This free webinar series offers a warm and inviting opportunity to connect with other parents and families of children with challenges in their development. Through a series of facilitated conversations with parents, we will explore the unique and common experiences of loving and raising children whose developmental process and journey is delayed or atypical. We will discuss the challenges and joys of family life with children with a wide array of ways of being in the world. Over the five facilitated conversations, we will cover topics near and dear to the hearts and experiences of families as we all learn from each other about how to best support and advocate for our children, and the whole family.
All are welcome to join and engage in these powerful conversations!
The series will run for 5 Mondays through Monday, December 18, 2023, from 3 to 4:30 PM ET / 12 to 1:30 PM PT. All episodes are one hour, with live Spanish translation and closed captioning available.
This series is part of the Brazelton Touchpoints Center’s Family-to-Family Real Talk conversation series.
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This series will be moderated by Jayne Singer, Ph.D., IECMHC-E®, Director of Developmental and Relational Health at the Brazelton Touchpoints Center.
Episode 1: Health Care for Children Who Are Differently Abled
Thursday, October 12, 2023, 12–1 PM ET / 9-10 AM PT
Families of children with developmental differences find themselves interacting with many providers and programs in healthcare and education systems. Families know their child better than anyone else who comes into contact with their child. During this virtual conversation, we will explore families’ experiences interacting with professionals and their institutions and what they would like providers to understand about how to connect, respect, and honor families in the process of working towards a collaborative partnership. We will be joined by Dr. Mai Pham, mother, and healthcare champion for individuals with disabilities, and President and CEO of the Institute for Exceptional Care in Washington, D.C.
Episode 2: My Whole Child
Monday, October 23, 2023, 3–4 PM ET / 12–1 PM PT
Families of children with developmental disabilities often find that professionals focusing on their child’s challenges may not seek out and celebrate the “whole” of their child. Families know that their child’s challenges do not define everything about their child. During this virtual conversation, we will learn with families about how they appreciate their children’s strengths and how they help family members, educators, healthcare professionals, and others see them too. We will be joined by Voyo Djordjic, father and advocate for individuals who are differently abled, who you might know from his powerful story on PBS’s Stories from the Stage.
Episode 3: What You Always Wanted to Know about the Special Olympics and Didn’t Know to Ask
Monday, November 6, 2022, 3–4 PM ET / 12–1 PM PT
The Special Olympics is renowned for its celebration and elevation of people who are differently abled. What is less known are the many ways in which the organization reaches into communities to support early intervention as well as health care. Come learn more! We will be joined by Jennifer Hansen, mother, and Young Athletes Senior Manager at the Special Olympics.
Episode 4: Hope versus Denial
Monday, December 4, 2023, 3–4 PM ET / 12–1 PM PT
Families have long-term hopes, dreams, and visions for their children who deserve tender care. During this virtual conversation, we will learn with families about how they envision, anticipate, and prepare for their child’s future, and what families would like the helping professions to know about their journey. Family child-rearing values vary greatly across cultural practices. There are also cultural variations in understanding developmental challenges and disabilities. Families know their own cultural values better than anyone else who comes into contact with their child and always have valuable lessons for professionals and the systems of care they work in. We will be joined by Raquel Quezada and Roxanne Hoke-Chandler, mothers and powerful change agents in their communities.
Episode 5: Disability, Culture, and Equity
Monday, December 18, 2023, 3–4 PM ET / 12–1 PM PT
Advocacy for the inclusion of students with disabilities in community and educational contexts is a social justice issue – and central to any healthy democracy. We will be joined by Janet Sauer, who will draw on her own experiences as a parent, as a teacher of young children, adolescents, and in her work with educators whom she prepares for inclusive education. She is also the author of the book, Affirming Disability: Strengths-based portraits of culturally and linguistically diverse families’ experiences navigating special education systems.