Cool
Cuts 4 Kids
547
B. Mason Road
Katy,
TX 77450
281-829-2880
Cool Cuts 4 Kids
Martha Sillero, experienced with working with kids on the spectrum
5110 Buffalo Speedway
Houston, TX 77005
713-661-0214
Great
Clips Salon
Bayhill
location
1450
W. Grand Parkway
281-392-1110
IslandGirl
Glitz & Glam Hair Salon
Velda
Cook, 832-498-0617
deislandgirl9@yahoo.com
Specializing
in Braids/Extensions, Children's Hair Styling and Care, Haircuts,
Locks, Long Hair, Natural Hair, Relaxers, Twists, and Weaves.
Jessica, stylist
Will come to you
281-210-6862
beautiful_spirit87@yahoo.com
Karen
Busfield, Stylist
Karen
will come to your home
281-599-0702
Katy Barber Shop
Bernice & Angelo Barreto, owners
5827 Highway Blvd.
Katy, TX 77494
281-391-0405
Ms. Shirley, hairstylist
She will come to your home
832-707-2718
Snip-its Katy Salon
6501 S. Fry Road, Suite 200
Katy, TX 77450
Grand Lakes Market Place (located near Whole Foods Market & Carraba's)
281-574-1555
Estate Planning, Financial Planning, Trust and Tax for Special Needs:
Archer
Consulting Group
Kimberly
Salerno
1717
St. James Place, Suite 205
Houston, Texas 77056
713-572-1717
http://archercare.com/
They
help families, caregivers, professional advisors; companies and
support organizations navigate the special needs world with
confidence and they take the guesswork out of difficult decisions.
Consolidated Planning Group
Allison Schaberg
19901 Southwest Freeway
Sugar Land, TX 77479
281-690-1177
https://www.consolidatedplanninggroup.com/
Financial Advisor Allison Schaberg specializes in helping families with special needs children with disabilities plan for the future. She can answer your questions; for example, How do I protect my government benefits? When do I need a Supplemental/Special Needs Trust, Guardianship or a Supported Decision-Making Agreement? Allison shares a common bond - she is a parent of children with special needs. She has been working with families to plan for the lifelong needs of their family member with a disability for more than 25 years.
Michele K. Goldberg
Frost Bank Building
6750 West Loop South, Suite 615
Bellaire, Texas 77401
713-218-8800
E-mail: lawmkg@sbcglobal.net
Houston Attorney Michele K. Goldberg established her practice in 1995 to provide legal services of the highest quality to her clients focusing primarily on Probate Law, Estate Planning, Elder Law, Guardianships, long-term planning for the special needs community including assistance with government benefits, and Family Law. Additionally, Ms. Goldberg frequently consults with family law attorneys in Houston concerning protecting the rights of special needs children and spouses with disabilities.
David Hudson
Chartered Special Needs Consultant, CFP
713-298-0076
John D. Hunter
Field Director
Northwestern Mutual
1 Riverway, Suite 900
Houston, TX 77056-2043
281-583-4334
http://www.johnhunter-nm.com/
As a Northwestern Mutual Financial Network Representative, in all situations he will make those recommendations which he would do for himself and his family if faced with a similar situation. By matching your needs with innovative solutions utilizing world-class insurance services and internationally recognized investment products, he will do his best to help you protect and provide for those people you care about most. He will work hard to build a relationship with you based on trust and integrity, always striving to provide you with the same level of ethical service that he would expect for himself.
Hayes
& Wilson, PLLC
Lori
Noack-May
2525
North Loop West, Suite 125
Houston,
TX 77008
713-880-3939
http://www.hayeswilsonlaw.com/
Attorneys-guardianship,
special needs planning, probate, and estate planning services.
Hegwood and Associates, P.C.
Kim Hegwood, Attorney & Counselor at Law
Main office: 950 Gemini, Suite 6
Houston, TX 77058
281-218-0880
Galleria Office
1330 Post Oak Blvd, Suite 1600
Houston, Texas 77056
Phone: 877-902-6020
http://www.hegwoodlaw.com/
Dedicated Attorneys, Effective Results, Experienced Supplemental/Special Needs Trust Attorney, Estate Planning. We know that choosing a lawyer can be an overwhelming task. You want to be certain that your most intimate legal matters are being handled by a professional who truly cares about you and your situation. Additional offices located in surrounding communities.
Law Office of Eduardo T. Saucedo
2006 Commonwealth Street
Houston, Texas 77006
713-481-1422
http://www.estatelawhouston.com/index.html
Provides legal representation to parents of children with special needs in matters related to education, guardianship law and special needs planning.
LPL Financial
David R. Hudson, CFP, ChSNC (Certified Financial Planner and Chartered Special Needs Consultant)
Investment Advisor Representative
22503 Katy Freeway, Suite 52
Katy, TX 77450
713-298-0076
dhudsonl@lpl.com
The Filis Law Firm, PC
Leona E. Filis
Post Office Box 801144
Houston, Texas 77280
832-409-ATTY or 832-713-8LAW
The goal of this firm is helping families with children with special needs in areas including Special Education Law, Family Law, Probate/Trusts, and Guardianship. The people who make up this firm want to guide you regarding the prioritization of legal issues to address, such as whether a Medicaid trust is right for you and your child. Focus is on the legal services of families with children with special needs. Frequently travels to clients’ homes when a disability makes the clients’ travel difficult.
http://www.houstonspecialneedsattorneys.com/, email: lfilis@houstonspecialneedsattorneys.com
Makris Law Firm, P.C.
9898 Bissonnet Street, Suite 100
Houston, TX 77036
888-228-5663
http://www.houstonsocialsecuritydisabilityattorney.com/
The attorneys of Makris Law Firm advocate for individuals with disabilities and their families in the process of winning social security disability benefits.
Wealth Mentors
5100 Westheimer Road, Suite 200
Houston, TX 77056
713-568-4631
http://www.wmentors.com/services.php
Financial Planning and Investment Management firm specializing in creating solutions for parents and guardians of special needs children that incorporate estate planning, trusts and government benefits.
Insurance:
(information on the laws covering autism treatment)
Looking for an insurance broker? Here are two several families in the area have used:
Farrell Financial
Jason Farrell
512-330-1837 (work)
512-826-6287 (cell)
Email: farrellfinanical@gmail.com
Hipson Investments, LLC
Justin Boulet, Vice President
2000 S. Dairy Ashford, Suite 480
Houston, TX 77077
281-493-6862
Health
insurance coverage benefits for autism related treatment was passed
with the signing of House Bills 1919 in 2007 & HB 451 in 2009 by
Governor Rick Perry. Only state regulated fully insured group health
plans MUST comply. Those Federally regulated, self-funded plans
can choose to use it as a guideline but most do not; they simply deny
coverage because they are not mandated by the state of Texas Dept. of
Insurance. Employment-related group health plans that provide
benefits through insurance are known as fully insured group health
plans. Employment-related group health plans that pay for coverage
directly, without purchasing health insurance from an issuer, are
called self-funded group health plans. If you don’t know which you
have, contact your plan administrator to find out if your group
coverage is fully insured or self-funded and if autism coverage is
included in your plan.
In
2007 Gov. Rick Perry signed HB 1919 requiring insurance companies to
pay for medically necessary autism therapies for children between the
ages of 3 and 5.
In 2009 the bill was expanded (HB451),
requiring insurance companies to provide therapies for kids under the
age of 10. The law went into effect on January 1, 2010.
The Texas Autism Insurance Act covers all generally recognized services prescribed in relation to autism spectrum disorder by the enrollee’s primary care physician in the treatment plan recommended by that physician.
Generally recognized services may include:
Evaluation and assessment services;
Applied behavior analysis;
Behavior training and behavior management;
Speech therapy;
Occupational therapy;
Physical therapy;
Medications or nutritional supplements used to address symptoms of autism spectrum disorder.
Visit the following links for more information:
House Bill 1919 http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/tlodocs/80R/billtext/html/HB01919F.htm –The bill was passed in 2007 and mandates that fully insurance companies recognize disorders on the autism spectrum.
House
Bill 451 –
http://www.legis.state.tx.us/Search/DocViewer.aspx?K2DocKey=odbc://TLO/TLO.dbo.vwCurrBillDocs/81/R/H/B/00451/5/B@TloCurrBillDocs&QueryText=hb%20451&HighlightType=1
–This
bill was passed in 2009 and expands the age range for fully insured program insurance
coverage.
During the 83rd Texas Legislative Session, two new bills were passed and signed into law by Governor Rick Perry on June 14, 2013.
SB 1484 Relating to health benefit plan coverage for enrollees diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. Current statute mandates that state health plans cover generally recognized services for children with autism from age of diagnosis until 10 years old. This bill amends statute to require health plans to provide generally recognized autism services to anybody diagnosed before age 10, regardless of current age. A floor amendment was adopted in the Senate to limit coverage of applied behavior analysis to $36,000 annually for enrollees 10 years of age and older.
SB 3276 Relating to the coverage by certain health benefit plans for the screening and treatment of autism spectrum disorder. Requires that, at a minimum, any state health insurance plan must provide coverage for an autism screening for a child at the ages of 18 and 24 months. This bill also expands the pool of eligible screening providers by allowing people acting under the supervision of a physician to screen children for autism.
House
Bill 192 –
http://www.legis.state.tx.us/Search/DocViewer.aspx?K2DocKey=odbc://TLO/TLO.dbo.vwCurrBillDocs/81/R/H/B/00192/5/B@TloCurrBillDocs&QueryText=hb%20192&HighlightType=1
–This
bill passed in 2009 and excuses a temporary absence from school for a
student diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder for an appointment
with their health care practitioner.
There is some great information regarding insurance issues at the TACA (Talking About Curing Autism) website:
http://www.tacanow.org/family-resources/insurance-coverage-on-a-budget/
http://www.tacanow.org/family-resources/appealing-insurance-claim-denials/
ABA
Insurance Coverage,
this info is from parents who have been successful at having
insurance pay for ABA, here are their comments: “Provider billed in
15 minute increments. One unit = 15 minutes. CPT code was 96152.
Description was Health and Behavior Intervention. Cost was $16.25 per
unit (15 minutes). Insurance eventually covered 70% after we met the
deductible. If they have been paying then suddenly deny it, email
them, ask them to review it, and give them a claim # to refer to
where they have already processed it correctly, and they should
correct it. They did require the provider (who was out of network) to
call them and get an authorization number first for 6 months at a
time. Before this we were using CPT code H2019. Description was ABA
Therapy. With that, they only paid 70% of a tiny little "allowable"
amount. They were only "allowing" around $8 per 15 minute
unit and just paying 70% of it.”
CPT Codes some families have used
are:
96152 Health & Behavior Intervention – Individual
90806 INDIVIDUAL MENTAL HEALTH THERAPY 45-50 min = 4 15-min units
90808 INDIVIDUAL MENTAL HEALTH THERAPY 75-80 min = 6 15-min units.
97532
Cognitive
skills development, each 15 minutes
H2019
Therapeutic Behavioral Services, per 15 minute
Helpful listing of DX and CPT codes: http://www.tacanow.org/family-resources/billing-codes-that-work/
Tax Strategies for Parents of Kids with Special Needs – Updated for Obamacare—http://www.tacanow.org/family-resources/tax-strategies-for-parents-of-kids-with-special-needs/
KEY FACTS ABOUT THE ACA
Pre-Existing Conditions: Insurance companies are prohibited from denying coverage—or charging higher premiums-- due to preexisting conditions, including autism. The ability to deny based upon preexisting condition went into effect for children under age 19 on Sept. 23, 2010. It begins for adults over age 19, and prohibits charging higher premiums based on preexisting conditions, beginning on Jan. 1, 2014. This law extends to both new and existing insurance policies. The only exception is "grandfathered" individual policies (policies purchased on or before Mar. 23, 2010 directly from the insurer, not through an employer).
Children covered until age 26: Children can now stay on their parents' health plan until age 26, whether or not they are a full-time student. This holds the potential for adults with ASD, who are not eligible for Medicare or Medicaid, to receive covered therapies from their parents' health insurance for longer. Adults with significant disabilities who remain financially dependent on their parents beyond age 26 can petition to stay on their parents' plans beyond age 26.
End of Lifetime/Annual Coverage Caps: If your child is receiving weekly therapies ongoing, they are likely to reach your insurer's annual or lifetime cap. Under the ACA, insurance companies can no longer impose lifetime or annual benefit caps. However, insurers may still cap individual benefits, such as limiting the number of speech or physical therapy sessions in a calendar year. In California insurers may not cap individual benefits such as limiting the number of speech or physical therapy sessions, if the treatment is for an autism spectrum disorder. Due to the Wellstone Domenici Federal Mental Health Parity Act of 2008, visit limits for mental health services cannot be imposed if they are not also imposed on at least two-thirds of all other treatments for other conditions (unless the plan is grandfathered). This applies to self-insured plans, as well.
Free Autism Screening: Under the ACA, insurers must cover certain preventive care--including autism screening--without charging a copayment, coinsurance or deductible.
Autism Coverage Varies From State to State
Q: Will all insurance plans sold in the state Marketplaces include autism treatment such as applied behavioral analysis?
A: It depends on the state where you live. In 24 states plus Washington, D.C., insurance carriers will cover behavioral health treatments that include autism treatments like applied behavioral analysis.
Q: In which state Marketplaces will autism treatments like applied behavioral analysis be included in coverage?
A: Arizona, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Texas, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Washington, D.C., will have autism coverage. Colorado will have coverage, but insurers can limit the number of visits.
Q: In the states that are providing coverage of autism treatment, is this availability a significant step in terms of helping families get treatment?
A: It does expand the possibility of treatment, but the out-of-pocket costs may still be too high for some families. Depending on the individual insurance plan and its co-pays, starting in 2015 a family may still have to pay up to the out-of-pocket cap of $12,700 for treatment. The fact that some states are requiring autism coverage is "a positive, but treatment may still be out of reach for a lot of families," says Doreen Granpeesheh, PhD, executive director of the Center for Autism and Related Disorders, a worldwide treatment provider headquartered in Los Angeles.
Q: If I don’t have insurance, how much can autism treatments cost?
A: An hour of autism therapy can cost about $40. Depending upon the severity of the disorder and the number of hours a patient needs for therapy, the cost can range from $10,000 to $70,000 a year.
Q: Besides potentially getting coverage for autism treatment, in what other ways does the new law help parents of children with autism?
A: The law requires all insurance plans to pay for preventive health services for children. Included in that benefit are two autism screenings: one at 18 months old and another at 24 months old. Further, insurers are required to pay for five behavioral assessments for children between infancy and 17 years of age. The insurer cannot ask for a copay or coinsurance fee for any of these services.
Kelley Filice Jensen is a certified health insurance broker in the state of California and the mother of a 14-year-old son on the autism spectrum. She offers some tips: When shopping for health insurance plans, a higher price often means a bigger network of providers. Spending more money will often give you a greater breadth of providers and experts to choose from. If you have a provider that you adore, ask them what plans they accept and shop from those plans. You can shop yourself on a state or federal marketplace, or you can shop through a certified agent. Agents get paid directly from the carriers and the service is free to the consumer. If you have more questions, or you would like more help, please feel free to contact her at (408) 350-5763 (California).
PRIVATE PLANS/SELF-INSURED PLANS EXEMPT FROM ACA
Many ACA reforms do not apply to grandfathered plans and employer-sponsored plans that were in effect prior to March 23, 2010. Employer-sponsored coverage that companies fund themselves, sometimes known as ERISA plans, are also exempt from some important ACA provisions. Check with your employer or call the number on the back of your card and ask if you plan is self-insured. If it is, you'll need to read the detailed summary plan description to find out which benefits are and are not covered.
Tex. Insurance Code § 1355.015 (2007 Tex. Gen. Laws, Chap. 877; HB 1919 of 2007:, Fiscal Note)
Requires a health benefit plan to provide coverage for all generally recognized services prescribed in relation to autism spectrum disorder by the enrollee's primary care physician in the treatment plan recommended by the physician. The law defines "generally recognized services" to include applied behavior analysis; speech, occupational and physical therapy; medications or nutritional supplements; and other treatments. This coverage may be subject to annual deductibles, copayments and coinsurance that are consistent with annual deductibles, copayments and coinsurance required for other coverage under the health benefit plan. 2009 Tex. Gen. Laws, Chap. 1107 (House Bill 451) amended the law to specify that a health benefit plan must provide coverage to an enrollee who is diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder from the date of diagnosis until the enrollee completes nine years of age. The law previously required coverage to an enrollee older than two years of age and younger than six years of age. The law was amended removing the age cap (House Bill 1484 http://www.legis.state.tx.us/tlodocs/83R/billtext/html/SB01484F.HTM), effective September 1, 2013 ((c-1) The health benefit plan is not required to provide coverage under Subsection (b) for benefits for an enrollee 10 years of age or older for applied behavior analysis in an amount that exceeds $36,000 per year). This is the language in the bill;
Sec. 1355.015. REQUIRED COVERAGE FOR CERTAIN ENROLLEES.
Text of subsection as amended by Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1070 (H.B. 3276), Sec. 1
(a) At a minimum, a health benefit plan must provide coverage for screening a child for autism spectrum disorder at the ages of 18 and 24 months.
Text of subsection as amended by Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1359 (S.B. 1484), Sec. 1
(a) At a minimum, a health benefit plan must provide coverage as provided by this section to an enrollee who is diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder from the date of diagnosis, only if the diagnosis was in place prior to the child's 10th birthday.
(a-1) At a minimum, a health benefit plan must provide coverage for treatment of autism spectrum disorder as provided by this section to an enrollee who is diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder from the date of diagnosis until the enrollee completes nine years of age. If an enrollee who is being treated for autism spectrum disorder becomes 10 years of age or older and continues to need treatment, this subsection does not preclude coverage of treatment and services described by Subsection (b).
(b) The health benefit plan must provide coverage under this section to the enrollee for all generally recognized services prescribed in relation to autism spectrum disorder by the enrollee's primary care physician in the treatment plan recommended by that physician. An individual providing treatment prescribed under this subsection must be:
(1) a health care practitioner:
(A) who is licensed, certified, or registered by an appropriate agency of this state;
(B) whose professional credential is recognized and accepted by an appropriate agency of the United States; or
(C) who is certified as a provider under the TRICARE military health system; or
(2) an individual acting under the supervision of a health care practitioner described by Subdivision (1).
(c) For purposes of Subsection (b), "generally recognized services" may include services such as:
(1) evaluation and assessment services;
(2) applied behavior analysis;
(3) behavior training and behavior management;
(4) speech therapy;
(5) occupational therapy;
(6) physical therapy; or
(7) medications or nutritional supplements used to address symptoms of autism spectrum disorder.
(c-1) The health benefit plan is not required to provide coverage under Subsection (b) for benefits for an enrollee 10 years of age or older for applied behavior analysis in an amount that exceeds $36,000 per year.
(d) Coverage under Subsection (b) may be subject to annual deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance that are consistent with annual deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance required for other coverage under the health benefit plan.
(e) Notwithstanding any other law, this section does not apply to a standard health benefit plan provided under Chapter 1507.
Text of subsection as added by Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1070 (H.B. 3276), Sec. 1
(f) Subsection (a) does not apply to a qualified health plan defined by 45 C.F.R. Section 155.20 if a determination is made under 45 C.F.R. Section 155.170 that:
(1) this subchapter requires the qualified health plan to offer benefits in addition to the essential health benefits required under 42 U.S.C. Section 18022(b); and
(2) this state must make payments to defray the cost of the additional benefits mandated by this subchapter.
Text of subsection as added by Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1359 (S.B. 1484), Sec. 1
(f) To the extent that this section would otherwise require this state to make a payment under 42 U.S.C. Section 18031(d)(3)(B)(ii), a qualified health plan, as defined by 45 C.F.R. Section 155.20, is not required to provide a benefit under this section that exceeds the specified essential health benefits required under 42 U.S.C. Section 18022(b).
Added by Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 877 (H.B. 1919), Sec. 8, eff. September 1, 2007.
Amended by:
Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 1107 (H.B. 451), Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2009.
Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1070 (H.B. 3276), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2013.
Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1359 (S.B. 1484), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2013.
Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1359 (S.B. 1484), Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2013.
Mobile Device Apps Info:
Bridging Apps/Easter Seals Houston: reviews apps & assists with choosing appropriate apps http://bridgingapps.org/
Brite
Success in Kingwood TX conducts app training for idevices:
http://www.britesuccess.com/helpful-resources/
Wednesdays, 8 a.m. – 2 p.m.
10435 Greenbough, Stafford, TX 77477
Contact: Cristen Reat
713-838-9050
Each AT lab has Open Lab Days open to the public without an appointment for visitors to explore a variety of assistive technology, including adapted toys and switches, specialized software and computer equipment, communication devices, and mobile devices and apps. Volunteers and staff are available to answer questions; however, individualized support is limited depending on the number of participants. For more information on your local AT Lab events and services, please see the individual lab information above or contact us.
Individualized lab appointments with ESGH AT&T Lab staff are available for a fee and can provide more in-depth information about equipment than open labs or open houses. Appointments are geared towards a client’s individual needs for assistive technology. These appointments are available for one on one help, but not intended to be a full and documented assessment.
Service Dogs:
4 Paws for Ability http://4pawsforability.org/autism-assistance-dog/
Blessings Unleashed, autism specific http://blessingsunleashed.org/
My Service Dog, Inc. Montgomery, TX http://myservicedog.com/index.html
Service Dog Express, includes autism, Central TX http://www.servicedogexpress.com/
Service Dogs, Inc. http://www.servicedogs.org/
Article about service dogs: http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2014/04/01/family-pets-service-animal/19245/
Sports & Recreation:
FFPS Soccer Complex/George Bush Park
20150 Westheimer Parkway
Houston, TX 77450
1800-828-7529, ext. 555
Cost: $89
http://www.ffps.org/Katy
Ice Skating Therapy at the Sugar Land Ice and Sports Center Skating Rink is offered on Saturdays 9-10:30 am, pay nominal skate fee, ice skating instructions for special needs people is free, but bring a helmet and gloves. Sled Hockey (also known as Sledge Hockey) at the Ice Skate USA at Memorial City Mall on Saturdays 10-11:00 am. Free, for special needs people thanks to donors and supporters, all equipment is provided by STARskaters.http://starskaters.org/
Ignite Academy of Houston
Billy Caroll
281-660-2387
1420 Katy Flewellen Road (meets at CrossFit 1420)
Katy, TX 77494
http://elevatebbt.com/
Email: bill@elevatebbt.com
At Ignite Academy of Houston, they practice enrichment through exercise. Your brain is wired to respond to exercise. Physical challenges ‘prime’ the brain to retain information, process problems, and learn better. A quick warm-up, followed by some targeted focusing exercises and you’re primed to remember new information. A little physical challenge and you’ve sprinkled a chemical called BDNF-1 (like Miracle-Gro for the brain!) over your synapses. Add the elements of surprise and challenge, and math becomes fun. Classrooms full of uninspired kids quickly attack math problems. Teens with trouble focusing (including ADHD and even autism) learn to refine their thoughts through exercise and movement skills with Ignite!
Katy American Little League Challenger Baseball Division
Harris County Katy Park
24927 Morton Road, Katy, Texas 77493
The Challenger Division was established in 1989 as a separate division of Little League to enable boys and girls with physical and mental challenges, ages 4-18, or up to age 22 if still enrolled in high school, to enjoy the game of baseball along with the millions of other children who participate in this sport worldwide.
Cost: $20 per season, covers cost of jersey, pants, socks, cap, and trophy.
http://www.katyamerican.org/ChallengerDivision.aspx
For information please contact: KatyAmerican@gmail.com
Katy Special Olympics Booster Club/Katy Wolfpack
CMFR 1402 Greenbusch Rd. #2700
Katy TX 77494
Email Joanne Alley at atcmfr1402@comcast.net
The Katy Wolfpack is a nonprofit organization which depends on the contributions of generous individuals and local businesses. This organization provides an opportunity to make a difference in our community. Volunteers are needed year round, as well as sponsors. The Katy Wolfpack Special Olympics Team is part of Special Olympics Texas, a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization supported by private donations. The mission of the Katy Wolfpack Special Olympics Team is to provide year round training to local area athletes with intellectual disabilities. Its current roster of over 160 athletes competes in Aquatics, Track and Field, Basketball, Bocce, Bowling, Golf and Softball. A major portion of the budget is used to fund travel and accommodations for the State competitions at Arlington and College Station each spring and fall.
The Katy Wolfpack staff is proud of its athletes who practice hard and play even harder. Just like their peers in other sports organizations, the team takes their games seriously. The team has consistently represented the City of Katy well over the years and thanks to the support of the parents, families and benefactors, it is poised to continue. The Katy Wolfpack Steering Committee consists of Joanne Alley, Head of Delegation; Don Wolf, Head Coach; Sandi Dancel, Assistant Head Coach; Robin Judman, Treasurer; Kim Graham, Secretary; Randy Stilwell, Coach; Debbie Hurst, Coach; and Jordan Judman, Athlete Representative. https://www.facebook.com/groups/KatyWolfpack/
K2 Academy of Kids Sports
12603 Louetta Road, Suite #114 (Corner of North Eldridge and Louetta)
Cypress, TX 77429
Phone: 281-655-7272
Fax: 281-655-7273
Email: frontoffice@k2academy.com
http://k2academy.com/
Miracle League
Langham Creek YMCA
Ages: 5 - 19
Cost: $25 per season
Families are provided with a safe outlet for their special needs children to play baseball. Now located in the new adaptive sports arena. For more information, please contact Adam Spiegel at 281.859.6143 or adam.spiegel@ymcahouston.org.
http://www.ymcahouston.org/langham-creek/miracle-league/
Special Olympics
To compete in Special Olympics, a person must be at least eight years old. Children at the age of six may begin a training program, but are not able to compete until the age of eight. A person must also be identified by an agency or professional as having one of the following: Intellectual Disabilities, closely related development disability, which means having functional limitations in both general learning and in adaptive skills such as recreation, work, independent living, self direction, or self care. http://www.sotx.org/
Texas Adaptive Aquatics
103 Page Lane
Huffman, TX 77336
281-324-4653, www.taasports.org
Adaptive water skiing program that allows people with physical and/or mental disabilities the opportunity to discover the thrill and excitement of water skiing, sailing, and kayaking.
Texas Swim Academy
Janin Huerter
Adaptive Aquatics Program
3514 Greenbusch
Katy, TX 77494
832-437-6186
Email: info@texasswimacademy.com
http://texasswimacademy.com/
The Challenger Division of WULL (West University Little League)
Challenger is a baseball program for boys and girls ages 5 through the final year of high school or 22 (whichever comes first) with physical and mental challenges. The most fundamental goal of the Challenger Division is to give everyone a chance to play baseball and have a rewarding experience, regardless of limitations. This program affords every child the opportunity to participate in a structured athletic program and have a wonderful time. Registration fee is only $20 per player payable to West University Little League. Registration fee covers cost of jersey, socks, cap, team equipment, and trophy. Challenger Little League baseball games are played at the West U Little League facility at 3700 University Blvd. Challenger football games are played at the South Campus, 10001 Stella Link Rd. and at the high school fields of Episcopal, Strake Jesuit and St. Thomas. The final game of the season is at Rice University. Basketball games are played at St. Thomas. Contact kristenleach3@gmail.com
Summer Camps:
Camp Blessing
A SPECIAL PLACE FOR SPECIAL KIDS. Few Christian camps in the country specialize in ministering to children and young adults with special needs and their siblings. Camp Blessing is such a camp...a haven for kids who feel left out...a camp where all feel total acceptance...and most importantly, where campers experience the love of Christ! To experience the love of Christ in a beautiful camp setting is something every child should enjoy no matter their level of ability! http://www.campblessing.org/
Camp For All
Mailing address:10500 NW Freeway, Suite 220, Houston, TX 77092 (camp is located in Burton TX)
713-686-5666, campforall.org. A unique, barrier-free camp working in partnership with other non-profits to enrich the lives of childnren and adults with challenging illnesses or special needs and their families throughout the year.
Camp Journey
Camp journey offers programs throughout the summer serving people of all ages with disabilities. Overnight vacation trips, day camps & recreational swimming are the summer staple. Camp Journey also offers vacation camps throughout the year during winter and spring break. Camp Journey sponsors holiday parties, dances, and fun for everyone!
http://www.journeyadventures.org/programs/camp-journey/
To apply, please fill out application: http://www.journeyadventures.org/apply/
Email application to suzette.coates@gmail.com
Mikey’s Place
Ingrid Monroy
Executive Director
http://www.mikeysplace.net/
Ingrid@mikeysplace.net
Mikey’s Guide is an extensive resource listing of summer camp options, sports activities in Houston and across Texas as well as other activities for children and young adults with disabilities living in the Houston area. The guide has a listing of summer camps, annual special needs events, sports & recreational activities, year-round classes & programs, as well as adult program information, fun places to go in Houston with your special needs person, and an index by age group. Ingrid Monroy holds annual special needs summer camp fairs in early February, complete with exhibitors.
Tracking Devices / GPS Locators:
Amber Alert GPS, child location GPS system. http://www.amberalertgps.com/
BrickHouse Security, sells various tracking devices for children. http://www.brickhousesecurity.com/category/gps+tracking/gps+tracking+devices+for+children.do
Care Trak, Inc. Systems created telemetry based tracking for people at risk in 1986. Since then our equipment has located thousands of Alzheimer’s wanderers and children with special needs such as Autism, Down syndrome and other conditions and brought them home safely. http://www.caretrak.com/
If I Need Help
PO Box 803356
Santa Clarita, CA 91354
661-524-6732
Email: info@ifineedhelp.org
https://www.ifineedhelp.org/
Help For Our Loved Ones Who May Wander or Need Assistance! They Help Reunite those who might become lost or disoriented with their Families, Loved ones, and Caregivers using new and existing technologies in ways that are practical, easy to access and affordable. Individual’s profiles can be accessed manually from any web browser or via scanned QR Codes. QR Codes can be read quickly by any smartphone. QR reader Apps can be downloaded for free from App stores.
LoJack® - SafetyNet™ technology for rescuing those who go missing. The SafetyNet™ Service is composed of time-tested and proven electronic search and rescue equipment, direct integration with law enforcement and public safety agencies, in-depth training and certification for search and rescue personnel on electronic search and rescue procedures as well as techniques for approaching people with cognitive conditions, and a secure database of key client information to assist in search and rescue operations. https://www.safetynetbylojack.com/. Working hand in hand with law enforcement and public safety agencies, the SafetyNet™ service helps you quickly find and rescue your loved one in the event that he or she becomes lost.
Project Lifesaver International is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization that bridges the technological gap for “at risk” populations and public safety agencies. We provide police, fire/rescue and other first responders with a comprehensive program including equipment and training to quickly locate and rescue “at risk” individuals with cognitive disorders who are at constant risk to the life threatening behavior of wandering including those with Alzheimer’s disease, Autism, and Down syndrome. Citizens enrolled in Project Lifesaver wear a small personal transmitter around the wrist or ankle that emits an individualized tracking signal. If an enrolled client goes missing, the caregiver notifies their local Project Lifesaver agency, and a trained emergency team responds to the wanderer’s area. Most who wander are found within a few miles from home, and search times have been reduced from hours and days to minutes. Recovery times for PLI clients average 30 minutes — 95% less time than standard operations. http://www.projectlifesaver.org/
Project Lifesaver now has a solution and a new division specifically for Non-PLI areas, called “PAL” Protect and Locate. With the addition of PAL Project Lifesaver will help provide protection and safety to even more individuals who wander due to Autism, Down syndrome, Alzheimer’s, dementia, or other cognitive conditions. Please visit http://www.projectlifesaver.org/Pal-info/ for more information about how to subscribe to PAL.
All Student Shuttle (Sugar Land & Spring areas) http://allstudentshuttle.com/
CareAvan Houston's Wheelchair and Special Needs Services
Wheelchair and special needs transportation services specializes in Clear Lake, Galveston, Houston, Pasadena, Tomball, and Woodlands, Texas areas. www.careavan.net/ as of 3/19/2014, website is down due to expiration, renewal may be pending
Cypress Express Transportation Services http://cypressexpress.com/services/
Fort Bend County Public Transit Services: Fort Bend County currently offers shared ride bus services to the citizens of Fort Bend County. The scheduled ride transportation service provides trips within Fort Bend County. In order to schedule or cancel a ride you may call 866-751-TRIP between the hours of 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday and ask for the “Fort Bend County Reservations.” Reservations can be made 30 days or up to 1 business day in advance of the appointment time. Trip fares are $1.00 per person each way. Passengers must be ready 15 minutes before scheduled pick up time. This is a curb-to-curb service; however, persons with disabilities can request door-to-door service. All passengers must wear seat restraints. Seat restraints must be provided for children 40 lbs or less. Passengers 12 years or younger must be accompanied by another person 18 years or older. Individuals unable to independently travel safely or securely regardless of age must be accompanied by an assistant. For more information, comments, or concerns please call 281-633-RIDE or 866-751-TRIP. http://www.fortbendcountytx.gov/index.aspx?page=313
Let's Roll Kids Transportation Services: 16326 Petaluma Dr, Houston, TX, 281-437-7655
Petals Transportation Services: 25807 Westheimer Parkway, Suite 386, Katy, TX 77494, 346-987-2969. Private transportation services to children in the Katy, West Houston and Richmond areas in Texas.
http://www.petalstransportation.com/
Trans for Kids Shuttle, http://www.trans4kidsshuttle.com/