Skip to the content
Get Help Donate

DRTx in the News

‘I don’t know who cares about us’: How Texas failed people with disabilities during the freeze

Posted on

Olivia Esparza grew desperate as she watched her daughter, Diana, get colder and colder in the February freeze. Diana, 20, has a condition called Rett syndrome and is non-verbal and non-mobile, and needs electricity to power the machines that keep her healthy: one that helps her breathe at night and another suctions saliva out of… Continue reading ‘I don’t know who cares about us’: How Texas failed people with disabilities during the freeze

Survey reveals what struggles Texans with disabilities had to deal with during the winter storm

Posted on

While the February winter storm impacted nearly all Texans, it put people with disabilities in perhaps the most difficult spots. A new survey revealed the stories of people who struggled to keep medical equipment on and temperature-sensitive medicine safe, along with everything else Texans had to do to survive the storm. Others with hearing or… Continue reading Survey reveals what struggles Texans with disabilities had to deal with during the winter storm

Austin ISD Sued Over Student Disability Evaluations

Posted on

Disability Rights Texas (DRTx) and Susman Godfrey LLP on Monday announced that they are filing a lawsuit against Austin ISD, claiming that the district is failing thousands of students with disabilities. The lawsuit claims that AISD has refused to address systemic issues impacting its evaluation system, including staff shortages and increasing backlogs of outstanding evaluations. They claim that over… Continue reading Austin ISD Sued Over Student Disability Evaluations

‘We Have No Safety Net’: Disability Rights Advocates Speak Out After Winter Storm

Posted on

Last week’s storm made it clear there’s no safety net for disabled Texans during a disaster. Advocates say that can be a death sentence. Like many Texans, Rafael Garcia couldn’t sleep while his power was out last week. He wasn’t just cold. He was afraid he’d stop breathing in the middle of the night. “I… Continue reading ‘We Have No Safety Net’: Disability Rights Advocates Speak Out After Winter Storm

They have chronic illnesses. Then, the power went out in Texas. ‘It’s been emotionally exhausting.’

Posted on

Freezing temperatures and winter storms have caused widespread power outages across the country leaving people with disabilities and chronic illnesses scrambling to find ways to access life-saving medical supplies and charge devices they depend on. Earlier in the week, more than 4 million in Texas alone didn’t have electricity after large shares of the state’s power plants… Continue reading They have chronic illnesses. Then, the power went out in Texas. ‘It’s been emotionally exhausting.’

Disability Rights Texas offers tools to those at risk of eviction

Posted on

Disability Rights Texas has two online tools available to people in the state who are at the risk of eviction due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The first one, available in both English and Spanish, is the Unpaid Rent Accommodation Request Generator. This tool is for people facing eviction for unpaid, past-due, or late rent who are unable to work… Continue reading Disability Rights Texas offers tools to those at risk of eviction

Revised Pandemic Rationing Plan Protects Disabled Texans From Being Sent To Back Of Line For Ventilators

Posted on

As COVID-19 cases surge, North Texas hospitals could soon be faced with a shortage of life-saving equipment, such a ICU beds and ventilators. People with disabilities fear if that happens, they may be pushed to the back of the line and even denied care. On Thursday, Jan. 14, civil rights groups, along with the North… Continue reading Revised Pandemic Rationing Plan Protects Disabled Texans From Being Sent To Back Of Line For Ventilators

Report: Texas Schools Still Forcibly Restrain Students Too Often

Posted on

The advocacy group Disability Rights Texas examined statewide data and found that students with disabilities and Black students are physically restrained by educators at disproportionately high rates. In Texas, when a student is deemed a threat to themselves or others at school, a teacher or staff member has to intervene and forcibly restrain them —… Continue reading Report: Texas Schools Still Forcibly Restrain Students Too Often