Bryan-College Station Disability Conference & Resource Fair
Agenda
Bryan-College Station Disability Conference & Resource Fair “Making Connections” Schedule
Conference Schedule
- – – Check-in, coffee, Meet Resources
- – – Keynote: Dr. Elizabeth Sledge
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Title: Navigating Medical Services and Advocating For Your Child’s Needs: A Pediatrician and Parent’s Perspective – Dr. Elizabeth Sledge, Summit Pediatrics
Description: In this session, we will discuss the difficulties in accessing appropriate care for children with special needs and the importance of giving our children a voice. At the end of the session, we hope parents will feel equipped to advocate for their children and more confident in navigating the medical system.
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- – – Meet Resources
- – – Breakout sessions 1 (choose one to attend)
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Title: Partnering for Success: An Autism Panel Discussion for Parents (Birth – Elementary)
Description: This panel discussion is designed to empower parents of young children with autism (birth through elementary) to become effective partners with their child’s school. Our expert panel will provide practical strategies for navigating the educational system, advocating for your child’s needs, and fostering a positive and productive learning experience.
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Title: Navigating SSI and SSDI Programs – Craig Davis, Program Manager Brazos Valley Center for Independent Living
Description: This breakout session will provide a high-level overview of Social Security Supplemental Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), two essential programs designed to assist individuals with disabilities and low-income individuals. Participants will gain an understanding of the eligibility requirements, application processes, and benefits of each program, as well as the differences between them.
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Title: UN CAMINO HACIA UNA VIDA MÁS INDEPENDIENTE – Leticia LaSota, PATHS Program Director
Description: En está presentación hablarémos sobre los siguientes temas:
■ Los beneficios de la educación despúes de la preparatoria (high school)
■ Preparación de padres e hijos para aplicar y participar en estos programas
■ Cómo el programa de acceso al entrenamiento en servicios humanos (PATHS) puede ayudar a desarroyar y mejorar hábitos para vivir una vida màs independiente.
■ Experiecias narradas por estudiantes del programa PATHS en la Universidad de Texas A&M
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- – – Meet Resources
- – – Breakout Session 2 (choose one to attend)
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Title: Launching into Adulthood: An Autism Panel Discussion for Secondary Students and Beyond
Description: This panel discussion is tailored to support students with autism (secondary school through young adulthood) and their families as they navigate the transition to greater independence. Our expert panel will address key topics related to life after high school, including post-secondary education, employment, independent living, and self-advocacy.
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Title: You Don’t Know What you Don’t Know – Melissa Benn, Benn Law Group
Description: A legal overview for the special needs community…I will touch on ABLE accounts, estate planning, and guardianship and alternatives. The focus will be on guardianships.
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Title: A PATH FOR GREATER INDEPENDENCE – – Leticia LaSota, PATHS Program Director
Description: In this presentation, we will cover the following topics:
■ The benefits of postsecondary education programs
■ How can parents and students prepare to apply for and participate in these programs?
■ How Postsecondary Access Training in Human Services (PATHS) enhances independent living skills and foster greater independence.
■ Personal experiences shared by current students in the PATHS program
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- – – Meet your Disability Resources
- – – Meet Resources
- – End of Conference and Resource Fair
Speakers
Keynote speaker
Dr. Elizabeth Sledge
Navigating Medical Services and Advocating For Your Child’s Needs: A Pediatrician and Parent’s Perspective
– Dr. Elizabeth Sledge, Summit Pediatrics
In this session, we will discuss the difficulties in accessing appropriate care for children with special needs and the importance of giving our children a voice. At the end of the session, we hope parents will feel equipped to advocate for their children and more confident in navigating the medical system.
As a board-certified pediatrician, I can attest to the challenges of medical school and residency, but the most difficult, rewarding, and important job I have is raising my twelve-year-old daughter and nine-year-old son. My journey took an unexpected turn with pregnancy complications before my son was born. After birth, we noticed motor delays, speech delays, and sensory difficulties, and he was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder at two-and-a-half years of age. Since then, we have been in physical therapy, occupational therapy, feeding therapy, speech therapy, ABA therapy, social skills, and parent training. We have struggled through lack of sleep, worked through meltdowns and feeding difficulties, and navigated the special education system, including troubleshooting accommodations and school services. Every new part of the journey has brought its own challenges and has come with bumps, twists, and turns.
Although this is not the journey I expected, I would not trade it for any other. My “tour guide” has been amazing and has taught me so much. I am a better mother, a better physician, and a better advocate because of him. After residency, I joined the Texas Tech Pediatrics faculty and served as an assistant professor for seven years. During that time, I took care of many families of children with disabilities and developmental differences and strived to provide family-centered and supportive care. I also worked to educate medical students, residents, and other medical professionals about disabilities and special education services.
I consider my two beautiful children to be my greatest achievement and motherhood to be my greatest accomplishment. I rejoice with every step taken, every hill climbed, and every milestone achieved, and the lessons I have learned have equipped me to better serve others. In July 2023, I moved back home to Bryan-College Station to practice at Summit Pediatrics where I could continue to serve as a provider and advocate for my children and yours.
Autism and Developmental Screening Registration
The University of Texas at Austin’s Texas Center for Disability Studies is hosting FREE Autism and Developmental screenings during the Bryan-College Station Disability Conference and Resource Fair, on Saturday, February 1, 2025, from 8:00 am to 12:30 pm. The 20-minute screening can identify if there are concerns about your child’s development. Screenings are available for children ages 1 year through 17 years of age.
We will ask you questions about your child’s development and behavior. Your child does not need to be present. You will receive the results of the screening and recommendations for next steps. This is NOT a diagnostic evaluation.
Need more information? Contact Dr. Sandra Vanegas at sandra.vanegas@austin.utexas.edu
Switched Adapted Toys: BCS Charter
Saturday, February 1, 2025
What is Switched?
Every child, regardless of ability, deserves the opportunity to explore their world and develop essential skills through play. To support this, we will provide adapted toys and a switch free of charge. To learn more about the event and how you can be involved, view our flyer below.
View event flyer: English
About the conference
The Bryan-College Station Disability Conference and Resource Fair (formally, the “Success Conference”) is a collaborative between local family groups who support families with children with disabilities, organizations and agencies that serve them, school districts, rehabilitative care, and the Center on Disability and Development (CDD) at Texas A&M University. The purpose is to provide a platform for education, information dissemination, introduction to community and disability resources, and networking with other area families who have children with disabilities. The Brazos Valley Disability Conference and Resource Fair is an opportunity for those with disabilities and their family members to continue to build strong and supportive community, gather meaningful resources, and increase knowledge that will support their decision-making in how they define and plan for a purposeful life.
The conference leadership team organizes and hosts the conference with and for people with disabilities and those who support them in the Brazos Valley. The attendees have an opportunity to visit with local disability and community resources at vendor tables, attend keynote speaker sessions, and learn from area professionals who are also natural supports for the disability community during breakout sessions. Attendees will also connect with resources available to you and your family such as financial resources, respite care, recreational/community inclusion, job training, health care, education, living arrangements and more!