Houston Office for People with Disabilities

Houston Office for People with Disabilities Houston OPD advocates for the rights and needs of Houston citizens with disabilities. Facilitating delivery of services - including city services
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The mission of the Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities (MOPD) is to serve as the primary advocate for the rights and needs of residents with disabilities. The Office also serves as a liaison between the mayor, city council, city departments and other public and private entities on matters pertaining to people with disabilities in Houston. MOPD's vision is a city where everyone understands

the importance of equal participation and full inclusion of all residents, including residents with disabilities. We accomplish this mission by providing and participating in programs and services which address the needs and rights of residents with disabilities, including:

1. Acting as liaison to Houston Commission on Disabilities (HCOD), City Council and other City Departments
3. Making recommendations to public and private entities regarding the development of policy and legislation
4. Establishing fundamental local, state and national partnerships to promote community awareness
5. Administering, developing new, and participating in programs and services according to our mission

06/05/2026

The Houston Office for People with Disabilities recently had an incredible time collaborating with local partners at the West End Multi-Service Center for a fantastic Veteran Resource Fair.

Our team was out in full force to make sure our local veterans have a direct pipeline to the best resources Houston has to offer. From connecting heroes to stable housing and utility assistance to opening doors for great employment opportunities, we are dedicated to serving those who served us.

Missed out on the live event? Don't worry, we have you covered! You can jump right onto our website anytime to connect with these vital resources from the comfort of home. https://www.houstontx.gov/disabilities/

Video Description: This features Donna Medrano from the City of Houston Office for People with Disabilities speaking from a hallway at the West End Multi-Service Center. Donna explains how the office connects military veterans to essential city programs like employment, housing, and utility assistance. The video highlights a busy community resource fair with attendees gathered around tables covered in patriotic American flag tablecloths, followed by a brief recording of the office's official website interface. Donna concludes by thanking veterans for their service, ending with the official circular seal of the City of Houston, Texas, for the Department of Neighborhoods and the Office for People with Disabilities.

06/04/2026

"Houston METRO provided an opportunity for me to be independent and, most importantly, safe."

Watch this powerful moment from the recent Metro Ribbon Cutting, where appointed board member Angel Ponce shares his personal journey as a transit rider with a disability. From relying entirely on family to finding complete independence, he highlights the vital mission of making public transportation equally safe, accessible, and reliable for everyone including people with disabilities and senior citizens. Thank so much to Mayor John Whitmire , Elizabeth Brock, and Joaquin Martinez for your leadership and support.

Video Description: A young man in a suit, using a wheelchair, speaks into a microphone at an outdoor press event. Behind him stand local officials and transit police officers. White, and yellow word by word captions highlight what he is saying on screen.

Let’s build something great together! Preparation for our NDEAM 2026 hiring event is officially underway, and your input...
06/01/2026

Let’s build something great together! Preparation for our NDEAM 2026 hiring event is officially underway, and your input is the most important piece of the puzzle. We are dedicated to delivering a fully accessible environment, and your feedback helps us make that happen.

We have a few quick questions for you:

Which employers are at the top of your wish list?

What educational topics would you like expert instruction on?

What specific event accommodations will help you succeed?

To access the survey, simply scan the QR code on the flyer with your smartphone camera. You can also access the survey through the survey link below, and for a screen reader-optimized experience, you can also jump straight to our text-only version via the link below. Thank you for collaborating with us to move Houston forward!

Survey Link: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=EFqoV4sltEWlGclsdyEJTB7GP6DmSANLl68Xth7IfGBUM0dVWFNDVVBPRjlJUThVS1BNRjlISEdHVS4u
Text-Only Form Link:https://www.houstontx.gov/disabilities/NDEAM2026-Insights.pdf



Image Description: Promotional survey flyer for the NDEAM 2026 Survey featuring a bright white office setting. In the foreground on the right, an Asian man in a blue suit smiles while seated in a wheelchair at a computer desk. In the background on the left, a colleague in a dark suit is also smiling. A large black-and-white QR code occupies the lower right corner. The bottom footer displays the official logos for the City of Houston Department of Neighborhoods and the Office for People with Disabilities.

We recently had the incredible opportunity to attend the Houston Stadium World Cup Ready Tour in preparation for the upc...
05/27/2026

We recently had the incredible opportunity to attend the Houston Stadium World Cup Ready Tour in preparation for the upcoming FIFA events! A huge thank you to our phenomenal hosts at the Harris County Sports & Convention Corporation for giving us an insightful, behind-the-scenes look at the facility.

During the tour, we collaborated on exploring the stadium's specialized accessibility features, including the dedicated sensory room, the writing press box, the national broadcast booth, the adult changing rooms, and the spaces designed to house ASL interpreters for stadium events. Houston Stadium is officially an accessible-ready venue, and we are proud to see our city paving the way for a truly inclusive global experience!

Image Description: A group portrait captures eight individuals in the wood-paneled lobby of an athletic facility during a stadium tour.

In the center foreground, MOPD Director Angel Ponce, wearing a dark blue suit jacket and light dress shirt, smiles from his manual wheelchair. Surrounding him are staff members from the Houston Office for People with Disabilities and the Harris County Sports & Convention Corporation. To his left stands a woman in a striped top and tan slacks, and to his right stands a man in a blue suit. Behind them stand five male colleagues in professional suits and casual polo shirts.

The background features a Texans logo elevator with a red welcome mat on the left, and a glass display case with a black "H-Town" number 24 jersey, helmets, and footballs in the center.

05/26/2026

The MOPD community newsletter is officially making its massive comeback on June 1, 2026!

In this quick video drop, Director Angel Ponce and Kimberly give us the inside scoop on how this re-launch is going to connect you directly with vital local resources, major accessibility updates, and powerful community stories. Plus, we are giving you a seamless, step-by-step walkthrough on exactly how to get your name on the distribution list right now.

Check out the full video below, smash that sign-up link at houstontx.gov/disabilities, and let’s get connected!

Video Description:
The City of Houston Department of Neighborhoods, through the Office for People with Disabilities (OPD), announces the highly anticipated return of its community newsletter. After a temporary hiatus dedicated to gathering essential updates, stories, and vital resources, the official newsletter is scheduled to resume distribution on June 1, 2026.

In this announcement video, OPD Director Angel Ponce connects with colleague Kimberly to share the update and highlight how the newsletter serves as a central hub for city-level disability resources, upcoming programming, and municipal initiatives. The video concludes with a direct, step-by-step tutorial on how community members can navigate the city website to subscribe to the OPD distribution list.

Website URL: houstontx.gov/disabilities

Navigation Path: Visit the homepage, scroll down to the "Newsletter Sign-Up" section, fill out the required information form, and click submit.

05/22/2026

Delivering on inclusion! The Houston Office for People with Disabilities recently traveled to Washington, D.C. for the National League of Cities, or NLC, Learning Lab. Houston joined seven other trailblazing cities to build actionable strategies that break down barriers to employment.

We are bringing home four major, high-level goals to integrate into our city structure, ensuring better access to good jobs and stronger representation for individuals with disabilities at the city level. Watch the recap video below to hear from OPD Director Angel Ponce and Michael Bartlett on how we are building a more inclusive Houston workforce!

Video Description:
The Houston Office for People with Disabilities (OPD) recently joined municipal leaders from across the country in Washington, D.C., for the National League of Cities (NLC) "Expanding Workforce Opportunities for All" Learning Lab.

In this video recap, Angel Ponce, Director of OPD, sits down with Michael Bartlett to discuss how the city is collaborating with national experts and seven other major U.S. cities. Together, they are developing innovative, actionable strategies to better connect individuals with disabilities to high-quality employment and sustainable career pathways.

Moving forward, the City of Houston is bringing home four high-level strategic goals to integrate into its municipal structure—ensuring a more inclusive local workforce and increasing representation for people with disabilities at the city level.

Open captions track along the bottom of the screen, matching their spoken words perfectly

05/19/2026

Houston Office for People with Disabilities is celebrating Tourette Syndrome Awareness Month by wearing teal on every Tuesday between May 15th and June 15th.



Video Description: A woman wearing a teal blazer over a black dress is speaking directly to the camera throughout the entire video. Open captions track along the bottom of the screen, matching her spoken words perfectly. End description.

If you're in the area please visit the Senior Box Distribution event at the West End MSC. The Houston Food Bank is prov...
05/14/2026

If you're in the area please visit the Senior Box Distribution event at the West End MSC. The Houston Food Bank is providing commodity boxes of shelf-stable food (valued at $50) for qualified seniors.

When & Where

Date: Thursday, 5/28/2026

Time: 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM

Location: West End MSC, 170 Heights Blvd

Eligibility
Age: 60+

Income: Monthly max of $1,632 (Household of 1) or $2,215 (Household of 2)

Area: Resident of Harris, Montgomery, Brazoria, Waller, Walker, Chambers, Galveston, Liberty, Fort Bend, or Trinity

Must Bring: ID or Food Bank Apple Card for verification

Pick-up Tips

Bring a cart to transport your boxes/cheese to your vehicle.

Proxies: If you can't attend, send a friend with a signed/dated permission letter, a copy of your ID, and their own ID.

For more help, call the Houston Food Bank Helpline at 832-369-9390.

ID: This document is a flyer detailing the Senior Box Distribution program hosted by the Houston Food Bank. The flyer uses a clear, structured layout to outline eligibility requirements—including age, residency, and income brackets—and providing specific logistics for a distribution event at the West End Multi-Service Center.

It features high-contrast text and instructional bullet points that explain how to designate a proxy for pickup and lists the necessary identification required for participants. The document is visually supported by photographs of seniors and the specific commodity food boxes to help residents identify the program

"The Houston Office for People with Disabilities extends a warm farewell to Alex Chau. For years, Alex has been a dedica...
05/05/2026

"The Houston Office for People with Disabilities extends a warm farewell to Alex Chau. For years, Alex has been a dedicated friend and a powerful advocate, leaving a lasting impact on the disability community. While we will miss his presence in the office, his contributions will be felt for a long time to come. Join us in wishing him the very best!"

ID: Pic 1 - Angel Ponce and the Houston Office for People with Disabilities staff stand together and smile with Alex Chau, who holds a framed certificate of appreciation. Pic 2 - Angel Ponce and Alex Chau look toward the camera and smile while shaking hands. Alex is holding his certificate of appreciation.

Address

901 Bagby Street
Houston, TX
77002

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm

Telephone

+18323940814

Website

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