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Texas Disability Law - Communications Technology
Texas Law
- Provides for accessible, available, and usable telecommunications services for people with disabilities.
- Provides for statewide telecommunications relay access service so that people who can hear can speak with people who are deaf, deaf-blind, hard of hearing, or have speech disabilities.
- Provides for a specialized telecommunications device assistance program to assist in the purchase of telecommunication devices for people with disabilities.
- Provides an assistance program for people with low incomes through discounts in telephone and electrical service.
- Requires the Health and Human Services Commission, subject to availability of funds,to provide interpreter services while receiving medical assistance under the Medicaid program, to a person who is deaf or hard of hearing, or to the persons parent or guardian who is deaf or hard of hearing.
Texas Legal Citation
-
Telecommunications Access:
Texas Utilities Code, Section 51.001(f) -
Relay Services:
Texas Utilities Code, Sections 56.102 - 56.112 -
Special Telecommunications Device Assistance Program:
Texas Utilities Code, Sections 56.151 - 56.155 -
Utility Assistance Program:
Texas Utilities Code, Section 17.007 - Human Resources Code 32.024
Contact
-
Texas Public
Utility Commission (Relay Texas Customer Services)
(888) 782-8477; (512) 936-7136 (TTY)
Email: relaytx@puc.state.tx.us
-
Texas Public
Utility Commission (Consumer Protection)
(888) 782-8477
Email: customer@puc.state.tx.us
-
Department of
Assistive and Rehabilitative Services, Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Services
(Specialized Telecommunications Devices Assistance Program)
(512) 407-3250 (Voice); (512) 407-3251 (TTY)
- Relay Texas: Dial 7-1-1
- Federal Relay Services
1-800-720-3246 - FCC Closed Captioning
For More Information
Public
Utility Commission
(888) 782-8477
"What You Need To Know About Utility Payment Assistance
Programs"
Various Relay Texas brochures
Relevant Federal Laws
- Telecommunications Act of 1996
-
Federal Communications Commission
(202) 418-0190; (202) 418-2555 (TTY)
- Americans with Disabilities Act
-
U.S. Department of Justice
(800) 514-0301; (800) 514-0383 (TTY)