The Advocator

02/26/2026

Disability Advoacy Day 2026 at the Alabama State House. Guest speakers inclue ADMH Associate Commisioner Camille Cumuze, Senator Arthur Orr, Represenatitve L...

02/18/2026

Save the Date - Upcoming UAB RAN Events

Lunch and Learn
March 11 - Managing Challenging Behaviors at Home
March 26 - Project Transition
May 20 - Your Wellness is Their Strength

Community Education Workshops
April 10 - Challenging Behaviors, St. Clair County Board of Education 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM
April 28 - Safe Screens and Sound Minds, Lineville Baptist Church 5:30 - 7:30 PM
May 18 - Medicaid Waivers, Hunter Hills Church, Prattville 5:30 - 7:30 PM

02/18/2026

02/11/2026

COMING SOON....

The Arc of Central Alabama is proud to introduce the Alabama Neurodevelopment Center — expanding access to quality neurodevelopmental evaluations and building a stronger future for individuals across the lifespan.

More information — including our website — is coming soon…

Be sure to follow along with us!

02/09/2026

Are you a parent or caregiver of a child with special health care needs in Birmingham, Homewood or Huntsville areas?

We need you to help provide information, training and support to other families of children with special health care needs as a local CRS Parent Consultant.

To learn more and apply email financedirector@eastersealsca.org

02/09/2026

Seeking services for someone with developmental disabilities? Call the Division of Developmental Disabilities' Call Center.

01/30/2026

01/30/2026

Project SEARCH Shelby County is now accepting applications for its 2026–27 intern class, offering local students with disabilities the opportunity to gain real-world job experience while preparing for competitive employment in the community.

01/30/2026

✨ All In! Resource Expo – This Saturday! ✨

Join us Saturday, January 31 from 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. at Vineyard Family Services for the All In! Resource Expo, a free, community-centered event connecting individuals and families with the support they need 💙

We’ll have 32 vendors on-site offering resources, tools, and guidance for individuals, parents, caregivers, educators, and service providers.

🎤 Free Breakout Workshops (10–12):

✔️ Benefits Counseling (10–11 a.m.)
Learn how employment and income can impact Social Security benefits like SSI and SSDI. Presented by the Alabama Department of Mental Health.

✔️ Connecting the Dots (11–12 p.m.)
Designed for caregivers and educators, this session focuses on recognizing early developmental delays and supporting young neurodiverse learners. Presented by Dr. Laura Henson, PhD – University of Alabama.

✔️ Healthy Relationships (11–12 p.m.)
An interactive workshop exploring boundaries, consent, communication, and asking for help. Presented by Safehouse Pelham.

This event is perfect for parents, educators, service providers, and community members looking for practical resources and meaningful connections.
Registration for breakout sessions encouraged.
To register: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=0dibxfXSUUq-urnodWUlzqUhFz6IzSdAtw1pUVYf3StURERJSUVaVU5PQjZDM0Y4SzkzOEUxTElKOS4u

📍 Vineyard Family Services, 1359 Royalty Dr., Alabaster
🕙 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
📅 Saturday, January 31

Come learn, connect, and grow—all are welcome!

01/23/2026

Children's Rehabilitation Service has partnered with the Alabama Parent Education Center (APEC) for a series revolving around Special Education. The speaker for the sessions is Gian Carlo Carattini, the Alabama PTI Outreach Coordinator. All sessions are via Zoom and registration is free.

January 30th, 9:30 A.M.
Part I: What is Advocacy in Special Education?

February 27, 9:30 A.M.
Part II: Advocacy - It's All About Communication

March 13, 9:30 A.M.
Part III: Advocacy - It's All About Understanding the Rules and Laws

April 17, 9:30 A.M.
Part IV: Advocacy - It's All About Testing, Data Scoring, the IEP and Procedural Safeguards

For more information, call Kristy Thompson at 334-222-5558, or email her at kristy.thompson@rehab.alabama.gov. Or, call Ashley Griffin at 334-678-5059, or email her at ashley.griffin@rehab.alabama.gov.

01/21/2026

We are so excited to offer our first Neurodivergent Farm Fun Day! The farm will be open for new experiences and learning. 💙

February 28th
10am - 12pm
18 and under welcome to participate 🙏
Cost: bring a donation

Sign up now: (251)-213-9634 🐴