People With Disabilities

A federal judge in San Antonio says the state of Texas unnecessarily institutionalized 4,500 people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, denying them appropriate services that are required under federal law.

The 21-year-old from Conroe wants evacuation chairs to be available at all public universities in Texas.

Disability Rights Texas filed a federal lawsuit against the school district in 2021 over its failure to conduct special education evaluations within the legally required timeframe. The Austin ISD school board voted to approve the settlement last month.

Rumors of mismanagement swirled online after a weather cancellation, but disabled festival goers clocked issues from the start.

Thousands of Texans with intellectual disabilities live in group homes. The group home system is struggling to retain workers under the low base wage the state legislature set last year.

Groups say the base pay for community attendants needs to increase from $8.11 to $15 an hour. But changing that pay is up to state lawmakers.

The transit agency hopes capping fares and reducing how much people with low incomes have to pay will boost ridership.

Worker shortages and the ability to work from home have made it easier for some people with disabilities to get and keep a job. Advocates say the unemployment rate is still far too high.

The extent to which Republicans’ proposed voting restrictions might affect voters of color has received much attention, but Texans with disabilities also face the prospect of new barriers to the ballot box.

Voting groups say mask rules are not being enforced and speakers are required to testify in person. They warn these conditions are not just a threat to public health, they also violate federal law.