Center for Family Involvement

10/21/2025

Toolkit Series: Session 1 SELF CARE FOR PROFESSIONALS
This is the 1st of 5 in a Tookit

Series October 30, 2025
1:00 - 2:00 p.m.
Virtually on Zoom

Speaker: Patrice Beard

REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED
Register now at
https://tinyurl.com/2s46x473

ASL INTERPRETATION WILL BE
AVAILABLE

https://tinyurl.com/2s46x473

ASL INTERPRETATION WILL BE
AVAILABLE

©The LOTUS Project (Linking Outreach, Trust, Understanding, and Safety) is a grant funded project made possible through support from DCJS. It is operated through a partnership between the Partnership for People with Disabilities and the VCU School of Social Work.

The mission of the LOTUS Project is to promote and facilitate awareness about abuse of people with disabilities and to advocate for equal access to services and legal protections.

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 Partnership for People with Disabilities Association of University Centers on Disabilities

10/21/2025

10/20/2025

WHAT IS THE DAWN?

The DAWN Avatar Robot
Cafe in Tokyo is a cafe where human servers who have physical disabilities or mobility issues, remotely control robot avatars. The primary goal is to provide meaningful employment and social inclusion for people who would otherwise be unable to work outside their homes.

The staff, known as "pilots," control the robot avatars from their homes or hospital beds.
With iPads and eye-tracking, pilots can see and hear customers, communicate with them, and deliver food and drinks.

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 Partnership for People with Disabilities Association of University Centers on Disabilities

10/20/2025

🧐Fascinating! Short excerpt from article:

“Deep breathing activates the vagus nerve, which carries signals between your brain, heart and other major organs in your body. It plays a major role in how the autonomic nervous system promotes relaxation, digestion, resilience and recovery,” Burch said.

HRV biofeedback combines controlled breathing with real-time feedback on heart rate and breathing patterns. Patients are connected to heart rate monitoring devices and trained to breathe through their diaphragm in a specific pattern: typically around five seconds in and five seconds out. If done properly, the patient’s heart rate will become more variable, oscillating between higher rates while inhaling and lower rates while exhaling.

“I tell patients that we’re looking to create nice smooth ocean waves on the heart rate monitor,” Varner said.

https://news.vcu.edu/article/2025/10/vcu-research-in-action-teaching-patients-to-take-a-deep-breath

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 Partnership for People with Disabilities Association of University Centers on Disabilities

A research team is exploring the clinical impact of HRV biofeedback, which could be a low-cost, noninvasive treatment for stress, concussions, burnout and other conditions.

10/20/2025

From Surprise Call to Support Plan - Smart Questions for Special Ed Parents

You get THAT call from the school- something went wrong and now you're expected to know exactly what to do.

Knowledge is power. Start by asking the right questions. Be prepared so the next "scary" call doesn't feel so scary after all.

Join Erica Swenson, Navy Special Education Liaison, as she shares practical strategies to help you:
• Stay calm
• Ask the right questions
• Advocate confidently for your child

Virtual Workshop - Wednesday, October 22rd at 6:30pm

Register here to get the link:
https://forms.gle/WMwGHwow2RZd5Qqa6

Contact: PRC@piedmonteducation.org for more information

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 Partnership for People with Disabilities Association of University Centers on Disabilities

10/18/2025

disability Law Center of Virginia
Abingdon Meet & Greet

Thursday, October 23, 2025, 11:30 - 1:30 p.m.

Register: https://dlcv.salsalabs.org/dlcv-meet/index.html

Come enjoy lunch on us and take this opportunity to connect! Our Executive Director, Colleen Miller, will offer a brief presentation that's both fun and informative.

This event is a chance for us to get to know you, and for you to learn more about the important work we do at dLCV to protect and advance the rights of Virginians with disabilities.

Please register using the link above or QR code and feel free to bring a friend or colleague who may be interested.

Registration is FREE!

Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center- 1 Partnership Circle Abingdon, VA 24210

10/17/2025

🎉FUN FACT FRIDAY - Haben Girma is a deafblind lawyer, author and advocate for disability justice. As the first deafblind graduate from Harvard Law School, she's opened doors for access and inclusion worldwide.

She's advised world leaders, including President Obama, on disability rights and digital accessibility.

She also collaborates with companies to make websites, apps, and devices more accessible.

Fun Fact: She surfs, dances, and codes, proving that disability is not a barrier to adventure or achievement.

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 Partnership for People with Disabilities Association of University Centers on Disabilities

10/16/2025

12 reasons to pay speakers with / speakers:

10/16/2025

Leading the pack with clinical compassion: With paw patrols spanning more than two decades, the Dogs on Call program at VCU Health continues to show the positive impact therapy dogs make on patients and health care workers.

ARTICLE LINK: www.vcuhealth.org/news/leading-the-pack-with-clinical-compassion

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 Partnership for People with Disabilities Association of University Centers on Disabilities

10/16/2025

Happy ! 🦯🎉

Today is a day to celebrate and recognize this incredible tool that helps folks in the navigate safely, independently and with confidence.

Can we do it? Yes we can(e)! 🧑‍🦯‍➡️🙌

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Image: A digital illustration of a white cane over a background of very light sparkles. Text reads: "I can. You can. We can(e)! Happy White Cane Day!" The BlindNewWorld logo is at the bottom of the graphic.