San Antonio disability nonprofits form IDD Champions coalition to build a guided resource directory for caregivers

A coalition aims to simplify access to services for families navigating intellectual and developmental disabilities

A group of San Antonio-area nonprofits has formed a coalition to address persistent gaps faced by families caring for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) in Bexar County. The coalition, known as IDD Champions, includes organizations spanning early childhood support, respite services, case management, and specialized education and programming.

The partnership publicly outlined its initial work in June 2025 after completing a community-based survey of caregivers. The effort was designed to capture the day-to-day barriers families encounter while trying to secure diagnosis, therapy, school supports, respite options, and long-term planning.

Survey results highlight coordination breakdowns, respite shortages, and workforce impacts

More than 800 caregivers responded to the survey, and more than 700 provided written feedback. Reported challenges centered on fragmented systems and the burden placed on families to coordinate care across multiple providers.

• About half of surveyed caregivers said coordination between providers was ineffective, describing a need to manage referrals, waitlists and appointments across disconnected agencies.
• Roughly one-third reported difficulty finding resources and accessing respite, even when eligible for respite or day programs. Provider shortages and restrictive admission criteria were identified as barriers.
• The executive summary reported that 32% of caregivers had left jobs to provide full-time care.
• More than 80% of respondents reported having no plan for their family member with IDD as they enter adulthood, indicating widespread uncertainty about transitions and future supports.

A guided directory is planned as a near-term tool

IDD Champions’ first major deliverable is a guided IDD resource directory planned for launch by November. The coalition’s stated intent is to reduce the time families spend sorting through disconnected information by using a question-based intake that directs caregivers toward targeted resources suited to their situation.

The project is being developed in collaboration with the San Antonio Community Resource Directory (SACRD). Coalition members have said a substantial portion of the funding has already been secured, with additional fundraising underway to complete the effort.

Beyond the directory: information sessions and system alignment

In addition to the directory, the coalition has identified short-term steps such as parenting information sessions and “deep-dive” discussions focused on navigating available services. Longer-term goals include creating an IDD Council intended to better align systems that caregivers describe as difficult to navigate, and improving awareness of early intervention pathways, respite resources, and skills and socialization services.

For many families, the central problem is not eligibility alone, but whether services are available, understandable, and accessible when they are needed.

The coalition’s work reflects a growing effort among local providers to standardize pathways into care, reduce duplication, and make planning for adulthood more concrete for families supporting children, teens, and adults with IDD.