As we reflect on this season of growth and favor for the Center, we are filled with deep gratitude. So many people are coming together to help accelerate the movement toward inclusion and belonging—throughout our campus, in our community, and around the world. We love discovering new students, faculty, and staff across Baylor who share our mission and vision. We feel privileged to meet families, professionals, and leaders from throughout Texas who attend our events and collaborate on community projects. We are amazed by the passion and talents of our growing team. And we are proud of how Baylor University has named work on disability and flourishing as a featured focus of its new strategic plan, Baylor in Deeds. We are grateful to God for inviting us to and resourcing this work. As you read about the work of the Center in this November newsletter, we hope it will inspire you to consider joining and supporting this faithful movement. We are better together.
Erik Carter & Kristen Padilla
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The Center is growing! We are searching for a Media and Communications Manager, a Family Outreach Program Manager, and a Special and Inclusive Education Program Director. Keep abreast of new positions on our website.
- Elyse McMullen and Melody Escobar co-presented on “Flourishing Together: Disability and the Church” at the North American Association of Christians in Social Work Conference.
- Jason Le Shana preached at the Church Under the Bridge as part of their annual Community Health Fair on October 20.
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The Center’s research was recognized at the Second Annual Starr Lecture in Washington, DC. We recently completed a study examining the impact of Jill’s House, a Christian nonprofit organization that provides respite care to families raising children with intellectual disabilities.
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Melody Escobar’s book—Revelations of Divine Care: Disability, Spirituality, and Mutual Flourishing—was published by Baylor University Press this month.
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Our second OsoAble: Transition to Adulthood Conference was a huge success! More than 125 students, parents, and professionals learned about best practices for supporting positive post-school outcomes for young people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
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Our October Consortium Meeting focused on our signature areas of Education and Families and featured the interdisciplinary work of Kelly Johnston in Curriculum and Instruction, Sarah Mire in School Psychology, and Gospel Kim in Special Education.
- We recently learned we will be receiving our third Lilly Endowment Inc. grant focused on disability and the church. We are excited to partner with our colleagues at Wheaton College on this important project.
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Equipping Educators Workshop Series focused on the transition to adulthood (Thursday, November 7 from 5:30-7:30pm). Register online.
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Flourishing Futures Workshop Series for parents and youth/young adults with disabilities (Saturday, November 9 from 10:00-12:00pm). Register online.
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Support Group for Spanish-speaking parents (Thursday, November 21 from 5:30-7:00pm). Register online.
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A Special Starry Night celebration for individuals with developmental disabilities and their families (Saturday, December 7 from 6:00-9:00pm). Reserve your space.
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The Baylor Collaborative on Faith and Disability exists to nurture difference-making scholarship that advances the belonging of disabled persons and their families in the life of the local church. We convened 19 churches this month as part of our very first Bridges to Belonging learning community. We recently launched new research projects focused on (a) the church experiences of young adults with disabilities, mental health conditions, and chronic illnesses (co-led by Emily Frake); (b) the church experiences of parents of children with disabilities (co-led by Kari Maddox); and (c) a series of national studies focused on the views and needs of pastors, worship leaders, youth ministry leaders, and children’s ministry leaders (co-led by Jason Le Shana). In addition, we released three practice guides highlighting findings from “community conversations” on disability and the church. Our new Special Interest Group on faith and disability research begins this month (led by Jason Le Shana). To get involved in this signature area, contact Dr. Jason Le Shana.
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Our growing portfolio of family-focused projects involve developing resources and training that address the diverse needs of families in our community. Our parent workshops and support groups continue to be well-received. We are launching a new Special Interest Group on supporting people with disabilities and their families (led by Gospel Kim). We will also be expanding our efforts to reach, support, and resource families of English learners with disabilities by hiring a new Family Outreach Program Manager. To get involved in this signature area, contact Dr. Gospel Kim.
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Our transition-related work focuses on expanding post-high school opportunities supporting access to meaningful college, career, and community experiences for youth and young adults with disabilities. We are excited about starting a new “transition to adulthood” workshop series for youth and young adults with disabilities early this month. We also look forward to re-launching The HUDDLE, a social group designed to foster meaningful friendships and relationships among young adults with and without disabilities in our community (contact MacKenzie Wicker). To get involved in this signature area, contact Dr. Deidre Gilley.
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We are working to spur interdisciplinary projects across campus that advance scholarship, the training of students, and community outreach. Baylor faculty and postdocs should plan to attend our monthly Consortium Meetings to meet colleagues interested or involved in disability-related research. We now host a number of different Special Interest Groups and are eager to work with faculty to identify new areas of focus.
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Our BCDD-affiliated clinics offer assessments, intervention, and family support for individuals with disabilities. They are also a place for impactful training and research involving our students, staff, and faculty. We are now offering a first-of-its-kind ABA Transition Skills Program designed for adolescents and young adults (aged 14 years or older) with an intellectual and/or developmental disability. To learn more about our clinics, contact Dr. Kelsey Ragan.
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The work you have just read about is so important and incredibly impactful. Please consider a gift to advance the work of the Baylor Center for Developmental Disabilities. As the only disability research center at a Christian university, we are faithfully working to serve our community well and wisely. We would love your support and partnership.
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