Tuesday, November 5, is Election Day. This is your opportunity to vote for the people and issues you support. Read the information below to make sure you’re ready to vote in-person on Election Day.

Who can vote?

Anyone who is registered to vote on Election Day can vote. If you registered to vote, you should have received a Voter Registration Certificate in the mail 30 days after registering. If you aren’t sure if you’re registered, you can check on the My Voter Portal.

What am I voting on?

This election includes races for federal, state, and local offices, and possibly specific local issues (called “propositions”). See your sample ballot so you know what to expect when you fill out your ballot.

Where do I vote?

It depends on where you’re registered to vote. In some counties, you can vote at any polling place in the county, while in other counties, you can only vote at the polling place assigned to you. Contact your county elections office to find out where you can vote.

When do I vote?

Polling places will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, November 5.

How do I vote?

• Transportation: Make sure you have a way to get to your polling place and see our Find a Ride Guide to learn about some of your transportation options.
• Identification (ID): You’ll have to provide one of the accepted forms of ID to vote.
• Accommodations: You have a right to accommodations so voting is accessible for you. This could include things like curbside voting, moving to the front of the line, using a special voting device, getting help with your ballot, and more.

Need help?

If you have questions regarding voting, or if you feel that any of your voting rights have been violated, please contact the Disability Rights Texas Voter Hotline at 1-888-796-VOTE (8683) or e-mail vote@drtx.org.

In recognition of Pro Bono Appreciation Week, we are highlighting our pro bono law firm partners and community organizations that have continued to support us in 2024:

• AT&T Legal Department
• Ahmad, Zavitsanos & Mensing PLLC
• Baker McKenzie
• Bank of America Legal Department
• Dell Legal Department
• Dentons
• DLA Piper
• Dykema
• Eversheds Sutherland
• Jones Day
• JPMorgan Chase
• Kirkland & Ellis
• Lone Star Legal Aid
• McDermott Will & Emery
• McGuireWoods
• Perkins Coie
• Reed Smith
• Shell Oil Legal Department
• Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton
• Sidley Austin
• Susman Godfrey
• TDECU Legal Department
• The ARC of Texas
• The Buzbee Law Firm
• The Impact Fund
• TOTAL Energies Inc Legal Department
• Verrill Dana LLP
• Vinson & Elkins
• Winston & Strawn
• Wright Close & Barger
• Yetter Coleman

Our thanks to our pro bono law firm partners and community organizations for their work and dedication to protecting the rights of Texans with disabilities.

In recognition of Pro Bono Appreciation Week, we are highlighting some of the victories that wouldn’t have been possible without our pro bono partners. This is the third of four posts we’ll publish this week.

Special education administrative matter – J.J. v Richardson ISD (TEA complaint)

DRTx special education attorneys, along with pro bono co-counsel from Kirkland & Ellis, filed an administrative appeal on behalf of a student in Richardson ISD when the student’s civil rights were violated by the use of unlawful restraint against the student.

Richardson ISD failed to comply with the Texas Administrative Code when restraining the student resulting in physical and emotional injuries and harm. Richardson ISD’s policies, practices, and customs violated the student’s rights, and continue to violate the rights of other students under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and under Texas state law.

Ryan Melde, Jamieson Knoph, Jacqueline Scioli, and Anna Rotman, all of Kirkland & Ellis, advocated for the rights of this student – and continue to work pro bono to resolve this matter and improve Richardson ISD’s compliance with State and Federal law.

See our special education resources.

Our thanks to Kirkland & Ellis for making this victory for Richardson students with disabilities possible.

In recognition of Pro Bono Appreciation Week, we are highlighting some of the victories that wouldn’t have been possible without our pro bono partners. This is the second of four posts we’ll publish this week.

The Austin ISD SPED Case- J.R. et al v. AISD Cause No. 1:21-CV-00279

On March 29, 2021, Disability Rights Texas on behalf of several individual plaintiffs filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas challenging the Austin Independent School District’s (AISD) failure to timely evaluate students for eligibility for special education resources under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

The plaintiffs alleged that an estimated 800 students were on a waiting list for initial evaluations, and twice as many students were late for their triennial reevaluations; due in large part to a shortage of school psychologists and lapses in services during the COVID-19 pandemic. AISD’s inaction violated both the IDEA and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

David Peterson, a partner at Susman Godfrey, co-counseled this matter with the DRTx special education attorneys pro bono and achieved a $4 million dollar settlement outcome for the plaintiffs and all of the special education students in AISD. Because of their zealous advocacy – thousands of children in Austin will now be evaluated properly and timely for special education services – and hundreds will receive necessary compensatory services. This outstanding outcome would not have been possible without the tireless and unlimited pro bono support of Susman Godfrey and David Peterson.

Learn more about this case and see our special education resources.

Our thanks to Susman Godfrey partner David Peterson for making this victory for Austin students with disabilities possible.

In recognition of Pro Bono Appreciation Week, we are highlighting some of the victories that wouldn’t have been possible without our pro bono partners. This is the first of four posts we’ll publish this week.

The Voting Rights Case – Johnson et al v Bexar Co Cause No. SA-22-CV-00409-XR

On April 27, 2022, three visually impaired individuals and two non-profit organizations comprising visually impaired and otherwise disabled Texans—all of whom were eligible and wanted to vote by mail in secret and free from intimidation—filed suit against Defendant Jacquelyn F. Callanen, in her official capacity as the Bexar County Elections Administrator, and Defendant Bexar County, Texas. Plaintiffs were unable to vote by mail, in secret, and free from intimidation—because Defendants provided mail-in ballots to eligible voters in paper form only. Voting by mail in Bexar County was inaccessible to blind or low-vision voters, and other voters with disabilities that prevented them from marking a paper ballot.

William Logan, Jason Rudoff, Katy Preston, Rachel Thompson, and Michael Murphy, all of Winston & Strawn, along with co-counsel Eve Hill of Brown, Goldstein & Levy, litigated this case on behalf of the plaintiffs and all Texans with visual impairments and other disabilities that prevent them from completing a paper ballot. The DRTx attorneys, along with the zealous trial advocacy of all of the pro bono volunteer lawyers, obtained a phenomenal result for the Plaintiffs. As one of the most pivotal elections in American history approaches – DRTx and our pro bono partners have secured the rights of millions of Texans with disabilities to exercise their right to vote without barriers or obstruction.

The National Disability Rights Network (NDRN) recently honored DRTx with the advocacy award for our relentless work in advancing the rights of Texans with disabilities to vote. Read more about the 2024 NDRN voting rights advocacy award and see our voting rights resources.

Our thanks to Winston & Strawn and Brown, Goldstein & Levy for making this victory for Texans with disabilities possible.

If you’ve been anywhere near a TV, radio, or even your own mailbox lately, you probably know we are in the midst of an election season. But are you ready to vote? Below are some important dates and other things to keep in mind so you can participate in the election if you are eligible.

Key dates:

• Deadline to register to vote: October 7
• Early voting starts: October 21
• Deadline to apply for a ballot by mail: October 25
• Early voting ends: November 1
• Election Day: November 5

Other things to help you prepare:

• Are you registered to vote? If you aren’t, learn how to get registered.
• If your info has changed since you last voted, update your name and/or address.
• Do you have the right kind of ID to vote? If you don’t have a photo ID, learn how people with disabilities may be able to get an exemption.
• Find out what you’ll be voting on by reviewing your sample ballot before you head to the polls.

Voting resources

Did you know we have voting resources to help eligible voters with disabilities participate in elections? Learn about your voting rights, alternative voting options, how to find a ride to the polls, and more. We also have voting videos in ASL.

Voting help

If you need assistance in registering to vote, if you have questions regarding voting, or if you feel that any of your voting rights have been violated, please contact the Disability Rights Texas Voter Hotline at 1-888-796-VOTE (8683) or e-mail vote@drtx.org.

Find a Ride Guide

Do you want to vote in the November 2024 election but need a ride to the polls? If you do, our Find a Ride Guide (Excel) may be able to help. The guide was put together by Disability Rights Texas (DRTx) staff and it includes information about different transportation options you can consider this election season. The Find a Ride Guide includes information about:

• public transportation,
• paratransit,
• taxis,
• rideshares,
• Uber and Lyft, and
• more.

For the transportation types listed above, the guide includes things like the names of transportation providers, phone numbers, websites, fares, accessibility options, etc.

The Find a Ride Guide is a spreadsheet. To access the guide, you need to download the file and open it in Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets.

 

Download the Find a Ride Guide

 

The Find a Ride Guide is provided as a resource for people with disabilities and others to reference. The information in the guide was current at the time of publication, so you should verify the information with the transportation provider you are considering. DRTx does not provide or arrange rides to polling sites.

Need help?

If you are not able to use the Find a Ride Guide, we may be able to help. Fill out a Find a Ride Form and DRTx staff will relay the information provided in the guide.

You can also get help finding a ride by calling our Voting Rights Hotline at 1-888-796-VOTE (8683) or by sending an email vote@DRTX.org.

 

By Steven Aleman, Education Policy Specialist at DRTx

August in Texas means extremely hot weather and of course, back to school. It also means some changes in how public schools deliver special education services.

The Texas State Board of Education (SBOE) and Texas Education Agency (TEA) have several new rules going into effect in the 2024-25 school year related to students with disabilities.

New SBOE rules impacting students with dyslexia and related disorders include:

• School interventions and services to students with dyslexia are considered special education services and therefore these students should qualify under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
• Schools are required to involve school personnel with expertise on dyslexia in the evaluation of a student suspected of dyslexia, and in the planning of services.
• More detailed direction of which school personnel may be considered as having expertise on dyslexia and whether a teaching certificate is required.

New TEA rules related to educating students with disabilities in special education include:

• For students referred and evaluated for special ed services during the summer, the deadline for the ARD (Admission, Review, and Dismissal) committee to have a written IEP (Individual Education Plan) has changed from the first school day of the school year to the 15^th.
• The eligibility category of “emotional disturbance” was renamed to “emotional disability.”
• The eligibility category of “learning disability” was revised to clarify that students with dyslexia and related disorders fall within this category.
• A more meaningful definition of what annual goals in an IEP should contain and cover was provided.
• The IEP supplement for students with autism was enhanced by adding new elements for ARD committees to consider and address.
• ARD committees are required to start addressing federal transition planning requirements when a student reaches age 14, rather than at age 16.

For more information about issues happening at schools across the state that may impact your child, see our August 2024 Back to School E-Newsletter. And remember that we have several education rights resources on our website including our comprehensive IDEA manual to help you advocate for your student.

Disability Rights Texas, alongside The Arc of the United States, The Arc of Texas, and the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, has joined with Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP to file a “friend-of-the-court” brief in a significant death penalty case before the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals. The brief aims to safeguard individuals with intellectual disability from unconstitutional executions by advocating for the use of scientific criteria over outdated stereotypes in determining intellectual disability.

The brief, which centers on the case of current death row inmate Blaine Milam, emphasizes that accurate identification of intellectual disability is crucial in ensuring justice, particularly in capital cases. The brief also underscores that courts must adhere to clinical standards rather than relying on misconceptions that can lead to unjust outcomes.

The brief seeks to reinforce already-established legal protections, thus advocating for a more just and equitable judicial approach for individuals with intellectual disabilities facing the death penalty.

We are excited to learn that we have received this year’s National Disability Rights Network (NDRN) Advocacy Award for our work on behalf of voters with disabilities in Texas.

An email from Marlene Sallo, NDRN Executive Director, said:

I am very excited to reach out and let you know that it is my pleasure to inform you that Disability Rights Texas has been awarded the NDRN Advocacy Award for your work on behalf of voters with disabilities in Texas.

Disability Rights Texas has shown extraordinary leadership by investigating the accessibility of county election websites throughout the state and determining that most of the websites were in noncompliance. These efforts led the Department of Justice to initiate its own investigation which supported your findings. Bravo!

I know that you are very proud of the diligent work of DRTx’s voting team, attorneys, and staff and the results of their work: improved access to accessible ballots on behalf of voters who are blind or who have print disabilities and amicus support for lawsuits seeking to improve access to mail-in ballot drop boxes.

DRTx’s persistent and creative approach to voting rights and access has allowed many voters with disabilities to vote privately and independently for the first time. Your efforts are a model for the entire P&A/CAP network.

For these reasons and more, we’re so happy to be able to honor your work this year.