Center for Disability Leadership - CDL

10/16/2026

Parent to Parent USA, whose incredible nationwide network offers vital emotional support and resources to families supporting children with special needs and medical complexities.

🎉We are so proud of our deep connection to Parent to Parent USA (P2P USA)! 💙 As a proud P2P USA alliance member, CFI believes strongly in building community, cross-sharing resources, and lifting up families nationwide.

A massive shout-out to our very own Rebecca Stickler for serving on the national planning committee for the recent Volunteer Support Parent Summit, and to our Director Nickie Brandenburger for her leadership serving on the P2P USA Board of Directors!

We were also thrilled to see all six of our Virginia Family Navigators join volunteers from across the country for the annual Volunteer Support Parent Summit, an invaluable virtual gathering dedicated to peer support, networking, and expert-led sessions on vital topics like navigating grief, understanding trauma, father engagement, grandfamilies, and LGBTQIA+ disability advocacy.

Stay tuned as we partner more closely with P2P USA to cross-promote and support families and advocates everywhere!

P2P Website: www.p2pusa.org

Image Description: CFI and P2P logos and How does P2P support work?

Referred Parent is matched with a Support Parent.

A Referred Parent is a person who would like to connect with another family for support. Support Parents are individuals in the caretaking role that have lived experience with disabilities or special healthcare needs. They are volunteers that completed the Support Parent training.

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 Parent to Parent USA

10/15/2026

Founded by families who’ve walked the path, Courageous Parents Network (CPN) is a vital nonprofit dedicated to supporting parents and clinicians caring for children with serious medical conditions.

🔦SHINING the SPOTLIGHT: Courageous Parents Network (CPN)—an invaluable nonprofit offering guidance for families and clinicians navigating pediatric medical complexity. 🌟

Supporting families and clinicians navigating a child's serious medical condition can feel overwhelming, but you don't have to walk the path alone. 💙

CPN offers incredible, diagnosis-agnostic digital resources, video libraries, and community programming designed to empower caregivers every step of the way.

Explore their life-changing portals—including Navigating Medical Complexity, NeuroJourney, and Coping with Loss—to find guidance, palliative care insights, and a true sense of community.

Discover their compassionate, bias-free resources: courageousparentsnetwork.org

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

10/15/2026

Hearing Levels and Everyday Sounds - details about audiogram and ranges of hearing in new Resource Guide. Check it out!

Navigating hearing levels and early intervention can feel overwhelming for families, but you don’t have to figure it all out alone! 💙

Our newest resource guide breaks down everything from everyday sound ranges to hearing aids, FM systems, and cochlear implants—making it easier to understand your child’s hearing journey and know what support is available.

Get Prepared Here: Scan the QR code on the graphic or click the link to explore the guide and find free tools for your family’s journey! 📚

LINK: https://tinyurl.com/resource-guide-0-5

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 (AUCD) Partnership for People with Disabilities VCU School of Education

10/13/2026

Discover how leveraging a community-based workforce of peer support specialists, health workers, and care coordinators can dramatically expand access to behavioral health care in rural areas.

How can we bridge the gap in rural health care? 🌾 Building a strong, community-driven workforce is key to expanding vital behavioral health services where they are needed most.

In our latest resource from the Center for Health Care Strategies, The Rural Pearl with Lisa Richard explores how leveraging peer support specialists, community health workers, paramedics, and care coordinators can transform care delivery.

Discover practical strategies for providers and health systems to strengthen rural behavioral health access.

ARTICLE: www.chcs.org/resource/increasing-access-to-rural-behavioral-health-care-through-a-community-based-workforce/

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

10/10/2026

Buddy Walk 🎉

10/08/2026

Keyword, boundaries!

CREATING BOUNDARIES: Because my wellbeing requires a care plan, too. You matter!

For families and caregivers navigating the daily demands of supporting a loved one with a disability, setting boundaries and carving out rest can often feel like an afterthought—or something you have to “earn.”

Friendly reminder: Rest is a requirement, not a reward. Your well-being matters just as much as the care plan itself. 💙

Tag a caregiver who needs to hear this today, or share it to your story as a gentle reminder to take a 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: Partnership for People with Disabilities Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) VCU School of Education

10/07/2026

Deaf and hard of hearing eligibility and preparation … we’ve got you. Check out this new resource guide!

ELIGIBILITY: Deaf and Hard of Hearing Resource Guide 🎉

IS YOUR CHILD ELIGIBLE?
Demystifying Early Intervention & Special Education Services

FIRST MEETING PREPARATION:
✅What to Bring Checklist

Get Prepared Here: Scan the QR code on the graphic or click the link to explore the guide and find free tools for your family’s journey! 📚

LINK: https://tinyurl.com/resource-guide-0-5

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 (AUCD) Partnership for People with Disabilities

10/06/2026

Unmasking is a process!

10/05/2026

If you lose your cell phone, make life easy for the person who finds it! 🎉

LIFE HACKS: Most people's cell phone's are password protected. So what happens if you lose it?

To make life easy on the person who finds it, offer the cell phone number of a close friend or family member on the home screen.

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

10/03/2026