Back-to-School Resources + Buddy Walk 2026

 

Start the Year Prepared & Connected A new school year can bring excitement, uncertainty and plenty of questions—especially for families of children and youth with disabilities or healthcare needs. A little planning, early communication and support from the school team can help make the transition smoother. Continue Reading

Back-to-School Tips from the Experts: The Students We asked a few experts – the students, of course – about going back to school. What makes you excited or happy about going back to school? Is there anything you’re nervous about? What do you want your teachers to know about you?   Hear what they say

Upcoming Education Trainings   The Basics of the IEP  Wednesday, September 9, 2026 | 12:00 - 1:00 pm Register here --- Introduction to Section 504  Wednesday, September 30, 2026 | 12:00 - 1:00 pm Register here

Register for Buddy Walk today! Sunday, November 1, 2026  Join us for our annual Buddy Walk! Families, friends, neighbors, schools, businesses, and community partners come together to celebrate every Buddy, while raising awareness and supporting Family Connection's mission of connecting families across South Carolina. Buddy Walk® was established in 1995 by the National Down Syndrome Society. Whether this is your first Buddy Walk or your family's favorite fall tradition, you'll find a welcoming community ready to celebrate alongside you.  Check out Team HDR's video about why they participate! Team Registration and fundraising are open and you can sign up today!

SC DHHS Waiver Updates The South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (SCDHHS) has announced they intend to file waiver renewals with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for the Intellectual Disability/Related Disabilities (ID/RD) (SC.0237) and the Medically Complex Children (MCC) (SC.0675) home and community-based services waivers with proposed effective of January 1, 2027. Questions and comments can be submitted to DHHS by email or mail prior to Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2026.  Email: Comments@scdhhs.gov Mail: Attention: Michelle Abney Bureau of Policy South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Post Office Box 8206 Columbia, SC 29202-8206

Save the Date - Hopes & Dreams 2027 Thursday, April 8, 2027 Family Connections' Hopes & Dreams Conference brings together parents, students, professionals, exhibitors, and sponsors for a day of learning and collaboration!

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Adaptive Tech You Control With Your Tongue

August , 2026 - View in browser

PRODUCTS Reviewing Augmental's MouthPad^ Wearable Controller John Mohler has been talking to his computer since the '90s. As a power wheelchair user with MS, a mouth stick and speech recognition were his preferred tools, which meant every work email, every private message was said out loud to whoever was in the room. Then he tried Augmental’s Mouthpad^, a touchpad you wear like a retainer that works with your tongue. Click the link for his review. RECREATION Two Accessible Ways to Make Getting In and Out of the Water Easier Getting into the water from a dock is the easy part. Getting back out has never had a good answer. Enter the SwimStep, a modular staircase with steps that start below the waterline, turning the dock exit into a series of small transfers. Plus: an Aquatic Access pool lift with no battery, no motor and no electronics. It runs on a garden hose COMIC Please Remain Seated: Hiking Chair DAY IN THE LIFE Nail Artist Nelssy Lazcano Nelssy Lazcano began doing nail art as a hobby during the pandemic to pass the time when she could no longer work at her previous job because of a spinal cord injury. She bought a nail kit, started practicing on her mom and sister and soon realized that she had a natural talent. See how she now spends her days doing custom nail art for clients in the accessible nail studio she built in her spare room. COMMUNITY SUPPORT A Place Between Rehab and Home Insurance decides when rehab ends. It doesn't decide when your home gets a ramp or a bathroom you can use. Many newly injured people fall into the gap between rehab and reality. In Portland, Oregon, there's a new option for that difficult in-between. It's a two-bedroom house with an unusual history, run by a local SCI nonprofit, and it’s about to accept its first resident. PRO TIP How Nerve Reconstruction is Giving Some Ventilator Users a New Option Ahmad Bilal was told he'd be on a ventilator for the rest of his life. Both of his phrenic nerves — the wiring that tells the diaphragm to breathe — were damaged. Weaning failed. Then he tried a little-publicized surgery that rebuilds the wiring, repairing the phrenic nerve with a transfer to give a diaphragm pacer a chance. After months of hard work, Bilal was able to wean off the ventilator entirely.

RQ 2026: Register and Reserve Your Room Today!

 

If you haven't made your plans for Reimagining Quality 2026, now is the perfect time!   Join us October 4-6, 2026, at the Renaissance Baltimore Harborplace Hotel in Baltimore, Maryland, for three days of innovative ideas, practical learning, and meaningful connections with leaders across the IDD Field.   Don't miss these important deadlines: Exhibitor applications are due August 24, 2026. Showcase your organization and connect with leaders, advocates, and professionals from across the IDD field. Early registration rates end August 25, 2026. Register today to lock in early bird pricing! Reserve your hotel room by September 1, 2026, to receive the preferred conference rate. Don't miss your chance to secure the best rates and make the most of your conference experience.   We look forward to seeing you in Baltimore!

Become an Exhibitor Register! Book Your Room

August 2026 Leadership in IDD

Perspectives Commentary from the field  The Importance of Role Play in Job Skills for Youth with Developmental Disabilities Lyliana Rivera Tirado, EdD Lean Education, Inc.   Role play is an effective strategy for youth with developmental disabilities to practice real-life job skills in a safe, supportive environment. Through role play, students rehearse workplace behaviors to build confidence and reduce anxiety before entering real work situations.   For students, role ploy provides an active learning experience that supports the development of executive functioning skills, including decision-making, self-regulation, and flexibility. Repeated practice reinforces routines and task completion, which enhance independence and job performance.   For educators and therapists, role play offers opportunities to observe strengths, identify challenges, and provide immediate feedback. Using role play can improve the employability, social competence, and workplace readiness of youth with developmental disabilities to successfully transition into meaningful employment. Notables  Recent awards, accolades, appointments, and other honors Rick Rader, MD, FAAIDD, Appointed to the National Advisory Board of the American Academy of Pediatrics National Council of Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs The CYSHCN National Advisory Board (CYSHCN NAB) was convened by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) to help address system siloes and other barriers to a system that meets the needs of CYSHCN and their families.  Bill Gaventa, MDiv, FAAIDD, Authors New Book, Preaching Disability: A Resource for Pastors Use code GAVENTA40 for 40% off your copy through the end of August. Interest Network News New Interest Network Formed: History of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities lead by Holly Hohmeister, MS, FAAIDD, Sharon Gomez, FAAIDD, & Matt Velissaris, MA.    Interest Network Adopts New Name:  Communication Disorders is now Communication Access and Supports  AAIDD is looking to feature notables and perspective pieces from our members in the field! Send us your commentary to be featured in a future Leadership in IDD Newsletter. Click here to submit your work to be featured. Produced by AAIDD, this monthly digest features the recent (first made available within last 3 months) and emergent (will be available within the next 4-6 weeks) work of AAIDD members only. Journal articles, while important, are not featured in this publication.  View the archive of the Leadership in IDD newsletter here. Not yet a member? Join AAIDD online!