Center for Excellence in Disabilities at WVU

01/21/2026

Our friends at the WV Autism Training Center at Marshall University are offering a 4-part virtual Parent Empowerment Series beginning on February 3rd designed for parents and caregivers supporting individuals with autism.

Join WV ATC Autism Specialists to learn about ASD characteristics, behavior and regulation, communication and social skills, and practical strategies for achieving meaningful goals.

This free online series will meet weekly from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. beginning Tuesday, February 3, 2026. Sessions are designed to be completed as a series. Registration for all four sessions is highly encouraged.

Visit https://www.marshall.edu/atc/pes/ to register.

Contact Karen Doss, WV ATC Community Education Coordinator at barker28@marshall.edu with any questions.

The WV Autism Training Center is pleased to announce the 4-part virtual Parent Empowerment Series designed for parents and caregivers supporting individuals with autism. Join WV ATC Autism Specialists to learn about ASD characteristics, behavior and regulation, communication and social skills, and practical strategies for achieving meaningful goals.

This free online series will meet weekly from 12pm to 1pm beginning Tuesday, February 3, 2026. Sessions are designed to be completed as a series. Registration for all four sessions is highly encouraged.

Scan the QR code below or visit https://www.marshall.edu/atc/pes/ to register.

Questions? Please email Karen Doss, WV ATC Community Education Coordinator at barker28@marshall.edu.

01/21/2026

The WVU Eye Institute and Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences is hosting a screening for the new documentary "Sight Unseen" this Friday, January 23 from 5-8 p.m. at the Erickson Alumni Center in Morgantown, WV.

"Sight Unseen" was filmed over more than a year in locations across West Virginia. The documentary shares the stories of several local blind and visually impaired teens and how their experiences through the WVU Children's Vision Rehabilitation Program (CVRP) have impacted their lives.

Get more info: https://medicine.hsc.wvu.edu/News/Story?headline=media-advisory-documentary-featuring-stories-of-west-virginia-s-blind-and-visually-impaired-youth-to

WVU Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences

01/20/2026

Attn: Families and caregivers of WV students in grades 6-12 who are deaf/hard of hearing (DHH) or visually impaired (VI).

The West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and the Blind are hosting another week-long Discovery P.O.I.N.T. session during February 8-12, 2026. In addition to the program's hands-on career training and life skills preparation, this session will also include an adaptive ski trip sponsored by the WV Lions Club Recreation Program!

Learn more and register: https://forms.office.com/r/ZxASXYktSX

West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and the Blind

01/16/2026

The WVU CED will be closed on Monday, January 19 in observance of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

Dr. King's leadership and work with the civil rights movement helped pave the way for both the Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (passed in 1973) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (passed in 1990). These vital pieces of legislation help protect the rights of people with disabilities today and ensure equality in housing, employment, education, transportation, and more.

Learn more about how Dr. King helped lay the groundwork for the disability rights movement: https://www.americanbar.org/groups/diversity/disabilityrights/news/how-civil-rights-movement-paved-way-disability-rights-disability-justice/

01/16/2026

Alive to Thrive Day happens next week!

Adaptive skiing for West Virginians with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and their caregivers, a full-day professional TBI CEU conference with expert speakers from all over the country, a keynote from world-class skier and TBI advocate Jamie MoCrazy, a screening of (the award-winning documentary film about Jamie's TBI recovery journey), a social meet-and-greet dinner, and more!

Get tickets: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/alive-to-thrive-wv

MoCrazy Strong Brain Injury Foundation
WV TBI Services
Canaan Valley Resort
CAWV in The Valley
WVU Physical Therapy Program
Tucker County, West Virginia

Moments by Moavii | https://www.youtube.com/
Free To Use | https://freetouse.com/music
Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com

01/15/2026

A couple of years ago, the Family to Family (F2F) program at the WVU CED created a video series all about navigating medical transitions from pediatric to adult healthcare.

Due to West Virginia's rural landscape and distance between specialists, accessing specialized healthcare for people with complex needs can be a huge challenge. This series features first-hand accounts from families of children with complex medical needs, providers, parents, and people with lived-experience who have made the transition to adult healthcare.

Thank you to the Hatcher family and Dr. Shorter for their participation and expertise shared in this clip.

Check out a free training series, resources, infographics, and view the full mini-documentary: https://cedwvu.org/families/medical/navigating-medical-transitions/

WV F2F and P4P Programs
Association of University Centers on Disabilities

01/14/2026

Please join us on Tuesday, February 10 at 2 p.m. EST as we welcome Dr. Robert Gould from the University of Illinois Chicago's Department of Disability and Human Development!

Dr. Gould will be presenting on disability inclusion, corporate responsibility, and workplace flexibility. As always, CED Ability Grand Rounds are free to attend, so we'd love for you to be part of the conversation!

Register: https://wvu.zoom.us/meeting/register/cqlQaWQdRa-ixx-cbIEeBw #/registration

UIC Department of Disability and Human Development

01/14/2026

The deadline to apply for the WVU Country Roads program 2026-27 academic year is coming up on March 15!

The Country Roads program prepares students with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities for independence by providing academic courses, social engagement, and real-world work experiences. Students live in dorms on campus, ride the PRT, attend campus events, and get the full college experience.

Learn more: https://countryroads.cedwvu.org/

01/13/2026

The next Virtual Speaker Series webinar hosted by the Paths for Parents program will feature Anna Price as she discusses legal and financial planning tips including estate planning, guardianship, and special needs trusts.

Join us on February 3 at 11 a.m. and be a part of the discussion!

Register: https://wvumdtv.zoom.us/meeting/register/oxNNvQpLSKucMp5t-tHj1g #/registration

Join us!
Virtual Speaker Series
Planning for the Future:
Legal and Financial Tips You Can't Miss

Register to Attend
https://wvumdtv.zoom.us/meeting/register/oxNNvQpLSKucMp5t-tHj1g

February 3, 2026 Speaker Series Info:
Date: February 3, 2026
Time: 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Presenter: Anna Price, Attorney at Bowles Rice LLP

Topic: Planning for the Future: Legal and Financial Tips You Can't Miss
Estate planning can feel overwhelming, especially for families of children with special healthcare needs. This session will break down some of the basics, including guardianship, special needs trusts, and legal vehicles to assist with the future.

What you’ll learn:
• The steps to take and the resources that are available to help.
• What guardian and special needs trusts are and when to use them.
• How to plan for your child's future, no matter their age.

At the end of the discussion, we’ll have an open Q&A session where you can ask follow-up questions or just chat with the experts. You’ll leave feeling more connected, empowered, and ready to take on whatever comes your way.

These sessions are designed to fit into your lunch break, so grab a bite, tune in, and join a community of families who understand what you’re going through. Let’s take care of ourselves and each other, one lunch break at a time!

01/13/2026

We love seeing this kind of representation!

Kudos to Barbie for working with the Autistic Self Advocacy Network to create a Barbie with autism! All children should be able to feel included and seen as they grow and play.

Looking for autism resources in West Virginia? Check out our database and interactive map: https://cedwvu.org/resources/autism-resources-in-west-virginia/

01/12/2026

Did you know that eligible former foster youth in West Virginia can receive up to $5,000 per school year to further their education through the Mentoring and Oversight for Developing Independence with Former Foster Youth (MODIFY) program?

Provided educational and training vouchers can be used to attend a WV university, college, or vocational program after high school. Funds can help cover tuition and fees, textbooks, special equipment for classes, and more. Youth who meet the criteria remain eligible for up to 5 years of school or until they turn 26.

Learn more about the MODIFY program: https://modify.cedwvu.org/

West Virginia Department of Human Services

01/12/2026

Don't forget to join us tomorrow, January 13, from 4:30-5:30 p.m. EST as we welcome Emily Siqi Lu from the Griffith Institute for Tourism in Australia for this month's CED Ability Grand Rounds!

Emily will be presenting research and discussing workers with disabilities in the tourism industry. All are welcome to attend this free virtual webinar and join in the discussion!

Register for free: https://wvu.zoom.us/meeting/register/3vsCru0-TU6jTAzDsa5Npg #/registration

Griffith Institute for Tourism
QUT (Queensland University of Technology)