Resources

Akers, D.K., Schwartz, M., Abramson, M.H. (2007; 2020). Beyond labels. Working with abuse survivors with mental illness symptoms or substance abuse issues. Austin, TX: https://www.nationsprint.com/clients/safeaustin/start_new_order.cgi

The Arc. (2018). Intellectual disability. https://thearc.org/

Autism Society. (2016; 2018). What is autism? https://www.autismspeaks.org/

Disability and Health (2025). Many Adults with Disabilities Report Frequent Mental Distress. See: https://www.cdc.gov/disability-and-health/articles-documents/adults-with-disabilities-mental-distress.html

Mental Health America. (2018). Panic disorder. https://mhanational.org/conditions/panic-disorder/

Mental Health First Aid (Texas). See: https://www.hhs.texas.gov/services/mental-health-substance-use/mental-health-substance-use-resources/mental-health-first-aid-training

National Institute of Mental Health. (n.d.). Autism spectrum disorder.  www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/autism-spectrum-disorders-asd/index.shtml

National Institute of Mental Health (n.d.) What is psychosis? www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/schizophrenia/raise/what-is-psychosis.shtml

The State of Mental Health in America (2021). https://mhanational.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/2021-State-of-Mental-Health-in-America_0.pdf

Working with People with Disabilities as Witnesses: https://disabilityjustice.org/disabilities-as-witnesses/

To report abuse, neglect, or exploitation of people with disabilities, and people aged 65+, Call 1-800.252.5400 or report online: Texas Abuse Hotline

Call your local law enforcement agency or 911 immediately in an emergency or life-threatening situation.

The Texas Abuse Hotline is available toll-free 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, nation-wide. Or make a report through the secure and you’ll get a response within 24 hours.

The Arc National and the National Center on Criminal Justice and Disability. https://thearc.org/our-initiatives/criminal-justice/

Autism Risk and Safety Management provides resources and training videos for law enforcement, first responders, care attendants, and others who work with or encounter people with disabilities with ASD in the community.

…And Justice for All, Responding to Crimes Against People with Disabilities and Deaf People*, A Training Manual, (King, D. and Schwartz, M(S), 2022). The SAFE Alliance, Austin, Tx. (https://www.nationsprint.com/clients/safeaustin/catalog.cgi)

Autism Society of Texas First Responder Training VIDDeo is a 26-minute video for first responders.

Big Red Safety Toolkit provides three digital safety toolkits for care attendants, teachers, and first responders, as well as information regarding autism-related wandering by the National Autism Association See: https://nationalautismassociation.org/docs/BigRedSafetyToolkit.pdf

Disability Rights Texas protects and advocates for the rights of Texans with disabilities, including special education services and supports.

Law Enforcement Response to Persons with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Identifying High-Priority Needs to Improve Law Enforcement Strategies (2024). See: https://nij.ojp.gov/library/publications/law-enforcement-response-persons-intellectual-and-developmental-disabilities.

Law Enforcement Response to People with Developmental Disabilities: Steps for Deflection or Pre-Arrest Diversion (February 2023). See: https://www.informedpoliceresponses.com/_files/ugd/e7007a_2d186ab816cb488698043a19a0c40af9.pdf

Victims with Disabilities: Collaborative, MultIDDisciplinary First Response provides a specific set of guidelines for first responders working with crime victims with disabilities.

Victims with Disabilities: The Forensic Interview: Techniques for Interviewing Victims with Communication and/or Cognitive Disabilities. DV and Guidebook. https://www.ojp.gov/ncjrs/virtual-library/abstracts/victims-disabilities-forensic-interview-techniques-interviewing

The Arc (for People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities) is a national organization that provides supports, services, and information for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families, as well as information for educators, advocates, and others.

The Arc–Texas advocates to include people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in all aspects of society, and provides information and resources on its website. The Arc has more than 30 chapters throughout Texas that can provIDDe supports and services to people with disabilities.

Aunt Bertha connects people with services and programs all over the country by zip code.

Disability Rights Texas protects and advocates for the rights of Texans with disabilities, including special education services and supports.

Navigate Life Texas provides information for families of people with disabilities about education, insurance, transition to adulthood, and services and supports available in each county. See: https://www.navigatelifetexas.org/en

Resource Guide is Autism Speaks’ comprehensive guide with lists of services available in each state, including health services, after-school programs, advocacy, and community support. Autism Speaks also provides information on safety, abuse prevention, and other topics.

Texas Parent to Parent has information on local and state resources. Families can be connected with other care attendants who have experience with the same challenges, or are in the same situation.

Autism Risk and Safety Management provides resources and training videos for law enforcement, first responders, care attendants, and others.

Autism Society and Autism Society of Texas provide information on autism spectrum disorder, treatment, research, services, legal information, and advocacy.

Autism Speaks Family Services Challenging Behaviors Toolkit provides strategies and resources for families and care attendants.

Big Red Safety Toolkit is three digital safety toolkits for care attendants, teachers, and first responders, as well as information regarding autism-related wandering. https://nationalautismassociation.org/big-red-safety-box/

National Autism Association’s Autism Safety Site is a National Autism Association resource on wandering, restraint and seclusion, bullying, and suicide prevention.

Recognizing and Preventing Sexual Abuse provides information about signs of sexual abuse in people with disabilities with autism spectrum disorder, talking to people with disabilities, and resources.

ASLApp for Apple and Android phones provides information to learn basic conversational signs to converse with people with disabilities.

Association of Late Deafened Adults https://alda.org/

Ava app is useful for people with disabilities who are comfortable with English. It types what is being spoken into the phone into text for the Deaf person to read.

Explanation of the use/role of Certified Deaf Interpreters

Facts on Trauma and Deaf People with disabilities includes 10 pages of tips on working people with disabilities who are Deaf who have experienced trauma.

Frequently asked questions provides information on Deaf culture.

National Association for the Deaf HTTPS://www.nad.org/

Texas Association for the Deaf HTTPS://www.txad.org

Texas Health and Human Services for Deaf and Hard of Hearing provides referrals and resources on interpreting and other services.

Texas School for the Deaf includes a residential school, a counseling program, behavior specialists, and an ACCESS Program that helps post-high school Deaf students (18-22 years old) develop practical real-world skills in employment and independent living.

American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD): https://www.aaidd.org/intellectual-disability/definition

The Arc – Texas. Information and resources for families and people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

The Arc (for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities). This national organization supports, provides services, and information for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families, as well as information for educators, advocates, and others.

Easterseals shares links to Texas affiliates that offer local services for people with disabilities.

Relay Texas offers speech-to-speech translation over the phone for people with speech disabilities. Call 711 or 877.826.6608 (Speech-to-Speech/Voice Carry-Over). Calls are answered first come first served.

Communication Boards: Communication with Symbols: https://www.sayitwithsymbols.com

American Psychiatric Association Answer Center. 1.888.357.7924 – Live operators are available from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. EST to refer you to a local board-certified psychiatrist.

American Psychological Association Public Education Line, 1.800.964.2000, will refer you to a board-certified psychologist. See: https://www.apa.org/

Anxiety and Depression Association of America has information about mental health conditions for people with disabilities.

Mental Health America has resources and supports for people with disabilities with mental health conditions. https://mhanational.org/

National Alliance on Mental Illness has resources and supports for people with mental health conditions and their families. See: https://www.nami.org/

National Alliance on Mental Illness, Texas shares educational and support programs for people with mental health conditions, families, friends, professionals, and the community.

National Council for Mental Wellbeing helps you locate mental health and addictions treatment in your community. See: https://www.thenationalcouncil.org/

NIMH (National Institutes of Mental Health) includes information on specific conditions, treatment, research, and resources. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/

People with disabilities Mind Institute People with disabilities Mind Institute provides information on specific disorders and concerns, as well as guides for managing medications, finding care, and more. See: https://mcsn.mindinstitutes.com/

Social Anxiety Association provides resources for one of the largest mental health conditions.