Down Home Ranch is a community of opportunity for the people with disabilities. Below are resources that you may find to be helpful. Email us at info@downhomeranch.org if you think we should add additional content.

Health and Wellness

A safety plan is an individualized, practical tool used to decrease the risk of future harm for people who are in danger or are being abused or neglected.

This safety planning
guide can serve as a guide to domestic violence advocates, disability service case managers, and social service workers supporting people with a variety of disabilities who are at risk of harm.

It includes information to increase understanding of the safety
concerns and support needs of people with a range of disabilities.

Click here to download a copy of Safety Planning with People with Disabilities and Deaf* People

Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute Community Action Guide

The Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute conducted research between 2023 and 2024 to better understand the relationship between trauma, mental health and developmental disabilities for youth and young adults. The community action guide was created for anyone interested in improving how we care for the mental health needs of young people with developmental disabilities.

Click here for a copy of the community action guide.

IDD Support Professional Trainings

Better Lives is “an organization represented by people with lived experience who are passionately committed to to providing exceptional training on person centered practices that result in actions that support people to live their best lives.”

They are offering a training series for IDD support professionals, with the goal of teaching the core principles of person-centered practices and the fundamental concept of what is important to and for a person.

To register for PCT Training, click here.

Local Individualized Skills and Socialization Options

The State of Texas has changed the Day Habilitation service to Individualized Skills and Socialization (ISS). Down Home Ranch has an ISS Program in our Day Program.

Click here for a current directory.

Local Residential Options

The following providers have worked along side the Ranch in our local community for many years. All have residents who attend Ranch Camp and other community events such as Fall Fest.

Imagine Art: Imagine Art is a Christian ministry, a 501c3 nonprofit, established in 1996. We operate free public art spaces where artists with disabilities are engaged as makers, leaders and catalysts for change. We are serving the needs of artists with disabilities by offering high caliber art services, which also attract non-disabled artists for an integrated, inclusive setting. We offer wrap-around services to our artists that include day habilitation, peer support, long-term care (HCS and Tx Hm Liv) waivers and affordable housing (2024).

Our Mission is to leverage art and place; empowering artists with disabilities who become creative catalysts for changing systems of day habilitation; long-term care, peer support, and affordable housing

Contact Debbie Kizer
(512) 554-2406
info@imagineart.net

Kenmar Residential Services: Kenmar Residential Services, Inc. was founded by William K Gray, Ph.D and Mary S Gray in 1986. Their daughter, Sabrina, helped start the company and has stayed with it for more than 25 years. In 1991 Ken Gray II joined the family business, followed by his wife, Denise, in 2006.

Contact Bernadette Richardson
(512) 336-0800

Abiding Choice is a family owned and operated HCS Provider centrally located in Rockdale, Texas. We have a combined 50+ years of experience with 13 years of HCS program ownership.  Abiding Choice, Inc. has a resident Medicaid/Social Security expert on staff as well as an established Host/Home program to serve our clients and their families for years to come.  We cannot wait for you and/or your loved one to be a part of the Abiding Choice family! 

Our mission is to provide accessible services that support the dignity and independence of those we serve. 

Contact Brandi Merino 
(512) 446-4846
abidingchoice@hotmail.com

Local Advocacy, Case Management and Meaningful Day Activity

Turtle Wing: The mission of Turtle Wing Foundation is helping individuals with learning challenges in rural areas achieve their full potential by providing access to a shared network of emotional, educational, and therapeutic resources.

Turtle Wing serves as a resource hub, connecting those with learning challenges and their families to the services they need to be successful, working to create new opportunities, and helping them afford the services when needed.

turtlewingfoundation.org

(979) 505-5090

The Arc of the Capital Area: The Arc of the Capital Area was founded in 1949 and is one of the oldest non-profits in Austin, Texas. The Arc has served thousands of individuals with disabilities and their families by providing and connecting them to much needed resources and services.

The Arc serves clients in approximately 17 different counties in Central Texas through innovative case management, education, and employment programs.

To learn more about The Arc of the Capital Area, please visit their website

arcaustin.org or give them a call at

(512) 476-7044

Long-term Care Provider Search

Finding long-term care for yourself or a family member is an important task. While nothing can replace visiting a facility or meeting with a residential provider in person, the Long-term Care (LTC) Provider Search can help you learn more about providers and facilities.

Consumer Directed Services

Consumer Directed Services allows people who receive services from Texas Health and Human Services Commission to hire and manage the people who provide their services.

Intentional Communities Across America

Together for Choice: Our organization members collectively serve over 26,000 individuals with I/DD. We come together for trips to Washington DC to meet with Congressmen, our National Conference, and at local events. Together for Choice is 3,300 members strong located across the country and advocating for choice at local, regional, and national levels.

Future Planning

Crystal Herrington, Financial Representative: I'm committed to helping you get closer to your dreams. When you partner with me, you can expect a judgment-free, pressure-free environment with conversations that will be jargon-free. I strive to provide you the best experience possible.

Consolidated Planning Group: A holistic financial planning firm that provides advice, analysis, education, and financial planning services for families and small businesses. We are proud to serve the Special Needs community.

PLAN: Planned Lifetime Advocacy Network: Works with families to create a good life for people with disabilities, through a a network of caring relationships, a sound financial plan, supported decision-making, and a place to call home. Also see their sister organization, Plan Institute for Caring Citizenship which provides training, consultation and research related to leadership development, personal network facilitation, and caring citizenship.

 Post-Secondary Education Programs: Colleges and Vocational

Texas A&M PATHS Program: This two-year certificate program prepares graduates for employment in a career serving people with disabilities or working with children.

Think College: Think College is a national initiative dedicated to developing, expanding, and improving research and practice in inclusive higher education for students with intellectual disability. It is based at the Institute for Community Inclusion, University of Massachusetts Boston.

E4Texas: E4Texas is a post-secondary opportunity for people with or without a disability, who are over the age of 18, who have a high school diploma, and are employment-focused.

Service Organizations

UT Best Buddies: Best Buddies is a registered service organization that matches UT students with adults in the Austin community with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD).  Through one-to-one friendships, fun events, leadership development, and self-advocacy workshops, we strive to empower individuals with IDD to become fully included members of our society. 

Boy Scouts of America: The basic premise of Scouting for youth with disabilities is that all youth want to participate fully and be respected like every other member of the unit. While there are, by necessity, units exclusively composed of Scouts with disabilities, experience has shown that Scouting usually succeeds best when every Scout is part of a regular unit.

Kiwanis Aktion Club: Aktion Club is the only service club for adults with disabilities, with more than 10,000 members worldwide. Club members become competent, capable, caring leaders through the vehicle of service.

Leisure

The Expedition School: The school believes in transformative experiences. Connecting with nature can provide meaningful moments of personal joy and connections with our planet, our family and friends, and our broader community.

Texas Rowing For All: To provide programs that build self-esteem, confidence, fitness and lasting friendships for people with physical, sensory, and intellectual disabilities through inclusive rowing and paddling.

Breckenridge Outdoor Education Center: Since 1976, Breckenridge Outdoor Education Center (BOEC) has provided adaptive sports programs to individuals from all 50 states and 10 countries around the world. Our offerings included adaptive winter ski and snowboard programs at Breckenridge, Keystone and Copper Mountain Ski Resorts, and summer programs on local rivers, lakes, bike paths and our very own adaptive ropes course.

Special Olympics Texas: The mission of Special Olympics is to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.

Trips, Inc.: Provider of all-inclusive vacation packages for travelers 18 and older with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Our goal is to give the best life experience to our consumers by promoting independence and inclusion through travel. From theme parks to national parks, Alaska to Hawaii, cruises and international destinations-our excursions take you all over the world!

Agencies

Texas Health and Human Services (HHS): provides a range of these services to Texans with disabilities to help ensure their well-being, dignity and choices. Programs also are in place to support family members who care for them.

Bluebonnet Trails Community Services: Our Intellectual Developmental Disabilities Services provide intervention, therapies and supports throughout a lifetime allowing persons to reach their greatest potential – including eligibility determination, early intervention for babies and toddlers, autism services, enrichment centers, respite, companion care, community supports, employment assistance and service coordination.

Integral Care: Children and adults living with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities may receive services from Integral Care to make sure they have the tools they need to thrive. We create opportunities for people to form healthy relationships, live in the community and lead meaningful lives. Services are available regardless of ability to pay and can be provided in many languages.

Support groups and advocacy

These organizations offer publications, education, conferences, networking forums, and advocacy for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their parents, families, and extended circle of caregivers.

Professional Journals, Articles, & Books