(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.

Source Note: The provisions of this §87.505 adopted to be effective December 21, 2022, 47 TexReg 8273