About Us - Access Texas Housing

	What is ACCESS TEXAS HOUSING? This site is an accessible housing search engine for several Texas communities. Our mission is to bring you useful and accurate information regarding the accessibility features each property offers. We have found in our experience that information regarding the accessibility of different housing opportunities can be difficult to track down, so we bring it all to you in one convenient place. We focus especially on including housing that is affordable to people living on less than 80% of the median family income living in the State of Texas.
	What do we mean by “accessibility features”? There are many adjustments that can be made to the physical structure of apartments and homes to make the space more usable to people with disabilities (and to people in general!). We call all features that make a physical space more usable “accessibility features.”
	Some examples of these features include adjustments such as grab bars in the bathroom and shower, “no–step” doorways and strobe–light fire alarms. Other features such as nearby bus stops, handicap parking spaces and accessible community spaces are also considered to be “accessibility features.”
	We have found that this type of information can be difficult to find without actually visiting the property itself, which can make housing searches quite cumbersome. Instead, why not narrow your search before you visit by making sure properties have the accessibility features you need using ACCESS TEXAS HOUSING?
	Who are we? ACCESS TEXAS HOUSING is the product of a three-year AmeriCorps*VISTA project hosted by ESCT (Easter Seals Central Texas). VISTA volunteers surveyed hundreds of properties for accessibility features in several communities across Texas, including Austin, Corpus Christi, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, San Antonio and Waco/Belton.
	The project is currently being expanded and maintained by Easter Seals Central Texas, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization located in Austin, TX (and on the web at www.accesstexashousing.org). Easter Seals Central Texas offers a unique array of programs and services designed for one specific purpose: to ensure that people with cerebral palsy and similar disabilities have the opportunity to participate fully and equally in every aspect of our society.
	How is this all paid for? ACCESS TEXAS HOUSING was made possible by the hard work of AmeriCorps VISTA members, private donations and financial support by United Cerebral Palsy of Texas, the Corporation for National & Community Service Texas State Office, and AmeriGroup.
	If you would like to contribute to the ACCESS TEXAS HOUSING project, please click on the image to the left to be routed to our donations page! Your generosity makes the continuation of this service possible. With your help ACCESS TEXAS HOUSING will be able to reach more people and help them empower themselves to live more independently.
	All donations benefit Easter Seals Central Texas--CHS and the ASSET program.