2.7.4 Brazos Valley Disability Conference and Resource Fair (Miller)

2026

Conference Schedule 8:00 – 8:30 – Check-in, coffee, Meet Resources 8:30 – 9:15 – Keynote: Navigating Medical Services and Advocating For Your Child's Needs: A Pediatrician and Parent's Perspective - Dr. Elizabeth Sledge, Summit Pediatrics 9:15 – 9:45 – Meet resources 9:45 – 10:30 – Breakout sessions 1 (choose one to attend) Session 1 - Partnering for Success: An Autism Panel Discussion for Parents (Birth – Elementary) Session 2 - Navigating SSI and SSDI Programs - Craig Davis, Program Manager Brazos Valley Center for Independent Living Session 3 - UN CAMINO HACIA UNA VIDA MÁS INDEPENDIENTE - Leticia LaSota, PATHS Program Director 10:30 – 11:00 – Meet your Disability Resources 11:00 – 11:45 – Breakout Session 2 (choose one to attend) Session 1 - Launching into Adulthood: An Autism Panel Discussion for Secondary Students and Beyond Session 2 - You Don't Know What You Don't Know - Melissa Benn, Benn Law Group Session 3 - A PATH For Greater Independence - - Leticia LaSota, PATHS Program Director 11:45 – 12:30 Meet your Disability Resources 12:30 – End of Conference and Resource Fair The University of Texas at Austin's Texas Center for Disability Studies provided free autism and developmental screenings during the conference. The 20-minute screenings were available for children ages 1 year through 17 years of age. Families received a "Next Steps" infographic providing contact information to follow up with local school districts and ECI services. The CDD also partnered with CHI St. Joseph Medical Center's outpatient occupational and physical therapy clinics to adapt over 160 toys for switch access. These toys were distributed at the BV Disability Conference and will be used to engage students with complex access needs, reinforce therapy goals at home and in the community, and support communication, motor strength and coordination, and independence in the home and community. Total Number of Conference Attendees: 94 Vendor Feedback - scale 1 did not meet expectations to 5 exceeded expectations How adequate was the space provided for your booth/table? 3.25 How satisfied were you with the setup process for your booth/table? 3.17 Did you feel that the conference provided a good opportunity to connect with potential customers/clients? 3.08 How clear and helpful were the pre-conference communications and instructions? 3.00 How would you rate the communication from conference organizers during the event? 2.92 How would you rate the level of engagement and interest from attendees at your booth/table? 2.75 Overall, how satisfied were you with your experience at the conference? 2.75

Mental/Behavioral Health – Autism, Developmental Disabilities, Early Childhood – Developmental Health (including developmental screening), Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults with Special Health Care Needs, information dissemination, disability awareness, agency collaboration

Developing & Disseminating Information, Continuing Education/Community Training

Education & Early Intervention, Child Care-Related Activities, Health-Related Activities, Employment-Related Activities, Recreation-Related Activities, Quality of Life

Professionals and Para-Professionals, Family Members/Caregivers, Adults with Disabilities, Children/Adolescents with Disabilities/SHCN, General Public

None

Mulit-County

N/A