Ability Connection Texas

Last updated on July 24, 2011

Ability Connection Texas (ACT) provides a full range of services for people with physical and intellectual disabilities as they strive to achieve their highest level of independence.

Description:
Ability Connection Texas serves people with physical and intellectual disabilities throughout Texas. In North Texas we provide center based an adult day program, a children's education programs and Assistive Technology program. We also provide adult services in seven ACT group residences and in home care. We provide an extensive State wide information and referral (I&R) services and are active in advocating for the rights of people with disabilities.

History:
Ability Connection Texas (ACT) was founded in 1953 as UCP of Dallas County. Initially ACT offered a sheltered workshop for adults with cerebral palsy and in 1957 added day care and pre-school classes for children with cerebral palsy. Adult services were located in a church on McKinney Avenue and children’s services were housed in the basement of Highland Park United Methodist Church on Mockingbird Lane. ACT joined United Way in 1959 (as UCP).

ACT received a Texas Department of Human Service contract for a Community Living Assistance Support Services (CLASS) program in 1992. The CLASS program was expanded to east Texas in 2000 when ACT opened its Longview office. In 1994, ACT began working with the Texas Rehabilitation Commission to locate competitive employment and provide on-site support for people with disabilities.

ACT moved in a new building in 1996. Located at 8802 Harry Hines Boulevard, this building now houses all the programs and administrative offices with the exception of the group homes. This same year ACT received a contract to become one of a group of providers of Home and Community Based Services (HCS) monitored by the Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation (TXMHMR). Consumers who have a primary diagnosis of mental retardation receive such services as case management, nursing, therapy and attendant care.

Also in 1996, ACT opened its assistive technology (AT) program to provide evaluations and training to assist people with disabilities to become more independent in their workplace, home, or school. In 2003, ACT acquired the Center for Computer Assistance to the Disabled (C-CAD) expanding its assistive technology program. In the fall of 2006, ACT was chosen as a demonstration site for the Texas Technology Access project of The Texas Center for Disability Studies at the University of Texas at Austin. This designation launched the ACT Removing Limits Through Technology program.

Today, Ability Connection Texas serves children and adults with disabilities and their families in 79 counties in north central and east Texas. An experienced staff of teachers, therapists, nurses, caseworkers, special needs caregivers, and volunteers provide services that include early childhood intervention, public education, adult day care, assistive technology, transportation, residential care, case management and in-home support to a daily caseload of more than 600 clients and their families.

Ability Connection has been providing services for children and adults with disabilities in North Texas for over 58 years. We expanded our services State wide in 2009.

Contact people:

Sarah Elliott, (phone), (email) Mark Denzin, (phone), (email) Bill Knudsen, (phone), (email)

Main office number: (214) 351-2500
Office fax number: (214) 351-2610

Address:

8802 Harry Hines Blvd. Dallas, TX 75235 (See a map)

Web Site: http://www.abilityconnectiontexas.org

Last updated on July 24, 2011