Special Needs Parenting :: Texas TEA SPED Document for HB 1188
On May 27, 2025, Governor Greg Abbott signed HB 1188 (The Caytlin Handley Act) into law. This new law requires public schools to provide information about public benefits, including Medicaid Waiver Programs, along with contact information for the student's Local IDD Authority, to the families of student with an intellectual or developmental disability. Prior to this bill, named after Boyd and Carey Handley's daughter Caytlin, schools were not required to do this until the adult transition planning meeting when the student was 14 years old. HB 1188 started immediately, in the 2025-2026 school year.
The Texas Education Agency (TEA) and The Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) were tasked with creating a document to be given to parent or guardians of students qualifying for Special Education on the basis of having an intellectual or developmental disability. Here is the link to the Texas SPED website where this document is located in English and Spanish. There are helpful links (QR codes) to information about qualifying conditions for Special Education and information about the various Waiver Programs.
https://spedsupport.tea.texas.gov/resource-library/connecting-community-supports
This document is to be given to parents or guardians at the first ARD (Admission, Review, and Dismissal) meeting after diagnosis of an intellectual or developmental disability.