Project Description:
The Purposeful Life: Family training series is a new community outreach project focused on increasing the capacity of self-advocates and family members to live a purposeful life. In collaboration with the Center on Disability and Development (CDD) at Texas A&M University, Down Syndrome Association of Brazos Valley (DSABV), Families of Autistic Children Engaged Together for Support (FACETS), Department of Assistive an Rehabilitative Services (DARS), Division of Blind Services (DBS), College Station Independent School District (ISD), Bryan ISD, Brazos Valley Rehabilitation Center (BVRC), and the Brazos Center for Independent Living (BVCIL), trainings are provided free of charge for family members and self-advocates ages 8 and up on every first Thursday of the month throughout the school year. Childcare is available for ages 3+ and dinner is provided for all participants. Professionals, family members, and parents have worked together to develop the trainings and materials as well as to deliver the monthly trainings. All on a volunteer basis.
During the fall and spring "semesters," topics included:
Date Topic
September 1, 2016 "Looking Ahead" - Series Overview & Speaker Panel
October 6, 2016
"Who is the I in IEP?" - Review of ARD and IEP
TEA Special Education Dispute Resolution Systems Handbook
TEA Manual De Los Sistemas Para Resolucin De Conflictos De Educacin Especial
November 3, 2016 "Sticks and Stones- Words Do Hurt!" - Bullying
December 1, 2016 "You Can't Pour From an Empty Cup" - Family Wellness
February 2, 2017
"My Kid's Going To Be A Grown-Up?" - Independence (MS/HS session)
I Can Do That! Independence (birth-elementary school session)
Yo Puedo Hacer Eso!
March 2, 2017
"Surviving Puberty- This Time As a Parent" - Adolescence and Puberty
Puberty Checklist
Autism Speaks Puberty Tool Kit
Vanderbilt/Kennedy Center's Healthy Bodies for Girls
Vanderbilt/Kennedy Center's Healthy Bodies for Girls Appendix
Cuerpos Sanos Para Varones
Cuerpos Sanos Para Varones-Anexo
Cuerpos Sanos Para Nias
Cuerpos Sanos Para Nias-Anexo
April 6, 2017
"Behavior- What Are You Trying to Tell Me?" - Behavior Management
Comportamiento- Qu Ests Tratando de Decirme?
May 4, 2017
"Teaching Social Skills- Because No One Lives in Isolation" - Social Skills
Session Outline
Families, self-advocates, and professionals are asked to provide feedback after each training. The "Purposeful Life" Leadership team uses this data to inform the following trainings and to make changes in content and/or delivery to best meet the needs of the community. Feedback from the community has been positive and the trainings have been well-recieved.
Purposeful Life participants have commented:
"The speakers specific practical examples were extremely helpful. The focus and control throughout was also great.
"I always need a handout because I am visual more than auditory, thank you!
"It [the training] was very helpful. I was able to learn some good strategies to practice. I got to see others affected by the same disability.
"Now, I can help others that ask me questions and I have information to share with them.
"I learned to communicate further with my special ed teacher in regards to my reactions to my childs behavior affects my childrens future behavior.
"I appreciated the openness of the meeting and the personal stories of the facilitator.
"Childcare and meal is the reason I am able to attend and I am so grateful for the opportunity.
The "Purposeful Life" Leadership team plans to develop a certification component for families, self-advocates, and professionals to receive from the Center on Disability and Development once they have completed all of the trainings throughout the semester. Also, a Diversity Leadership Fellow, Melina Cavazos, has developed a Sibling Training that will be implemented in the Fall of 2017. The hope is that the community can continue to come together to provide access to knowledge, other families and self-advocates, and resources to help support area families and self-advocates to live their lives to the fullest.
Core Function(s):
Developing & Disseminating Information, Continuing Education/Community Training, Other Direct/Model Services
Target Audience:
Community Trainees / Short term trainees, Professionals and Para-Professionals, Family Members/Caregivers, Adults with Disabilities, Children/Adolescents with Disabilities/SHCN
Unserved or Under-served Populations:
Racial or Ethnic Minorities, Disadvantaged Circumstances, Geographic Areas, Rural/Remote
