Center for Family Involvement

Center for Family Involvement The staff at the Center for Family Involvement is made up of parents, family members and professionals.

The Center for Family Involvement works with families to increase their skills as advocates, mentors and leaders so that families, children and adults with disabilities can lead the lives they want. All of us have worked with or as family members, advocating, mentoring and taking leadership roles in support of people with disabilities leading the lives they want for themselves.

09/08/2026

šŸŽ‰ Turning 18 is a big milestone, and it comes with some important changes!

In Virginia, turning 18 means becoming a legal adult and taking responsibility for decisions related to education, healthcare, finances, and more. For some individuals with disabilities, additional support may be needed along the way.

Join PEATC and Virginia Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired (DBVI) for Turning 18 in Virginia: What Individuals with Disabilities Need to Consider to learn about important things to think about as your loved one approaches adulthood.

šŸ“… October 1, 2026
šŸ•“ 6:00–7:30 p.m. ET
šŸ’» Virtual via Zoom

šŸ”— Register today: go.peatc.org/mrypbwh7

09/08/2026

A feature film chronicling the story of an activist known as the "mother of the disability rights movement" is set for its big-screen debut ahead of its release in theaters this fall.

DID YOU KNOW?Did you know "Talking Books" began in 1931?That year, the U.S. passed the Pratt-Smoot Act, funding library ...
09/08/2026

DID YOU KNOW?

Did you know "Talking Books" began in 1931?

That year, the U.S. passed the Pratt-Smoot Act, funding library services for blind adults and sparking the creation of audio recordings called Talking Books.

The first title was Gulliver's Travels, recorded on long-playing phonograph records, years before LPs became mainstream.

Today, the program lives on through the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled, still opening literature through sound.

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

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šŸ˜Care Card ~ Navigating Complex BehaviorsAre you uncomfortable 😣 saying what you REALLY think? Let us do it for you! Jus...
09/07/2026

šŸ˜Care Card ~ Navigating Complex Behaviors

Are you uncomfortable 😣 saying what you REALLY think? Let us do it for you! Just forward this to friends and family or share it with a comment on social media.

We will be posting unique Care Cards ALL WEEK!

Please Do šŸ™Œ

RESPECT THE RED ZONE: When a child is in a ā€œmeltdown,ā€ their logical brain is offline. Focus on safety and calm first.

IDENTIFY THE TRIGGER: Understanding the ā€œwhyā€ of behavior can help prevent it. Look for patterns with transitions, noise, tasks, etc.

CO-REGULATE FIRST: Your calm is their greatest resource. A low, steady voice and neutral expression helps in regulation.

OFFER A ā€œRESETā€ SPACE: Designate a safe space to retreat to to help regulate. Frame this as a brain or sensory break.

CELEBRATE THE RECOVERY:
Welcome them back calmly. Acknowledging their effort builds confidence.

Please Don’t āœ‹

GET INTO A POWER STRUGGLE:
State the expectation calmly once, then give them physical and emotional space to comply.

CORRECT IN FRONT OF PEERS:
Publicly calling out behaviors increases anxiety and defensiveness. Avoid using shame, handle corrections gently and privately to preserve dignity.

ASSUME IT’S MANIPULATION:
Most complex behaviors are a stress response, not a choice. Remember the person isn’t giving you a hard time, they are having a hard time.

I Can ...

āœ…Share ā€œearly warningā€ signs
āœ…Provide regulation tools
āœ…Share successful strategies āœ…Collaborate on a safety plan

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 (AUCD)

09/05/2026

šŸ”„āš”šŸ–¤ YOU CAN’T ALWAYS SEE THE STORM.šŸ–¤āš”šŸ”„

This page means more to us than simply raising awareness.

Unrecognizable Disabilityā„¢ comes from something we believe deeply: far too many people are walking through life carrying things others cannot see, understand or recognize.

Some live with physical disabilities, chronic illness or pain. Others face mental, neurological, cognitive, developmental, sensory or learning challenges. Some have a diagnosis. Some are still searching for answers. Some have conditions that change from one day to the next.

But behind every condition is a person.

A person who wants to be believed.
A person who wants to be understood.
A person who may be tired of explaining themselves.
A person who deserves kindness without having to prove why they need it.

That is the heart behind Unrecognizable Disabilityā„¢.

We want this page to become a place where people can come and feel seen, heard and less alone. A place where we can share our experiences, learn from one another and help others understand that disability doesn't always have a certain look.

If we can make even one person feel less alone, help one family feel understood or make someone think twice before judging another person, then this message is worth sharing.

So whether you live with an unrecognizable disability yourself, love someone who does, care for someone who does or simply believe the world could use a little more compassion. You are welcome here. šŸ’›

Together, we can make the unseen more understood.

šŸ–¤ Unrecognizable Disabilityā„¢
ā€œYou can’t always see the storm.ā€ šŸ–¤āš”šŸ”„

— Jenna Franklin & Erik Foster
Creators & Founders

DID YOU KNOW? IN 1973 …The Rehabilitation Act guaranteed civil rights to all disabled people and required accommodations...
09/04/2026

DID YOU KNOW? IN 1973 …
The Rehabilitation Act guaranteed civil rights to all disabled people and required accommodations for students in schools.

1975: Education for All Handicapped Children Act (EHA) guaranteed the right of children with disabilities to receive a free, appropriate education.

1997: EHA was revised and became known as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
(IDEA). IDEA emphasized the use of individual education plans, or lEPs, for all special education students and provided applicable standards

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

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QUOTE CAFE: ā€œThere are only four kinds of people in the world. Those who have been caregivers.Those who are currently ca...
09/03/2026

QUOTE CAFE: ā€œThere are only four kinds of people in the world.

Those who have been caregivers.

Those who are currently caregivers.

Those who will be caregivers, and those who will need a caregiver.ā€

ROSALYN CARTER

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 VCU School of Education Partnership for People with Disabilities

Words Matter! INSTEAD OF: You're OK! TRY: How are you feeling?INSTEAD OF: It's not that hard!TRY: You can do hard things...
09/03/2026

Words Matter! INSTEAD OF: You're OK! TRY: How are you feeling?

INSTEAD OF: It's not that hard!
TRY: You can do hard things.

INSTEAD OF: Stop crying!
TRY: It's okay to cry.

Who are we?
tinyurl.com/VCU-CFI

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

šŸŽ­THE WEIGHT OF THE MASK- MASKING — WHAT YOU DON’T SEE … ā€œMasking Burnoutā€To start: ā“What is masking? (stay tuned all nex...
09/02/2026

šŸŽ­THE WEIGHT OF THE MASK
- MASKING — WHAT YOU DON’T SEE … ā€œMasking Burnoutā€

To start: ā“What is masking? (stay tuned all next week for more posts on masking)!

It is when neurodivergent people consciously or unconsciously suppress their natural traits, behaviors, or sensory needs to fit into a neurotypical world.

It’s the exhausting effort of hiding sensory overload, anxiety, or neurodivergent traits just to ā€œblend inā€ at school or work.

It takes a massive amount of energy, leading directly to the dreaded ā€œmasking hangover.ā€

Every social interaction, hidden trigger, and effort to sit still is draining

Natural Movement: Allow fidgeting & stimming

Provide Quiet Spaces: Create a ā€œzero-demandā€ corner for quick recharging

Lower Sensory Stress: Dim fluorescent lights and preview schedule changes

Prioritize Comfort over Compliance: Never force eye contact or group work

MORNING āž”ļø100%āž”ļøMasking Starts

NOONāž”ļø50%āž”ļøHiding Strain

DISMISSALāž”ļø0%āž”ļøBurnout/Shutdown

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 (AUCD)

Anyone have thoughts on this? Please share!
09/01/2026

Anyone have thoughts on this? Please share!

In what researchers are hailing as a landmark move, a new study is helping to explain how autism-linked genes rewire the brain potentially opening the door to treatments for the developmental disability.

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