Partnership for People with Disabilities

09/08/2026

"Talking Books" and accessible audio literature all kicked off nearly a century ago with a single act of Congress and Gulliver's Travels?

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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09/07/2026

🧐 Check out this Care Card for practical, compassionate tips on navigating complex behaviors!

😍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 🙌

RESPECT THE RED ZONE: When a child is in a “meltdown,” their logical brain is offline. Focus on safety and calm first.

IDENTIFY THE TRIGGER: Understanding the “why” 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 “RESET” 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 ✋

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 ...

✅Share “early warning” signs
✅Provide regulation tools
✅Share successful strategies ✅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)

09/04/2026

🧐What shaped educational equity and civil rights for students with disabilities?

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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09/03/2026

Words matter!

09/03/2026

Just facts!

QUOTE CAFE: “There 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.”

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

09/02/2026

When people suppress their natural traits or sensory needs to fit into a neurotypical world. 😔

09/01/2026

Great news for Richmond-area families: free, compassionate support and expert guidance are just a call or click away!

Great news for Richmond-area families: FREE expert guidance is just a call or click away!

Navigating early childhood can bring up all kinds of questions—from developmental milestones and big emotional shifts to understanding a new diagnosis or finding Early Intervention programs.

That is why VCU's Partnership for People with Disabilities created Just Ask, a wonderful free pilot initiative supported by the Robins Foundation designed to connect parents, caregivers, and child care providers (for children ages 0–6) with compassionate professionals.

You don’t have to figure it all out alone. Reach out for confidential, supportive guidance to help you find your next step:

Call or Text: 804-628-5124
Email: [email protected]
Web: justask.partnership.vcu.edu

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

08/31/2026

True luxury is inclusive 💖

08/31/2026

🇨🇦It is so cool to see Air Canada leading the way in inclusive travel with their new mobility aid tracking, expanded equipment allowance, and the Sunflower program for non-visible disabilities!

Air Canada has launched an expanded mobility aid travel policy along with a comprehensive Accessibility Plan

1. Three-Item Allowance: Passengers can now travel complimentary with up to three mobility aids. Eligible items include combinations of personal mobility aids, adaptive sports equipment (like sport wheelchairs or mono-skis), and personal or patient lifts.

2. Real-Time App Tracking: Passengers can track the loading and unloading status of their mobility equipment in real time using the Air Canada Mobile App for added peace of mind.

3. Complimentary Cargo Shipping: If a mobility device is too large to fit in the aircraft's cargo hold, Air Canada Cargo will transport it within Canada free of charge on an alternate flight.

4. Infrastructure Investments: The airline has invested in specialized lift equipment across Canadian airports and introduced enhanced boarding procedures.

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

08/28/2026

💖 A gentle reminder from Fred Rogers that the hardest—and most important—person to extend grace to is often ourselves.