Range of Programs
HHS oversees several important programs that parents and guardians of children with disabilities should know about. The word "assistive" in the agency name covers a range of programs and services. The links below will take you to other articles on this site with more information about each program:
Disability Determination Services (DDS), a division of HHS that determines whether Texans who apply for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and/or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) are eligible.
Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) provides a variety of important services to children from birth to age 3 with developmental delays and disabilities, and to their families.
ECI Respite is a service that gives short-term relief to families from the stress and daily, round-the-clock responsibility of caring for a family member with a disability.
Services for Children with Visual and Auditory Impairments can point you to several programs to assist children who are blind and/or have hearing loss.
The HHS Autism Program provides Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy for children 3 through 8 years old who are on the autism spectrum. Local community agencies and organizations provide the therapy services through grant contracts. Families pay for the therapy services through a family cost share program. There are a limited number of contractors in the state. While you can apply for services with a contractor anywhere in the state, HHS does not provide funding for transportation and lodging