Center for Family Involvement

04/21/2026

Gentle Reminder … Please Vote!

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

04/21/2026

SAVE THE DATE!
Mark your calendars now for our annual Dyslexia Symposium on Saturday, October 24, 2026, on VCU's Monroe Park campus at 301 West Main, Richmond, VA 23284.

Hosted by the VCU School of Education and T/TAC, attendees will enjoy a keynote speaker, lunch, breakout sessions, vendor tables, and networking—plus 4 hours of professional development!

This annual symposium, funded by the Ruth Harris Professorship and open to students, educators, advocates, and the general public, provides research and resources to support students with dyslexia. The Dyslexia Symposium is a unique opportunity for families, early career and veteran professionals, and students to come together and delve into dyslexia and language disorders. Whether you attend in person or virtually, you can look forward to a day filled with valuable insights and learning.

More details coming soon: bit.ly/DyslexiaVCU

04/21/2026

🧐What is “The Inspiration Trap?”: Reducing a whole person to a "feel-good" story for others.

The pressure to be "inspiring" as a price of admission to society.

A new term … what is “Glurge?”:
A general internet term for stories that are overly sweet and "heartwarming" but actually shallow or exploitative.

Visual Example: A flower growing on grass says, “You're so strong!”

A flower growing between rocks replies, “I'm not strong. I'm surviving in a situation I have no choice about.”

Visual of what to do about it:

WHAT PEOPLE THINK PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES WANT TO HEAR:

"You’re so inspiring
"I see you as an equal"

Visual of a person being crushed by the cloud of inspiration.

WHAT DISABLED PEOPLE REALLY WANT TO HEAR:

• You're hired!
• Your medical coverage was approved!
• We're happy to accommodate you
• You're promoted

Visual of a person in a wheelchair high fiving a new employer.

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: Association of University Centers on Disabilities VCU School of Education Partnership for People with Disabilities

04/20/2026

Building Strong Parent Advocates
📣 OPEN: April 6, 2026 - April 27, 2026 (There is still time to join this session!)

Families of children receiving special education services find themselves in a world of complicated policies, confusing acronyms and terms, and piles of paperwork. The Building Strong Parent Advocates training provides information to help families build a solid foundation to understand the special education process while empowering them to be their child’s best advocate.

REGISTER HERE: tinyurl.com/y4czhy9p

This self-paced training takes about 6 hours to complete and can be accessed online anytime during the 3-week timeframe.

Presented by PEATC in partnership with VDOE (the Virginia Department of Education)

04/20/2026

Empower yourself with real-world safety skills!

Join us for “Personal Safety for Kids and Teens” in partnership with Kidpower on Saturday, May 9th. This interactive session will help young people build confidence, set boundaries, and practice skills they can use every day.

We’ll also share how our Tech for Independent Living program, and the Arc2Independence app, can support ongoing learning and skill-building at home and in the community. Don’t miss this opportunity to equip your family with tools that truly matter.

Register here: https://forms.zoho.com/dmonnig/form/PersonalSafetyforTeensAdultsEvent59

04/20/2026

🚀 Discover How Artificial Intelligence (AI) Can Empower Your Journey! Are you a parent, caregiver, or professional supporting youth with disabilities in Virginia? Join us for an exciting, hands-on webinar:

📆Thursday, May 7, 2026 | 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. EST (Eastern Standard Time)

AI is transforming the way families and professionals navigate vocational rehabilitation, independent living, and more.
In this session, you’ll learn how to use AI tools to:
✅ Find resources quickly
✅ Prepare for important meetings
✅ Organize information with ease
✅ Explore new career options

We’ll share real-life examples, simple tools you can start using right away, and essential tips for using AI safely and responsibly. Don’t miss this opportunity to boost your confidence and skills with technology that can make a real difference!

🔗REGISTER HERE: tinyurl.com/yf5nfyrt

This webinar will be presented on Zoom. It will not be recorded.

Let’s unlock new possibilities together!

04/17/2026

🫶Fred Rogers Friday🫶

“Anything that’s human is mentionable, and anything that is mentionable can be more manageable.

When we can talk about our feelings, they become less overwhelming, less upsetting, and less scary. The people we trust with that important talk can help us know that we are not alone.”

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

04/16/2026

We want to hear from YOU! Join our Commonwealth Listen Tour virtual session on April 20 as we connect with teachers and gather your input on how we can work together to strengthen public education in Virginia.

Your voice shapes the future of our students.

Register here: https://ow.ly/MWMZ50YKr6n

04/16/2026

“RTR allowed me to work and paid for my schooling. It was a way for me to go and finish what I started 20 years ago,” Dixon said. “RTR made it accessible, because otherwise it would not have been accessible financially.”

Dixon graduates this spring from VCU with a bachelor’s degree in special education and teaching.

As an RTR resident, she is currently teaching Tier 1 special education, primarily students with dyslexia-specific learning disabilities, at Glenkirk Elementary School in Prince William.

In addition to teaching full-time at Glenkirk and attending VCU classes remotely, Dixon co-owns and operates with her husband the Ever After Alpaca Farm.

The farm was featured last year on the TLC reality show “Baylen Out Loud,” which follows a young woman with Tourette syndrome.

“We do tours. We make products. We have a great time,” Dixon said, adding that it’s been a challenge to juggle the demands of teaching, completing 15 to 18 credit hours of classes per semester and running the farm.

“I literally don’t know what I’m going to do with all of my free time after graduation, because I have had none for two-and-a-half years.”

At VCU, Dixon was selected for the Ruth Harris Scholars Program, a collaboration between the Virginia Department of Education, the Training and Technical Assistance Center at VCU and the School of Education dean’s office.

It provides scholars, all of whom are VCU teacher education students in special education, elementary or secondary education, with no-cost professional development opportunities.

FULL ARTICLE: news.vcu.edu/article/vcu-teacher-residency-program-helps-heidi-dixon-fulfill-a-dream

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

04/16/2026

Coffee Talk: "3 Tech Trends to Watch for IDD, ASD & Exceptional Students." Featuring Adam Brooks from Bark—a former Special Education teacher—this session is designed for caregivers, professionals, and anyone navigating digital milestones.

💡 Did You Know?

Individuals with IDD or ASD often spend more time online than their neurotypical peers. Is your tech strategy ready for that?

☕Join our FREE Coffee Talk with Bark - Parental Controls. We’re discussing the 3 Tech Trends shaping digital life for exceptional students.

📅 When: May 28, 1pm EST
📱 Focus: Safety, skill-building, and independence with Bark products
🔗 Register: https://ziply.pk/gahsOb

Comment below: What’s your biggest tech struggle right now? 👇

04/15/2026

Join New Path and PEATC on Saturday, May 2, 2026, at the Hanover Parent Resource Center for a welcoming, family-centered event created with you in mind!

Are you getting ready for an IEP meeting as the school year wraps up? Or maybe you’ve already had your child’s IEP meeting and are wondering how it went—looking for a little more clarity and reassurance? Wherever you are in the process, you’re not alone. Come connect, ask questions, and gain helpful insights in a supportive space designed for families.

Light refreshments and coffee will be available beginning at 9:00 AM—we look forward to seeing you there!

Register: https://tinyurl.com/yhhtzfyk Or scan the QR

04/15/2026

Join us for the first of four Speaker Series Events from the Council on Research and Evaluation (CORE). Brian Barger, PhD, will be speaking on how autism screening tools’ diagnostic accuracy can be underestimated when based solely on initial cross-sectional data on Friday, April 24, from 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM ET.

Register at www.aucd.org/events

Center for Leadership in Disability
Georgia State University

ID: Flyer for the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) Council on Research and Evaluation (CORE) Speaker Series titled “Advancing Disability Research.” The event is scheduled for Friday, April 24, 2026, from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM ET. Featured speaker is Brian Barger, PhD, of Georgia State University. A headshot of Dr. Barger appears on the left. The flyer notes he will discuss how autism screening tools’ diagnostic accuracy may be underestimated when based only on initial cross-sectional data. A QR code and the link “aucd.org/events” are provided for registration.