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DRTx in the News

Texans with Disabilities are Eligible for Mail-in Voting, but People Must Decide for Themselves if They Qualify

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Citing a disability is among the few reasons that Texans can qualify to vote by mail during the pandemic this November — in addition to being 65 or older, being outside of their county during the election, or being confined to jail but otherwise eligible to vote. But in recent months, what counts as a disability in… Continue reading Texans with Disabilities are Eligible for Mail-in Voting, but People Must Decide for Themselves if They Qualify

Pandemic Triage Guidelines Violate Federal Law, Discriminate: Complaint

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A federal complaint filed in North Texas alleges that if the coronavirus pandemic worsens, local hospitals will be forced to ration medical resources using guidelines that discriminate against people with disabilities, older Texans, people of color, and other protected classes. Disability Rights Texas is one of multiple advocacy groups and individuals that claim triage policies put in… Continue reading Pandemic Triage Guidelines Violate Federal Law, Discriminate: Complaint

Blind Voters, Disability Rights Groups Sue Texas Over Inaccessible Mail-in Ballot System

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In a federal lawsuit filed in Austin, three voters, the National Federation of the Blind of Texas, and the Coalition of Texans with Disabilities argue that Texas’ mail-in ballot system discriminates against voters with disabilities and violates provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act and Rehabilitation Act of 1973 — both which prohibit discrimination based on… Continue reading Blind Voters, Disability Rights Groups Sue Texas Over Inaccessible Mail-in Ballot System

Disabilities Advocates: Texas Mail Ballot System Disenfranchises People With Disabilities

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A group of advocates for Texans with disabilities sued the state of Texas on Friday claiming its mail ballot system kept people with disabilities from participating in mail voting. The lawsuit filed in a federal court in Austin alleges that the current system, which is done on paper ballots, is inaccessible to blind voters and… Continue reading Disabilities Advocates: Texas Mail Ballot System Disenfranchises People With Disabilities

Rejecting Call to Disband San Antonio ISD Police, Trustees Plan to Examine Discipline Policies

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“Amid the fallout from the death of George Floyd, the San Antonio Independent School District has rejected calls to disband its police department, but some trustees are pushing for a comprehensive review of student discipline and the department’s role in it. A coalition of nonprofits sent SAISD Superintendent Pedro Martinez a letter two weeks after… Continue reading Rejecting Call to Disband San Antonio ISD Police, Trustees Plan to Examine Discipline Policies

Advocates Urge Houston ISD To Disband School Police Force

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“Even before George Floyd died after being handcuffed and restrained by Minneapolis police, advocates were trying to reduce the police presence in Houston schools. Now Floyd’s death magnifies the danger of over-policing for students of color and children with disabilities, according to a letter sent to Houston school district administrators. A coalition of social justice… Continue reading Advocates Urge Houston ISD To Disband School Police Force

Families of the Disabled Worry About Loved Ones in State-Run Homes During COVID-19

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More than 100 people at the Denton State Supported Living Center — one of the largest facilities for individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities in the state of Texas — have tested positive for COVID-19. That includes at least 47 staffers. Denton County has experienced a lack of testing supplies during the COVID-19 pandemic. “Many… Continue reading Families of the Disabled Worry About Loved Ones in State-Run Homes During COVID-19

Advocates: Houston-Area Students In Alternative Schools Need ‘Fresh Start’ After COVID

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Juvenile justice advocates are asking school districts in greater Houston to give students in alternative schools a fresh start, so that the COVID-19 crisis doesn’t prolong their punishments into the next academic year. That’s because before schools closed their doors, hundreds of Houston-area students were learning in alternative programs for things like dress code violations,… Continue reading Advocates: Houston-Area Students In Alternative Schools Need ‘Fresh Start’ After COVID

Group home operators struggle with virus as 14 locations confirm cases

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State health officials confirmed 14 group homes in Texas have had cases of COVID-19. Though the virus has hit just a fraction of the state’s 2,936 group homes, it is having a widespread impact on facilities’ ability to stay open. Group homes provide care for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The homes are often… Continue reading Group home operators struggle with virus as 14 locations confirm cases