Position on Community Living

Texas Advocates is a statewide organization of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Our job is to speak for ourselves and people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Issues

• Many people are living in segregated large institutions.
• It is our mission to inform people with disabilities of other community living choices.
• It is right and important for us to take a stand on the problem of providing the best kind of services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Statements

The membership of the Texas Advocates has agreed to these statements:

• Texas Advocates believes that all persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities have a chance to live full and happy lives if they live with the rest of us in our community rather than in large institutions.
• Texas Advocates believes that all persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities have the right and should be given the chance to live in their own home communities and neighborhoods with the proper supports.

Recommendation

• Texas Advocates wants the state to continue to put together programs in our communities to meet the needs of all Texans with developmental disabilities.
• Texas Advocates wants the state to increase funding to help cut the size of the waiting lists for people who are waiting for services.