Brazos Valley Center for Independent Living

Connecting people to the power of independence

Updates

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Your Input is Needed: Survey Regarding Parental Support Needs

Greetings!! The School of Social Work at the University of Minnesota is seeking your assistance in recruiting parents with disabilities and their family members to participate in a worldwide research study on the parental support needs of parents with disabilities. The purpose of this research is to learn from parents with disabilities and their family members about the parental supports that are needed and helpful to them in raising their children. This information will be used in efforts to enhance parental supports for parents with disabilities.
Parents with disabilities AND family members of parents with disabilities are invited to complete a short and anonymous on-line survey about parental supports for parents with disabilities at: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/VQQN88K
I would appreciate it if you could help distribute this survey web address to any parent with a disability or family member of a parent with a disability who may be interested in completing the survey. If you, parents, or family members have any questions, feel free to contact me at tcsurvey@umn.edu or call 612-624-4734.
Thank you for your assistance.
Liz Lightfoot School of Social Work University of Minnesota

The Survey Says….

Help Improve Healthcare for Adults on the Autism Spectrum

AASPIRE has created a survey that helps people on the autism spectrum
share personalized information with their healthcare providers. The
information is meant to help healthcare visits go more smoothly. We are
now doing a study to make sure that the survey works well.

You may be able to participate in the study if you live in the U.S. and
•       You are an adult on the autism spectrum or
•       You assist an adult on the autism spectrum with healthcare appointments.

You would take the survey two times.  Each time, it would take about 30
minutes. You can take the survey over the Internet, or, if you live near
Portland, Oregon, you can take it in person. If taking the survey over the
Internet, you have the option to have the computer read the survey
questions and answers out loud. Adults on the spectrum can take the survey
with or without the help of a supporter. It is important that you complete
both surveys.

If you take part in the study, you will be paid $5 for the first survey
and $25 for the second survey two weeks later.

To learn more, please contact:
Angie Mejia at (503)494-1207 or studies@aaspire.org.

More information is also available at
http://aaspire.org/?p=projects&c=hc2b_screening

OHSU IRB #5580
Principal Investigators:
Christina Nicolaidis, MD, MPH, Oregon Health & Science University
Dora Raymaker, MS, Autistic Self Advocacy Network

Holiday Party, Dec. 7th

Texas A&M University’s Student Council for Exceptional Children and the
Brazos Valley Center for Independent Living
invite you to a Holiday Party

Who: Consumers, friends and family of BVCIL

What: Holiday crafts, cookie decorating, food, and a special performance

When: December 7th, 5:30pm-8pm

Where: Brazos Valley Center for Independent Living, 1869 Briarcrest, Bryan, TX 77802

Why: To have a great time with family, friends and community members
Wear: Your favorite holiday sweater or outfit

We will also be holding a canned food drive for collecting canned goods to donate to the Brazos Valley Food Bank, so bring a canned good if possible!

We Need Your Input!

BVCIL is considering starting a “Parents with Disabilities Support Group.” This would be a peer-to-peer group for people who have disabilities who have or are expecting children. We do not have one scheduled as of yet and we need to see how many of you would be interested in attending such an event.

Please respond by emailing me directly at Tracy@BVCIL.org and include the number of parents you would expect to come with you (for example, 2 for you and your spouse.) Thank you for your help!

Free Thanksgiving Meals

There are many options available for people in the Brazos Valley to get a free Thanksgiving meal:

Pleasant Grove Missionary Baptist Church

 

Date: Thursday, November 22, 2012

Time: 11:30 A.M. – 3:30 P.M.

Place: Pleasant Grove Missionary Baptist Church

310 West MLK & Sims St.

Bryan, TX 77802

Cost: FREE

 

Come have a Thanksgiving meal with all the trimmings. Open to any and everyone!
Twin City Mission

 

Date: Thursday, November 22, 2012

Time: 11:00 A.M. – 1:00 P.M.

Place: 410 S.Randolph St.

Bryan, TX 77802

Cost: FREE

 

Twin City Mission will serve a traditional Thanksgiving meal out of their community cafe.
Epicures Catering

Date: Thursday, November 22, 2012

Time: lunch time

Place: Delivery to families

 

Cost: FREE

 

 

Epicures Catering in College Station plans to distribute 1,200 meals Thanksgiving. Anyone in need of a meal can call 695-0985.
B/CS Pizza Huts

 

Date: Thursday, November 22, 2012

Time: 2:00 P.M.

Place: All 4 Pizza Hut Locations in B/CS

 

Cost: FREE

 

All four Pizza Hut locations in Bryan and College Station will offer a free Thanksgiving meal Thursday at 2:00 p.m.

 
Salvation Army

 

Date: Thursday, November 22, 2012

Time: 9:00 A.M. – 11:30 A.M.

Place: Salvation Army

2506 Cavitt

Bryan, TX 77802

Cost: FREE

 

The Salvation Army will have limited numbers of Thanksgiving food baskets to hand out between 9:00 A.M.- 11:30 A.M. Thursday. Be sure to get there early before they run out!

 

 

Chance to Win $50 & Help Improve Education / Agency Collaboration

Clipart of a person checking a box with a pencil.I am currently collecting data for a study investigating secondary transition experiences and usage of DARS/DADS and need your help. I am seeking parents of individuals with intellectual disabilities, whose child graduated from a Texas high school, and who can recall their secondary transition experiences. (current law states a transition plan to assist your child in moving to life after high school should be in place by the age of 16).

If you fit this criteria, please go to the following link to complete the survey: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/3M3FFV8 , if your e-mail does not allow you to press the link to be taken to the site,  you can copy and paste the link into the browser to take the survey. The survey has 26 demographic questions and 58 survey questions, takes approximately 45 minutes to one hour, and can be completed in more than one session if you use the same computer, browser, and your computer saves cookies.

If you do not fit this profile, please forward this announcement to anyone you know who fits above criteria (parents of individuals with intellectual disabilities, whose children graduated from a Texas high school, and who can recall their secondary transition experiences). Participants will qualify for an opportunity to win 1 of 4 $50 gift certificates to Wal-Mart. I appreciate your help.

Jaime Betancourt Duran

Texas A&M University
Department of Educational Psychology
MS 4225
College Station, TX 77842-4225
Phone: 956-605-1187
Fax: 979-862-1256