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GCPD Reports

2023 Texas Governor's Committee on People with Disabilities Policy Recommendations Report for the 88th Texas Legislature

Download 2024-2025 GCPD Biennial Policy Recommendations for the 88th Legislature in PDF Format

2023 GCPD Guardianship Policy Recommendations

Download 2023 GCPD Guardianship Policy Recommendations Report in PDF Format

2022 Educational Interpreters for Students who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing

This report shares GCPD's 2022 survey results on challenges facing hiring and retention of Educational Interpreters for K-12 students who are Deaf or hard of hearing.

Download 2022-2023 Policy Recommendations Report in PDF Format

2020 Report on Support Service Providers/Co-Navigators (SSP/CNs)

DeafBlindness is a combination of sight and hearing loss that not only affects a person’s ability to communicate or access information, but may also require significant adaptive strategies in order for the individual to maintain independence. The use of a Support Service Provider/Co-Navigator (SSP/CN) is critical to help the estimated 2,486 DeafBlind Texans over the age of 18 lead more independent lives.

An SSP/CN is an individual trained to act as a link between persons who are DeafBlind and their environment. They typically work with a single individual and serve as a guide and communication facilitator, relaying visual and environmental information. SSP/CNs are specially trained professionals who communicate with American Sign Language and enable people who are DeafBlind to make informed decisions. Common tasks performed by an SSP/CN include helping a person who is DeafBlind attend a medical appointment, participate in a public meeting, shop at a grocery store, or read their mail. In Texas, SSP/CNs are usually volunteers. The GCPD’s “2020 Report on Support Service Providers/Co-Navigators” recommends the establishment of a State SSP/CN Program to meet the critical needs of Texans who are DeafBlind.

2018-2019 Report on Texas Service Animal Issues and Proposed Solutions

In 2018 the Governor’s Committee on People with Disabilities (GCPD) established a workgroup to gather information and develop solutions to address concerns surrounding service animals. This report summarizes information gathered by the Committee on concerns and experiences related to interactions of people with disabilities and businesses, informs on how state and federal laws provide civil rights protections to people with disabilities, and provides guidance to policy makers on making potential changes to state laws.

This report is intended to clarify:

  • the difference between the terms “service animal” and “assistance animal”;
  • how service animals are used and where they are permitted to be used;
  • penalties for misrepresenting a dog as a service animal; and
  • the challenges faced by people with disabilities and law enforcement.

Finally, this report contains GCPD’s recommendations for needed changes in Texas law to address enforcement challenges.

2018-2019 GCPD Service Animal Report in PDF format

2018-2019 GCPD Service Animal Report in Word format

Interim Study

During the 83rd Legislative Session, HB 1545 was passed which required the Governor’s Committee on People with Disabilities (GCPD) to conduct an interim study regarding the use of certain public transportation services by people with disabilities. Specifically, the Committee was tasked with the responsibility to identify:

  • The feasibility of standardizing the process of certifying an individual’s eligibility for services in the state; and
  • Whether the current 21-day provision of services by a provider is adequate to meet the needs of visitors with disabilities to locations served by the provider.

Data Collection

The Committee conducted two web-based surveys (one for paratransit providers, and one for Texans with disabilities), and held an accessible public hearing at the State Capitol on the charges of the interim study. The online surveys, in English and Spanish, were sent out through various virtual channels including emails lists and a GovDelivery format. There were 568 Texans who self-identified as a person with a disability who provided input for the Paratransit Rider survey. In addition, we received input from 266 Texans who indicated they do not have a disability but were familiar with paratransit services. A number of these responses came from family members, disability advocates, or professionals in the field of disability issues. The Committee heard from 13 people at the public hearing in July of 2014. The subsequent data analysis and report was submitted on January 1, 2015 as required by HB 1545.

The interim report is available in an accessible Word version and as a PDF:

Interim Report: A Study Regarding the Use of Certain Public Transportation Services by Persons with Disabilities in Word format

Interim Report: A Study Regarding the Use of Certain Public Transportation Services by Persons with Disabilities in PDF format

A Review of Accessible Parking for Persons with Disabilities in Texas

Interim Report Prepared for Members of 85th Texas Legislature:  

Read A Review of Accessible Parking for Persons with Disabilities in Microsoft Word format

Read A Review of Accessible Parking for Persons with Disabilities in PDF format