The Family Café

11/06/2026

Presenter Interviews: The Edge Family ❤️ Beckee Edge

Beckee, Corbin, & Magnola Edge led a wonderful discussion on how to navigate college with a disability. They shared insights on how students with disabilities can connect with campus resources as well as how parents of students can remain involved and informed during their child’s college experience.

Check out the LinkTree in our bio for resources, and read more tips from the Edge family here:

1. Register Early with Disability Services. Learn what type of accommodations are offered, and be prepared to explain how your disability affects your daily coursework and what tools or support have helped you succeed in the past.

2. Set Up Your Accommodations Early. Don't wait for the first assignment or test. Getting housing, exam, or classroom accommodations approved takes time.

3. Practice Self-Advocacy & Communication. Reach out to your professors during the first week of class (or during office hours) to introduce yourself and discuss how your approved accommodations will work in their course.

4. Check out the options for Assistive Technology: Utilize tools like screen readers (JAWS, NVDA), text-to-speech software (Speechify, NaturalReader), or smartpens. Most universities have dedicated tech labs or software licenses for students & Support Centers.

5. Understand the Legal Shift (IEP/504 to ADA). In K-12, an IEP falls under IDEA, but in higher education, IDEA no longer applies. Colleges operate strictly under Section 504 and the ADA, meaning accommodations focus on access rather than modified content.

6. Sign documents to allow your parents to see your educational records, educational financial records, & medical power of attorney in case of an emergency. Once a student turns 18 or enters college, FERPA prevents parents from seeing grades or talking to disability offices without signed release forms. Setting up a FERPA waiver, financial release, and a medical power of attorney (or HIPAA release) is vital for emergencies.

Good luck to everyone who has submitted (or is soon going to submit) their college applications! You got this! 💪 We hope this great information will help you on your journey in higher education.

11/06/2026

Calling all parents & caregivers in Florida! 📢

We’ve partnered with researchers at Columbia Southern University to help connect researchers with potential participants for a study about caring for children with disabilities while planning for hurricane impact and recovery.

If you meet the criteria listed above, we encourage yo to use the form on our LinkTree to express your interest! 🔗

Not you? No problem! Send this to someone you think would have great insights for this study. 📨

[Image description: Flyer inviting Florida caregivers of children with disabilities to join a doctoral study on hurricane recovery; clear, informative tone, with eligibility details and a QR code.]

11/03/2026

VOTE like you mean it! 🗳️

11/02/2026

Tomorrow is Election Day! 🗳️ Our team took the opportunity to vote early together last week. 😀

What does your plan to vote look like? Consider some of these questions from Disability Rights Florida’s voting guide before making your way to the polls tomorrow:

- How will I get to and from the voting location?
- Do I want someone to come with me for support or assistance?
- Do I have mobility, communication, sensory, or other needs I want to plan for?
- Could waiting, fatigue, medication, personal care, or other needs affect my experience?
- Is there information about the voting location or accessible equipment I want to check before I go?
- What would help if my original plan changes?

Send this to someone who may benefit from this quick list of guiding questions.

10/31/2026

Happy Halloween! (Our second-favorite excuse to dress up, right behind the Saturday Night Dance. 😉)

Making Halloween more accessible is easy! 🎃 Check out these quick tips for celebrating in a way that everyone can enjoy:

* Candy station: If your porch has stairs or you have a steep driveway, it may be challenging for some trick-or-treaters to knock on your door. Sitting or setting out candy closer to the road/end of the driveway can be a helpful change!

* Keep on outdoor lights: Cracks or bumps in the sidewalk can make navigating a path especially tricky. Bright lights can help!

* Be descriptive: If you notice a trick-or-treater has limited vision, describe the types of candy you're offering and let them make a choice.

* Give extra time: It can be difficult for some trick-or-treaters to reach quickly or accurately for a piece of candy, especially with other trick-or-treaters in the mix. Try not rush anyone through the candy picking process.

* Offer non-edible treat options: Remember that some individuals are limited in what they can eat or how they eat. Stickers, bubbles or glow sticks can be a great alternative!

We hope you all have a SPOOKtacular Halloween! 👻

10/28/2026

VOTING DAY is just ONE WEEK away! Check out our final voting checklist below. ⬇️

* Identify your polling location if you plan to vote in-person (NOTE: early voting often has different locations)
* Research the candidates and issues, and fill out your sample ballot to bring with you as an easy guide
* Make sure you know what accommodations you will need in order to vote
* Bring a support person if needed - you have a right to assistance when voting
* Bring a valid photo ID
* Do not wear political candidate/party attire - some polling places may not let you enter
* Encourage your friends and family to vote! Accessible voting is a right for all of us

Good luck out there! We’re so proud of everyone who will be using this opportunity to do their civic duty and make their voice heard. ❤️

Remember, you are entitled to ACCESSIBLE voting. If you face any issues, make sure a poll worker knows what’s happening, and contact the rights FL voting hotline at 877-352-7337. 📞

[Image description: a graphic shows the Family Cafe mascot, Uncle Paul, wearing an “I voted” sticker with text that reads: “Uncle Paul says: ‘Make a voting list, and check it twice!’” Text below reads “call 877-352-7337 for help with accessible voting”.]

10/27/2026

Curious where Florida's candidates for Governor stand on the waitlist? Here's an overview from Fox 13 in Tampa.

The backlog for disability care and Medicaid expansion: Where Florida's candidates for governor stand By Craig Patrick FOX 13 News Money, Power, Politics Published October 25, 2026 8:56 PM EDT Share Copy Link Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Reddit Published October 25, 2026 8:56 PM EDT The backlog f...

10/20/2026

Our Café “Why”: Sarah Fahey ❤️

Everyone on our small team has an important role to play in our efforts to empower and connect individuals with disabilities across the state of Florida. Sarah Fahey, our AWESOME Event Manager share with us how the Café mission resonates with her.

Help us keep our programs going so we can keep exemplifying the name CAFE: Collaboration, Advocacy, Friendship, and Empowerment! Donation link in bio. 🔗

[Image description: The first image shows a graphic design with a quote from Sarahey Fahey about how her work at The Family Café embodies the mission point of “empowerment”. The second slide shows a photo of Sarah, Lori Fahey, and comedian Cam Calkoen at The 26th Annual Family Café in 2024.]

10/19/2026

Early voting starts TODAY in over half of Florida counties! 📢

To help you vote, we’re sharing a great resource from the folks at The Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law, National Disability Rights Network, and McDermott Will & Schulte. This resource includes information about:

*Voting as a person with an intellectual disability
*Fighting voter competence standards & restoring your right to vote
*Specific legal information that pertains to voting rights restoration
*More resources, and state-by-state voting information!

Check it out at the link in our bio! 🔗

10/19/2026

Community is powerful: Vote together! 🗳️

Voting can be a daunting task, especially alone. Why not get a group of friends and/or family together to vote? Talk with friends, family members, and people in your community about how they are preparing, and encourage them to take the steps we’ve shared so far too.

For great voting resources and tips check out here: Access The Vote Florida

[Image description: a graphic shows the Family Cafe mascot, Uncle Paul, wearing an “I voted” sticker with text that reads: “Uncle Paul says: ‘Empower the people around you to vote, too!’” Text below reads “Call 866-OUR-VOTE for more info”.]