Center for Family Involvement

02/21/2026

Transition Fair

02/20/2026

🎉FUN FACT FRIDAY-Dragon Tales

In the early 2000's on PBS, Lorca debuts in S2E6, "A New Friend," where Max and Emmy meet Lorca and go on a treasure hunt.

Lorca was born without wings and is paralyzed from the waist down. His wheelchair is part of his everyday life - not a plot device, not something to “fix," and not treated as a tragedy.

Long before disability was common in kids' media, Lorca showed children that mobility aids belong in every world, including magical ones.

He is quiet, calm, and known for problem-solving. He sees the best in others and helps the group think through challenges. He's not defined by his disability but by his wisdom and kindness.

Who are we?
tinyurl.com/CFI-PPD-VCU

1 ON 1 SUPPORT | ALWAYS FREE

Find us on Instagram: center4familyinvolvement

The Center for Family Involvement is affiliated with: VCU School of Education Association of University Centers on Disabilities Partnership for People with Disabilities

Thanks to Misa On Wheels for posting about this!

02/20/2026

When Umang Sharma saw an ad for a $7,000 Braille keyboard, he knew there had to be a better way. Now his nonprofit has grants from Google and Microsoft to distribute a much more affordable version.

02/19/2026

😮 WAIT, WHAT? If you qualify, the program covers 100% of your health insurance premium!

WHAT IS HIPP FOR KIDS?
INCLUDING the part taken from
your paycheck!

WHO IS ELIGIBLE?

The Child Must:
• Live at Home
• Be Enrolled in Medicaid
• Be Under 19
• Reside in Virginia

The Parent Must:
Have employer-sponsored health insurance who pays at least 40% of the premium

LINK: www.dmas.virginia.gov

Who are we?
tinyurl.com/CFI-PPD-VCU

1 ON 1 SUPPORT | ALWAYS FREE

Find us on Instagram: center4familyinvolvement

The Center for Family Involvement is affiliated with: VCU School of Education Association of University Centers on Disabilities Partnership for People with Disabilities

Cardinal Care

02/18/2026

A popular children's television show is revealing that a key character has a disability.

02/18/2026

NO CAR? No problem. Virginia
Medicaid & FAMIS can get you there, FREE!

WHAT'S COVERED?
• Doctor Visits
• Therapy & Counseling
• Dental Appointments
• Pharmacies
• Mental Health Servicesl

HOW TO SCHEDULE?

Managed Care Members:
Call your health plan (number on your Medicaid card)

Fee-for-Service Members:
Call ModivCare
1-866-386-8331 (Mon-Fri, 6
AM-8 PM)

RIDE OPTIONS?

• Standard Car or Van
• Wheelchair-Accessible Vehicles
• Bus Passes or Tokens
• Mileage

Reimbursement for Family Drivers

WHAT'S NEEDED?

• Medicaid ID Number
• Pickup & Destination
• Appointment Date & Return Time (If Needed)
• Contact Number

Who are we?
tinyurl.com/CFI-PPD-VCU

1 ON 1 SUPPORT | ALWAYS FREE

Find us on Instagram: center4familyinvolvement

The Center for Family Involvement is affiliated with: VCU School of Education Association of University Centers on Disabilities Partnership for People with Disabilities

Cardinal Care Access to Care

02/17/2026

DYSLEXIA WORKSHOPS | REGISTER TODAY!
The Ruth Harris Professorship at the VCU School of Education will be presenting a series of virtual workshops during February and March. The workshops are FREE and will be open to community members, parents, teachers, and other professionals. Each workshop will be presented via Zoom.

WORKSHOP 1: Cognitive Load Theory in Instructional Design
w/ Dr. Jamey Peavler of Mount St. Joseph University
Wednesday, February 4 at 7 PM EST via Zoom
REGISTER: https://bit.ly/RH26-Workshop1

WORKSHOP 2: Supporting Students With Word Reading Difficulties
w/ Dr. Erin Beard, from the University of Florida Literacy Institute (UFLI)
Wednesday, February 25 at 7 PM EST via Zoom
REGISTER: https://bit.ly/RH26-Workshop2

Please email Heidi Dixon at ruthharris@vcu.edu with any questions.

02/17/2026

Check it out!

Register by March 1st! We want to hear from YOU!
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1iKtoOm5UmymbEL4J1WuVCyV6824DGyKnlVWF4X21jUE/edit
Join Virginia Dept. of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS) and The Arc of Virginia for a virtual Lived Experiences Listening Session to share your experiences navigating Virginia’s disability services system. This session is designed to gather input on what is working well, what is challenging, and what information or supports may be missing, and to inform DBHDS’s resource development and the Shared Values Project. We are holding the session for people with developmental disabilities/self-advocates and family members with lived experience. Others are welcome to listen and learn, but our priority is hearing directly from people with lived experience.
We will have 4 breakout rooms for focused conversation:
-New to the DD services system
-On the DD Waivers Waiting List
-Recently received a DD Waiver slot
-DBHDS Shared Values Project

When: March 3rd from 6:30pm to 8:00pm.
Where: Virtually on Zoom

02/17/2026

Open to the public!!!

Exciting News! We're thrilled to announce our keynote speaker for the 2025 Dyslexia Symposium: Kelli Sandman-Hurley, Ed.D.

As the founder of the Dyslexia Training Institute, an accomplished author, national speaker, passionate advocate, and expert witness for students and their families, Dr. Sandman-Hurley brings unparalleled expertise to empower those who support students with dyslexia.

As the founder of the Dyslexia Training Institute, an accomplished author, national speaker, passionate advocate, and expert witness for students and their families, Dr. Sandman-Hurley brings unparalleled expertise to empower those who support students with dyslexia.

Join us on Saturday, November 8, 2025, at VCU's Monroe Park Campus (301 West Main, Richmond, VA 23284). Hosted by VCU School of Education and T/TAC, this event includes lunch, breakout sessions, vendor tables, networking, and 4 hours of professional development—all funded by the Ruth Harris Professorship. This year’s event is in-person, and video recordings of some of the presentations will be available at no charge after the event.

Open to students, educators, advocates, families, and the public. Dive into research, resources, and strategies for dyslexia and language disorders!

Questions? Contact us at ruthharris@vcu.edu. Registration opens in August: bit.ly/DyslexiaVCU

Don't miss this unique opportunity!

VCU Department of Counseling & Special Education
VCU T/TAC
Partnership for People with Disabilities
Center for Family Involvement
The New Community School (TNCS)
Decoding Dyslexia VA-New River Valley
Decoding Dyslexia Virginia
Fairfax County Special Education PTA - SEPTA
Henrico Education Foundation
PWC Special Education PTA - SEPTA
Dyslexia Training Institute
IDEAS - Impacting Dyslexia Education Awareness and Support
Richmond Public Schools
Support Richmond Public Schools
Virginia Department of Education - VDOE
Virginia School Counselor Association
Council for Exceptional Children
Metro Richmond Parent support for Public Schools
Chesterfield County Public Schools
Center for Family Involvement
VCU Department of Educational Leadership


-T/TAC

02/16/2026

🔦Shining the Spotlight💥3D-printed creations help individuals with disabilities. Medical student at Virginia Commonwealth University, Nihal Patel, has designed and created a variety of custom devices to address unique challenges that are often overlooked.

Here’s how it started … at an Adaptive Fashion Show he met the mother of one of the models in the show, an elementary school student with quadriplegia, who was frustrated that she couldn’t easily hold a water bottle as she pushed her son’s wheelchair.

“It is such a specific problem that most people wouldn’t ever consider needing a solution for,” Patel said. “But it's the ability to navigate those everyday situations that add up to someone’s quality of life.”

With inspiration and experience in computer-aided design, Patel got to work. He met with the family again to measure the exact dimensions of the wheelchair, and using his hobbyist knowledge, drafted a design for a water bottle holder that could attach to the wheelchair.

Patel then took that design to The Workshop, an equipment depot and makerspace in Cabell, where VCU students can reserve tools like laser cutters, quilting machines and 3D printers.

After he fed the design into the 3D printer, the machine slowly deposited a heated filament, layer by layer. A few hours later, he had a small cupholder that would clip onto the boy’s wheelchair.

At the time, Patel assumed it would be a one-off project. But when he watched this child’s mother gush with joy and gratitude, calling family members over FaceTime to show them the device he had just handed her, he was hooked.

“Her reaction is the reason I’m still doing this,” Patel said. “She had been through so much and I think she just felt very seen. I want to make others feel that way and that experience showed me a way of doing it.”

Story Link: news.vcu.edu/article/2026/02/medical-students-3d-printed-creations-help-individuals-with-disabilities

Who are we?
tinyurl.com/CFI-PPD-VCU

1 ON 1 SUPPORT | ALWAYS FREE

Find us on Instagram: center4familyinvolvement

The Center for Family Involvement is affiliated with: VCU School of Education Association of University Centers on Disabilities Partnership for People with Disabilities

02/16/2026

Awesome 🤩

A one-of-a-kind museum chronicling disability history is reopening after a five-year hiatus in a new, bigger space that's hundreds of miles away from its previous home.