Texas Parent to Parent

09/18/2026

We are super excited to be headed back to the Rio Grande Valley for our 9th Annual South Texas Parent Conference on October 24th for a 1-Day Conference

Thank you again to the fine folks at the PSJA Early College High School for hosting us again in their beautiful facilities. This is a FREE conference for families of children with disabilities or special healthcare needs, self-advocates, family members, educators, service providers, and other interested community members.

We are currently accepting Speaker Proposals and Exhibitor applications for this conference in San Juan Texas!

Exhibitors Register Here:
https://fs12.formsite.com/txp2porg/form76/index

Speakers Proposal Link:
https://fs12.formsite.com/txp2porg/form77/index

If you live in the Rio Grande Valley and would like to register:
https://fs12.formsite.com/txp2porg/form78/index

09/18/2026

⏰ ACTION ALERT from the folks at PTFK Warriors:
PUBLIC COMMENTS URGENTLY NEEDED ⏰

Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) is finalizing a rule that sounds narrow—“medically fragile” criteria and eligibility for nursing facility diversion slots that will replace the Money Follows the Person/Rider 28 process— but as written, it rewrites that definition for the entire Medically Dependent Children's Program (MDCP). The proposed changes can be found here: https://www.sos.state.tx.us/texreg/archive/August212026/Proposed%20Rules/1.ADMINISTRATION.html

We share HHSC's stated goal of keeping medically complex kids out of nursing facilities, and helping families in crisis access critical life-sustaining services. But this rule moves in the wrong direction, adding multiple barriers to access, and codifying non-standard definitions.

Numbers count here: the more comments received, the better. HHSC needs to hear from you. Comments are due to HHSC by 5 PM Monday, September 21st. This is a hard deadline. Email your comment to the HHSC Rules Coordination Office (email address in comments below) AND copy your state senator and state representative. Thanks for wanting to help! Here's the fastest path:
1. Copy the template letter in the comments below
2. Personalize where you can—identical copies count less than personalized ones. Be sure to include your name, address and contact info.
3. Email your comment to HHSC at the email address below before 5pm Monday 9/21, and copy your state senator and state representative: [email protected] template letter and the proposed rule text are in the comments below as a starting point. 👇

If you can only do one thing this week for medically fragile Texas kids, do this one. It takes less than 3 minutes.

09/18/2026

An upcoming webinar from the folks at Consolidated Planning Group on Sept. 22nd. Issues get very complicated for planning with your Disabled Adult Child (DAC) and this webinar will cover Issues in Special Needs Trust for DAC's on RSDI and Medicaid.
https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_q9Ns93reS7GmQjcz9IC2_g #/

09/14/2026

Hoping everyone enjoyed their weekend! Monday has brought us all back to regular life! We hope you join us for some Parent Support groups--full of information and resources!

Monday, September 14th:

Parent Support Spanish Group with Dora Saavedra and Alejandra Arrigunaga.
📍LUNES (Monday) 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM central time (US y Canada)
To join the call IN SPANISH only: Register here:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUld-qqrz8uHd3IUO9YiP7_3k2B7jGqdxO0 #/registration

Advocacy Evening at 7:30pm with Linda & Amy Litzinger
Our speaker on Monday night will be Louis Geigermann, Education Advocate and TOPAA chair. He plans to discuss a recent uptick in student removals from classrooms and the options available to parents.
Please feel free to join us by registering here:
https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJwrcuGsqT8iHdyQLFDRoXKZ2JwaURu7R-In

Wednesday, Sept. 16th from 11am-1pm. We will have our English Parent Support Group on with Patty, Greta, Dora & Ale. We will be discussing topics related to parenting and emotional support on our journey with our child/young adult with disabilities.
Register Here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAvc-ytqzMvGdeVS9Pdy0DbXWkuW58cUyik

In Addition, we do have our Spanish Transition to Adulthood PTA 2-Part series/Series de entrenamiento de Caminos a la Vida Adulta

Primera Parte Septiembre 15th, a partir de las 12:00 to 1:30 p.m.
Temas a tratar:

Manejando las emociones
Transición escolar
Empleo
Tutela y Alternativas
Para registrarse a la primera parte:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/yu7VcgDJQ_OkLICMmqwilA #/registration

Segunda Parte Septiembre 17th, a partir de las 12:00 to 1:30 p.m.
Temas a tratar:
SSI / SSDI
Medicaid Waivers / Servicios a largo plazo
Opciones de vivienda y vida independiente
Planificación Patrimonial
Transición Médica
Para registrarse a la segunda parte:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/HyosMgfYShOCy1a_nsOdgA #/registration

09/07/2026

All of us at Texas Parent to Parent wish you a restful Labor Day! We are closed for the day and there will be no Spanish meeting or Advocacy Evening this week! Please feel free to join on for our regular English Support Group meeting on Zoom this Wednesday at 11am.
Register Here! https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAvc-ytqzMvGdeVS9Pdy0DbXWkuW58cUyik

09/07/2026

In Honor of Labor Day, let us all give a big shout out to where are young adults are working and thriving!! Here are a couple to brag about! In your community, which businesses are helping our young people in your area of Texas?? Give them a shout out below!

In Austin, we have the recently opened "Empowered Cafe, their vision is to showcase the talents of adults with disabilities, empower independence through self-checkout systems, partner with local businesses, and create a vibrant, inclusive space where everyone feels welcome." https://www.empoweredcafeatx.com/

And our friends at the long time grass roots United Partners - Pflugerville! "Where we create, we work, we produce, we love"
https://www.facebook.com/unitedpartnerspf

United Partners-Pflugerville is a 501(c)3 organization that creates a community for all abilities! ❤️

https://linktr.ee/UnitedPartnersPf

09/04/2026

🇺🇸 Exciting milestone for the rare disease community! 🎉

🇲🇽 ¡Un hito emocionante para la comunidad de enfermedades raras! 🎉

Sharing that the National Organization for Rare Disorders is hosting its first-ever entirely Spanish-language “Living Rare, Living Stronger®” program on October 3, 2026 at 12:00 PM ET 📆

Register: https://lnkd.in/eFq7NVhy

🇲🇽 Me emociona compartir que NORD está organizando su primer programa “Living Rare, Living Stronger®” completamente en español, el 3 de octubre de 2026 a las 12:00 PM US ET. 📆

🇺🇸 With over 60 million Latinos living in the U.S. — the largest ethnic minority in the country — language access in rare disease care isn’t a nice-to-have, it’s essential. This program creates a space where Spanish-speaking families can get expert-led education on understanding genetics and next steps after diagnosis, and connect with other families navigating rare diseases — all without a language barrier standing in the way.

🇲🇽 Con más de 60 millones de latinos viviendo en EE. UU. — la minoría étnica más grande del país — el acceso al idioma en la atención de enfermedades raras no es un lujo, es esencial. Este programa crea un espacio donde las familias de habla hispana pueden recibir educación dirigida por expertos sobre cómo entender la genética y los próximos pasos después de un diagnóstico, además de conectar con otras familias que viven con enfermedades raras — todo sin que el idioma sea una barrera.

Todo el programa será en español, con interpretación simultánea al inglés disponible.

Este es un paso significativo para asegurar que la comunidad de enfermedades raras realmente refleje y sirva a todas las personas que viven con estas condiciones.

¡Por favor compartan con quien pueda beneficiarse!

https://rarediseases.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_U5CagMnOT9q_xEf3LsdMpw #/registration

Living Rare, Living Stronger® ofrece una oportunidad única para que las personas que viven con enfermedades raras se unan en busca de educación y conexión comunitaria en un entorno de apoyo. Los participantes pueden esperar: 1. Sesiones educativas dirigidas por expertos sobre cómo entender la g...

08/31/2026

Gotta be a little excited to see some tropical development might bring more rain to the state! Hope everyone got a little last week? As we wait a little longer for pumpkin spice latte weather, we hope you will join us for our Parent Groups this week as we usher in September!

Monday, August 31st at Noon, please join Dora Saavedra and Alejandra Arriagunaga for the Spanish Support group. Register here:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUld-qqrz8uHd3IUO9YiP7_3k2B7jGqdxO0 #/registration

🌷Greetings Advocates! See you soon for the Advocacy Evening!
On Monday 8/31, our speaker at 7:30pm will be Carey Handley!
Two years ago, Carey and her family were quite busy in the Texas Capitol. Their bill to make sure that all families learn about the waiver waiting lists passed! And their daughter Caytlin was a great help. Come hear her terrific story and what she's working on next!
Please register for the meeting here:
https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJwrcuGsqT8iHdyQLFDRoXKZ2JwaURu7R-In

And finally on Wednesday, Sept. 2nd from 11am-1pm, our English Parent Group with Patty, Greta, Ale & Dora returns on zoom after a wildly informative visit with Shemika Allen last week. Come and join in to get support, resources and information! Register Here:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAvc-ytqzMvGdeVS9Pdy0DbXWkuW58cUyik

08/30/2026

Do you receive our free email newsletter from Texas Parent to Parent? Did you know we have weekly support groups, 1-1 support, webinars and trainings year-round? We have area Facebook groups and google groups where parents ask each other questions, get resources and support?

We welcome you to Join Our Family!! It's all free. We are parents, parent-professionals and volunteers, who are have come together to help each other on this journey with our growing children!!

https://www.txp2p.org/services/join-our-family