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Your Rights, Your Voice: A Guide for Youth with Mental Health Concerns Transitioning to Adulthood

Disability Rights

Disability Rights Texas' guide from 2016 provides information for youth with mental health concerns who are transitioning to adulthood.

Your Rights, Your Voice: A Guide for Youth with Mental Health Concerns Transitioning to Adulthood serves as a guide for youth with mental health concerns who are transitioning to adulthood. Topics include post-high school education; special education; getting ready for the workplace; reasonable accommodations at work and school; and healthcare, insurance, and money matters. 

Students Rights When Receiving 504 or Special Education Services

This guide provides information on educating yourself about what 504 and special education services are, how to know if you need these services and what if you don't agree with the services being provided.

See pages 1.1 to 1.5 of Your Rights, Your Voice

College, Trade School, and Other Post-Secondary Options

Learn if you can request accommodations for college entrance exams, what accommodations you can request in post-secondary programs and what you can do if you're having trouble getting program accommodations.

See pages 2.1 to 2.4 of Your Rights, Your Voice

Applying for Vocational Rehabilitation Services in Texas

This section concerns getting ready for work by applying for help from Texas Workforce Solutions - Vocational Rehabilitation Services.

See pages 3.1 to 3.2 of Your Rights, Your Voice

What You and Your Boss Need to Know

Here, learn:

  • What are reasonable work accommodations?
  • How do you ask for work accommodations?
  • What do you do if you experience discrimination at work because of your disability?

See pages 4.1 to 4.4 of Your Rights, Your Voice

Adult Healthcare, Mental Health Hospitalization, and Medicaid

Learn ​how your healthcare changes once you turn 18, what your rights are when you are hospitalized for mental health, and how to know if you are eligible for Medicaid.

See pages 5.1 to 5.9 of Your Rights, Your Voice.

Social Security Benefits

what programs are available to help you have enough money to live on your own, how to know if you are eligible for these programs and whether you can work and not lose benefits from these programs;

See pages 6.1 to 6.4 of Your Rights, Your Voice

Living in the Community

This section addresses your rights regarding housing; what you can do if you are being discriminated against regarding housing; and what housing assistance is available.

See pages s 7.1 to 7.4 of Your Rights, Your Voice

Promoting Independence

Learn about supported decision-making, what guardianship is, and whether alternatives to guardianship are available to you.

See pages 8.1 to 8.3 of Your Rights, Your Voice

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