Legislation
Requires hospitals in counties with more than 50,000 people that offer obstetrical services and requires birthing centers in similar counties with 1000 or more births a year to offer newborn hearing screening during birth admission. Health department (or its designee) to approve protocols; certify programs that use recommended equipment, use appropriate staff, and provide educational materials, including follow-up information; and ensure that intervention is available through IDEA Part C programs. Requires family health benefit plans in the state to cover screening and necessary diagnostic follow up without payment of any deductible amount. Program in effect no later than May 1, 2000, for birthing facilities with at least 1,000 births per year, other facilities by April 1, 2001.
Citation: 1999 Texas General Laws 1347
Web Resources
Any Baby Can
Supporting and educating families so children can be their best
http://www.abcaus.org/
Callier Center For Communication Disorders
University of Texas at Dallas The mission of the Callier Center for Communication Disorders is to advance knowledge and services in communication disorders. The Center accomplishes its mission through integrated programs that prepare future clinicians and researchers, offer to the community state-of-the-art clinical and educational services, and support research contributing directly or indirectly to the identification, treatment and prevention of communication disorders.
http://www.callier.utdallas.edu/
Deaf Action Center of Dallas
Our mission is the elimination of barriers to persons who are deaf or hard-of-hearing.
http://www.deafactioncentertexas.org/
The Disability Policy Consortium
The Consortium is an independent group of statewide advocacy organizations working for progressive public policy on behalf of Texans with disabilities.
http://www.dpctexas.org/dpctx2002/index2.html
Easter Seals of Dallas
Easter Seals of Greater Dallas, a nonprofit organization, continually strives to make a better tomorrow for thousands of families throughout North Texas, by offering a full range of outpatient rehabilitation services for children and adults with physical and developmental disabilities and special needs.
http://www.easterseals.com/site/PageServer
HEAR (Hearing Enhancement and Aural Rehabilitation) in Dallas, Inc.
Professional Services for Hearing Enhancement and Aural Rehabilitation so deaf children and adults can HEAR and TALK with advanced hearing technologies, Auditory-Verbal therapy and lifestyle training
http://www.hearindallas.com/
Partners Resource Network, Inc. -- The PATH Project
A non-profit agency serving Texas as the statewide Parent Training and Information Center.: The PATH Project is funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Education in Washington, D.C. Through PATH, Partners provides services across the state of Texas to parents of infants, toddlers, children, and youth with all types of disabilities. Partners can also provide information to parents moving to the state.
http://www.partnerstx.org/
Sunshine Cottage School for Deaf Children
The school continues to flourish in its mission: Develop speech, language and residual hearing; maximize auditory potential through auditory learning, enhanced by speechreading; support and educate families; and instill in each student a love of learning that will last a lifetime.
http://www.sunshinecottage.org/
Texas Advocates Support Kids (TASK) with Disabilities
Texas Advocates Supporting Kids with Disabilities (TASK) is a statewide, nonprofit organization comprised primarily of parents of children with disabilities and chronic illness. Headquartered in Austin, our access to state government allows us stay informed of legislative and regulatory initiatives which effect our children. TASK is a member of the Texas Disability Policy Consortium, a coalition of 21 statewide organizations focusing on the rights of individuals with disabilities.
http://www.main.org/task/index.htm
Texas Assistive Technology Partnership
The Texas Technology Access Project provides information, conducts training and technical assistance and works with policy makers to support children and adults with disabilities in their efforts to acquire and use technology as a routine part of day-to-day living. The Project was formerly named the Texas Assistive Technology Partnership.
http://tatp.edb.utexas.edu
Texas Association of the Deaf
A membership organization providing information and education on various issues affecting the lives of individuals who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing at all levels of the community.
http://www.deaftexas.org/
Texas Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
To eliminate communication barriers and to guarantee equal access for people who are deaf or hard of hearing. Advocate for people of all ages who are deaf and hard of hearing to enable them to express their freedoms, participate in society to their individual potential, and reduce their isolation regardless of location, socioeconomic status, or degree of disability.
http://www.tcdhh.state.tx.us/
Texas Department of Health
We at the Texas Department of Health believe that we can make a difference to people as they raise their children to be healthy, productive adults; as they learn ways to keep themselves and their communities healthier and safer; and as they tackle health and social problems.
http://www.tdh.state.tx.us/
Audiology Services Includes the following programs
Program for Amplification for Children of Texas (PACT) provides services and hearing aids for children ages birth through twenty years who have permanent hearing loss and live at or below 150% of the federal poverty level. The Audiometric Laboratory registers all equipment used to test hearing and the people who use it. In addition it provides loaner audiometers to day care centers and schools who screen hearing. The Sounds of Texas Project helps birthing hospitals implement programs to screen the hearing of all babies born at their facilities.
http://www.tdh.state.tx.us/audio/audiology.htm
Newborn Hearing Screening
Detect and Connect--One Baby at a Time
http://www.tdh.state.tx.us/audio/newbornhear.htm
Take Time for Kids (TTFK)
Take Time for Kids is a public/private partnership between the Texas Department of Health, other state agencies, child advocates, businesses and communities working together to promote the health and safety of young Texas children.
http://www.tdh.state.tx.us/
Texas Education Agency
Working for Texas Children - Building Our Future
http://www.tea.state.tx.us/
Division of Services for the Deaf
The Division of Services for the Deaf manages the operation of the Agency's Regional Day School Program for the Deaf, performs all activities required to maintain a statewide program for students who are deaf or hard of hearing, and provides leadership to local regional day schools for the deaf in the planning, implementation and operation of comprehensive education programs for students who are deaf or hard of hearing.
http://www.tea.state.tx.us/deaf/
Texas Information and Referral Network
A network that develops, coordinates and publicizes a statewide network that provides local and state access points for health and human services information in Texas. http://www.hhsc.state.tx.us/tirn/tirnhome.htm
Texas School for the Deaf
The mission of the Texas School for the Deaf is to provide a positive learning and living environment which addresses the unique needs of a diverse population of deaf learners and enables them to become productive members of society.
http://www.tsd.state.tx.us/
Texas Society of Interpreters for the Deaf
A non-profit organization established for the purpose of developing and strengthening the profession of interpreting in Texas.
http://www.tsid.org/
Texas NICHCY
Resources From the National Information Center for Children and Youth with Disabilities (NICHCY)
http://www.nichcy.org/stateshe/tx.htm
