10,410 open comments from veterans from the survey on various issues. Below is the analysis, the survey questions and a brief slide of the two open ended questions at the end of the survey. The Committee would like to thank everyone who participated in the survey. The State of Texas has a deep appreciation for the men and women who wear the uniform of our country and risk their lives for our freedom. Thank you for your service.

Analysis of the Survey (Word Document)
Survey Results (PDF)
Summary of Open Ended Responses (PDF)

About the Governor's Committee

Key Services
The Governor’s Committee recommends changes in disability policies and programs in the areas of accessibility, communication, education, emergency preparedness, health, housing, recreation, transportation, veterans and workforce. The Committee also supports a network of committees on people with disabilities, issues awards to promote greater awareness, and promotes compliance with disability related laws.

For more information on Disability History or Etiquette and a “Resource Guide on Disability Topics Important to Texans”, email us at or call 512-463-5739.

Upcoming Events

National Disability Employment Awareness Month Proclamation

2011

View or print the NDEAM proclamation as an Adobe PDF.
View or print the NDEAM proclamation as a Word document.
Download the latest version of Adobe Reader.

 

ADA Awareness Day Proclamation

2011
View or print the ADA proclamation as an Adobe PDF.
View or print the ADA proclamation as an accessible Word document.
Download the latest version of Adobe Reader.