| (a) OO staff maintain a public website with IDDO contact
information and develop brochures and other materials that can be
distributed to individuals with IDD seeking or receiving services,
their LARs, their program providers, or LIDDAs.
(b) In accordance with 40 TAC Chapter 4, Subchapter
C (relating to Rights of Individuals with an Intellectual Disability)
a LIDDA must post IDDO's toll-free number conspicuously in every program
area. IDDO publishes handbooks describing the rights of individuals
with IDD, including the right to contact IDDO. The handbooks must
be given to an individual or the individual's LAR when the individual
applies for services, and annually thereafter. Additionally, in accordance
with 40 TAC Chapter 9 Subchapter D (relating to Home and Community-based
Services (HCS) Program and Community First Choice (CFC)) and Subchapter
N (relating to Texas Home Living (TxHmL) Program and Community First
Choice (CFC)) HCS and TxHmL program providers must protect and promote
the rights of individuals with IDD, including informing them of their
right to complain to IDDO and providing IDDO's toll-free number.
(c) An individual with IDD or the individual's LAR
may contact IDDO through the following methods:
(1) toll-free phone:
(A) 1-800-252-8154 (8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Central
Standard Time, Monday through Friday); or
(B) 7-1-1 or 1-800-735-2989 for a person who has a
hearing or speech disability;
(2) toll-free fax: 1-888-780-8099;
(3) mail to HHS Office of the Ombudsman, IDD Ombudsman,
P. O. Box 13247, Austin TX 78711-3247; or
(4) online at hhs.texas.gov/ombudsman.
(d) IDDO also receives referrals from HHSC Regulatory
Services Division staff when they determine there may be rights violations
or administrative concerns that do not fall within their statutory
jurisdiction.
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