Texas Disability Law - Recreation

Texas Law

• Provides a 50% discount on entry to State parks for people who are currently receiving Social Security disability benefits.
• Provides that people with upper limb disabilities may use crossbows when hunting deer or turkey.
• Provides free entry to State parks and free hunting licenses for veterans with a 60% or greater disability rating.
• Allows individuals with mental disabilities to fish without a State license if they are engaged in supervised recreational fishing as part of medically approved therapy or if they are under the supervision of a person with a fishing license.
• Allows for a reduction in the cost of a fishing license for people who are blind.
• Permits hunters who are legally blind to use a laser sighting device.

Texas Legal Citation

• Entry to State Parks:
  Texas Parks and Wildlife Code, Section 13.018
• Crossbows:
  Texas Parks and Wildlife Code, Section 43.201
• Hunting Licenses:
  Texas Parks and Wildlife Code, Section 42.012
• Fishing Licenses:
  Texas Parks and Wildlife Code, Sections 46.002 - 46.004
• Legally Blind Hunters:
  Texas Parks and Wildlife Code, Section 62.0055

Contact

• Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
  (800) 792-1112; (512) 389-8915 (TTY); (512) 389-4800
  
• Texas Commission on the Arts
  (512) 463-5535, (512) 475-3327 TTY
  
• Texas Department of Licensing and Regulations, Architectural Barriers
  

For More Information

• Office of the Governor, Information on a Healthy lifestyle
  
• State and National Parks with accessibility features
  
• Texas Wheelchair Accessible Fishing Sites
  
• State Parks Reservations and Information
  (512)-389-8900, TDD (512)-389-8915
  
• Texas Parks and Wildlife Site Accessibility
  
• Texas Resources for campers with Disabilities
  
• VSA Arts of Texas
  
• Texas Cultural and Arts Network
  

Relevant Federal Laws

• Americans with Disabilities Act:
  U.S. Department of Justice
  (800) 514-0301; (800) 514-0383 (TTY)
  
  
• National Center on Accessibility
  
• US Access Board Online Training Course for Playgrounds
  
• Proposed Recreation Accessibility Guidelines
  
• The National Center on Physical Activity and Disability
  
• Special Olympics
  
• US Paralympics