We are excited to kick off Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month! As a center whose mission is to promote the flourishing of people with disabilities, their families, and communities, we are grateful to be at the helm of this impactful work and are blessed by the opportunity to facilitate compelling research, training, leadership, outreach, and clinical services in our community and beyond. Springtime beckons new growth, and the Center is thrilled to share in this season of development with the launch of new initiatives that will further our mission of supporting individuals with intellectual disability, autism, and an array of other developmental disabilities. We look forward to sharing these exciting updates with you and invite you to join us in our efforts to promote belonging in schools, churches, workplaces, and communities around the world—today and every day.
Erik Carter & Kristen Padilla
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Erik Carter and Jason Le Shana launched a partnership with Wheaton College’s Center for Faith and Disability funded by Lilly Endowment, Inc. to explore new pathways for building inclusive church communities.
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Congratulations to Erik Carter, Alison Prahl, Deidre Gilley, and Kristen Padilla who were recently awarded a $500,000 grant from the Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities! The primary goal of the project, Raising Texas Voices, is to identify generational, demographic, and other patterns in people's perspectives and priorities surrounding disability that will inform effective advocacy training and resource development.
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Congratulations to Kristen Padilla, Sarah Mire and Grant Morgan for their recent NIH R01 award on Identifying and Distinguishing Early Indicators of Autism for Latino Children (Project IDEAL). Project IDEAL is a collaboration with faculty from the Texas Center for Disability Studies at the University of Texas at Austin. The project aims to 1) demonstrate the communication profiles and developmental trajectories of English and Spanish-speaking Latino children with autism and 2) identify factors that impact language development in this population.
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Erik Carter and Jason Le Shana spoke on belonging in the church at a Houston gathering hosted by Special Needs Connect on February 25.
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The Bridges to Belonging project hosted their second in-person gathering on February 28, convening 18 church teams from across Texas.
- The Youth Transition Program will host its next Parent, Youth, and Young Adult Workshop from 6–7:30 p.m. on March 18 and will focus on financial planning and money management.
- The next BCDD Faculty Consortium Meeting will take place on March 25 from 3:30-5 p.m. at the Student Union Building (SUB).
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Our very own Melody Escobar will be featured at the April session of the Baylor Libraries Author Series, which will spotlight her book, “Revelations of Divine Care: Disability, Spirituality, and Mutual Flourishing.” She will be interviewed by Devan Stahl, Associate Professor of Bioethics and Religion. The session will be held at 12 p.m. on April 15 at Moody Memorial Library and online via Zoom webinar.
- The Equipping Educators Training Series will continue with Part 2: Data-Based Decision-Making and Evidence-Based Practices from 5:30–7:30 p.m. on April 24.
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We are continuing our impactful Equipping Educators Workshop Series, which provides professional development for teachers working with students with disabilities. Our February training session focused on goal development for high-support learners, offering strategies to create meaningful, individualized objectives. The series will continue in April with Part 2, which will emphasize data-based decision-making and evidence-based practices to enhance student outcomes. By equipping educators with practical tools and research-backed methods, the program aims to improve experiences and success for diverse learners. Contact Katie Laubender at katie_laubender@baylor.edu to learn more!
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This past month, the Baylor Collaborative on Faith and Disability officially launched Imago Dei, a Bible study and social gathering time for adults with and without intellectual disabilities. We look forward to sharing more updates as the ministry grows.
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Gospel Kim, Tracey Jones, and Kristen Padilla are launching a series of studies focusing on the needs and supports for Spanish-speaking parents who have children with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Their research will involve piloting a Spanish-speaking parent needs assessment and providing a culturally adapted behavior management training for Spanish-speaking families in Mexico. Contact Gospel Kim at gospel_kim@baylor.edu to learn more.
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The Baylor Center for Developmental Disabilities, in partnership with the Waco Mayor’s Committee for People with Disabilities, hosted its first community conversation on employment for individuals with disabilities at University High School in Waco ISD. The primary purpose of the event was to consider ways individuals with disabilities can experience improved access to job opportunities.
More than 60 members from the greater Waco community, including businesses, organizations, advocacy groups and individuals with disabilities attended the discussion. For more information, contact Katie Laubender at katie_laubender@baylor.edu.
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Save the date for the next BCDD Faculty Consortium Meeting on March 25 from 3:30-5 p.m. at the Student Union Building (SUB). Take note of the location and time change for this particular meeting. Refreshments will be provided and you will not want to miss this one!
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The BCDD Community Clinics offer a variety of ongoing, regular services for children and families in the local area, including counseling, psychological assessments, ABA therapy, and parent support groups. These services are provided by Baylor University graduate students in coordination with faculty clinicians and researchers. Reduced fees are available for families with financial need. To learn more, call our clinic at (254) 710-7677.
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Please consider a generous gift to advance the work of the Baylor Center for Developmental Disabilities. As the only disability-focused research center at a Christian university, we are faithfully working to serve our community well and wisely. We need your support and partnership to promote the flourishing of people with disabilities, families, and communities.
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