Welcome to the May issue of Flourishing Together. We have enjoyed meeting so many of you at Center events throughout the spring semester. It is encouraging to see how many students, staff, faculty, families, and other community members are committed to creating communities of belonging for people with and without disabilities! As we continue to celebrate the Center’s 10th anniversary throughout this year, we are grateful we can come alongside so many of you in this impactful work—at Baylor and beyond. May is also Mental Health Awareness Month and National Mobility Awareness Month. Each reminds us of the importance of advocating for greater understanding, support, and inclusion throughout our community. Although the next few months will be a bit quieter, we encourage you to stay connected and join us for any events. We hope you have a wonderful summer.
- Erik Carter & Kristen Padilla
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Our April Equipping Special Educators training focused on teaching techniques to promote skill acquisition for individuals with disabilities. We appreciate the many educators who participated in this collaborative learning experience! Please be on the lookout for the training dates scheduled for the school year 2024-2025.
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We held our first "That Good Old Baylor FamilyLine" event, which focused on Baylor faculty and staff who have a child or family member with a developmental disability. Our aim was to connect with Baylor families, share about our center's work, and request their input on what we could do to help our families at Baylor. We had a great turnout and valued the insights families shared about the work and future of our Center.
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Our Baylor Collaborative on Faith & Disability hosted Disability & Church: A Conversation, an event focused on exploring ways to cultivate a sense of belonging within our congregations. Over 80 people attended the event, and the support of the community and surrounding communities was remarkable.
- In April, we had our last caregiver training of the school year. This training focused on supported decision making for young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. We are thrilled to provide monthly support to families of children with disabilities throughout the Waco community.
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We collaborated with the Center for Church and Community Impact (C3I) to present a free webinar on Trauma Sensitive Congregations: Disability, Belonging, and the Church. Participants learned about the mutual flourishing that occurs when congregations foster environments of safety and belonging for individuals and families who experience disability.
- We held our third BCDD Consortium meeting for Baylor faculty and postdocs. This meeting focused on autism research in relation to April being recognized as Autism Acceptance Month. Faculty presented on clinical training, applied research, and grant-funded projects focused on autism. Their contributions to our collective body of knowledge are truly commendable, and we look forward to hearing more updates in the future.
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Join the Baylor Center for Developmental Disabilities for the Oso Able Transition to Adulthood Event! It will be a full-day event for young adults (ages 14-30) with disabilities, caregivers, educators, and transition-related service providers on October 10 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at The Hurd Welcome Center. Interested in attending? Complete the form linked here.
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The Baylor Center for Developmental Disabilities is recruiting participants for three current research projects. Learn more below.
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Church Stories: Learning from Parents of Children and Youth with Disabilities.
This study focuses on the church experiences and insights of families impacted by disability. We want to hear from parents of children and youth with disabilities (ages 5-21). Interviews last about an hour, and participants receive a $50 gift card. Based on what we learn, we will create new resources that churches and parents can use to help young people with developmental disabilities grow in their faith.
Friendship Project
This study examines what friendship and belonging mean to transition-aged youth with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities. Additionally, we will explore how parents and caregivers perceive friendship. If you would like to learn more, contact MacKenzie Wicker.
Unlocking Independence
This study is currently accepting participants with intellectual or developmental disabilities to participate in a Using a Caregiver-implemented Structured Work System to Promote Independence in Daily Living Skills for Children with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities. The study will be conducted in person (e.g., at Baylor University, Baylor CARE, or participants' home). To participate in this study, participants must be 5 years or older and have an intellectual or developmental disability diagnosis. If you are interested in participating or would like more information, please contact Renming Liu.
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Dr. Margaret Wooddy has dedicated 45 years to adapting physical education programming to increase access for those with varying motor abilities. Her passion and decades of work have significantly impacted the lives of so many in schools and the community.
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We encourage Baylor faculty and postdocs whose teaching, research, or interests focus on disability to consider affiliating with our Center. Learn more about what it means to become a faculty affiliate.
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On behalf of our organization, we want to express our heartfelt congratulations to the upcoming May graduates of Baylor University. This is a significant achievement in your academic journey, and we are proud of you for your hard work and dedication to your studies. As you move forward to the next chapter of your life, we wish you all the best and hope that you will continue to strive for excellence in whatever you do. Remember that your education doesn't end here, and we encourage you to keep learning, growing, and pursuing your dreams. Congratulations once again, and we look forward to seeing all the great things that you will accomplish in the future.
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Catherine Leftwich is a Senior in Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD). Leftwich is working towards a career as an audiologist and is currently involved in two projects alongside Center faculty affiliate and Assistant Professor in CSD, Dr. Alison Prahl.
READ MORE...
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Sibling SUCCESS: Supporting Unique Collaborative Care to Encourage Shared Success is a service model in which siblings of children with autism are included within the behavioral interventions delivered to their brother or sister with autism.
Dr. Jessica Akers, assistant professor of educational psychology and Center affiliate, along with her team, are offering a one-day, six-hour course for siblings only during the summer. This workshop will target behavioral strategies to enhance the quality of interactions with their sibling with autism.
Participants must live in TX and have a sibling with autism between the ages of 5 and 17. The participant must be between the ages of 5 and 17. For their full participation, a participant's family can earn up to $75 in Amazon gift cards.
The course will be held in the following locations:
June 3 - Corpus Christi, June 5 - Waco, June 6 - Lubbock, June 10 - Amarillo, June 13 - Rio Grande Valley, June 20 - El Paso
Practitioner Training is a three-hour workshop designed to equip practitioners to effectively include siblings in the services they deliver to children with autism. BCBAs will receive three free continuing education units (CEUs). Upon completion, practitioners will also receive a $50 Amazon gift card.
This workshop will be held in the following locations:
June 4 - Corpus Christi, June 7 - Lubbock, June 11 - Amarillo, June 12 - Dallas, June 14 - Rio Grande Valley, June 17 - Austin, June 18 - Waco, June 21 - El Paso, June 28 -Houston
For more information, email siblingsuccess@baylor.edu or call 254-710-4444.
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The Texas Association of Behavior Analysis (TXABA) conference was held April 11 – 14 in Houston, TX. Each year, students are able to compete for two awards – The James Kopp Memorial Scholarship Award and the Student Poster Award. The James Kopp Memorial Scholarship honors the first president of TXABA, and funds travel support to attend the Association of Behavior Analysis International Annual Convention. To be considered for the scholarship, students submit their research project they plan to present at the national conference. One or two students are selected to receive $1000 toward their travel expenses based on the quality of the research. The Student Poster Award honors two students with the most outstanding research poster presentations at the conference.
Julie Hrabal, BCDD Student Fellow and doctoral candidate in the Educational Psychology program - ABA specialization, won both awards! She presented her research on caregiver-created and implemented video prompts to teach daily living skills to their adult child with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) within the home. Congratulations Julie!
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Our mission at the BCDD is to promote the flourishing of people with disabilities, their families, and communities. We envision a future in which people with disabilities and their families have the opportunities, support, services, and relationships needed to thrive in all aspects of their lives and communities. Support this mission and vision with us with a donation. Donate Today!
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Disability & Church: A Conversation |
On Wednesday, April 17, the BCDD, in collaboration with the Baylor Collaborative on Faith and Disability, hosted Disability & Church: A Conversation. This is just one of the events we have held to advance inclusion in churches. Good Faith Media was in attendance and covered the event.
READ MORE...
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Baylor’s Disability & Church conversation emphasizes belonging |
The Baptist Standard, a religious publication based in Texas, covered the event titled "Disability & Church: A Conversation". The event was aimed at fostering a dialogue about disability and the role of the church in supporting individuals with disabilities. It featured a panel of experts and individuals with disabilities who shared their experiences and insights with attendees. The event was well-received and generated discussion about how the church can better serve and include individuals with disabilities in their communities.
READ MORE...
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5 Tips to Help Students With Disabilities Feel Like They Belong |
In the National Education Week article from April 14, 2024, Dr. Erik Carter's work on belonging is highlighted. He has developed what he calls the 10 dimensions of belonging, a list of practices that, together, create an environment where all students—but particularly those with disabilities who have historically been excluded—experience authentic belonging.
READ MORE...
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Cinemark Theaters and the BCDD hosted the first sensory movie night in Waco in April. The response from the disability community was so overwhelming that Cinemark opened a second theater to accommodate everyone. Kung Fu Panda 4 was screened in a sensory-friendly environment, and it was enjoyed by all. We intend to schedule more sensory-friendly movie days in the future, so stay tuned for upcoming dates.
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