Babies and children, families and communities do the research on what it takes for them to flourish. Listen with us to what they’ve been learning. Watch a webinar. Check out the Indigenous Early Learning Collaborative. Join the Brazelton Touchpoints Center Learning Network. Join the conversation.
This free five-part 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 five 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 moderated by Jayne Singer, Ph.D., IECMH-E®, Director of Developmental and Relational Health at the Brazelton Touchpoints Center.
Episode 1: Health Care for Children Who Are Differently Abled
RESCHEDULED to 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.
Dr. Mai Pham
Mother, healthcare champion for individuals with disabilities, and President and CEO of the Institute for Exceptional Care in Washington, D.C.
Hoangmai (Mai) H. Pham is the President of the Institute for Exceptional Care, a nonprofit dedicated to transforming healthcare for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Dr. Pham is a general internist and national health policy leader. She was Vice President at Anthem, responsible for value-based care initiatives.
Prior to Anthem, Dr. Pham served as Chief Innovation Officer at the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation, where she was a founding official and the architect of foundational programs on accountable care organizations and primary care. Dr. Pham has published extensively on provider payment policy and its intersection with health disparities, quality performance, provider behavior, and market trends.
She serves on the board of the Coalition to Transform Advanced Care, and numerous advisory bodies including the National Academy of Medicine, the National Advisory Council for the Agency on Healthcare Research and Quality, and the Maryland Primary Care Program.
Dr. Pham is most proud of mothering two sons, one of whom is autistic. Her clinical experience is grounded in primary care for underserved populations. She earned her A.B. from Harvard University, her M.D. from Temple University, and her M.P.H. from Johns Hopkins University where she was also a Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholar.
Prior to Anthem, Dr. Pham served as Chief Innovation Officer at the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation, where she was a founding official and the architect of foundational programs on accountable care organizations and primary care. Dr. Pham has published extensively on provider payment policy and its intersection with health disparities, quality performance, provider behavior, and market trends.
She serves on the board of the Coalition to Transform Advanced Care, and numerous advisory bodies including the National Academy of Medicine, the National Advisory Council for the Agency on Healthcare Research and Quality, and the Maryland Primary Care Program.
Dr. Pham is most proud of mothering two sons, one of whom is autistic. Her clinical experience is grounded in primary care for underserved populations. She earned her A.B. from Harvard University, her M.D. from Temple University, and her M.P.H. from Johns Hopkins University where she was also a Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholar.
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, 2023, 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.
Questions? Contact Isabela Mantilla
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