Upcoming and Past Programs

Learn about disability events, both regional and statewide.

Upcoming Programs

No upcoming programs are scheduled at this time.  

Past Programs

Family Future Planning

As families plan for the future, they also engage with aging. This brings up additional planning considerations. This program covered ways you can promote the health of people with developmental disabilities as they age; retirement considerations; and end-of-life planning along with supporting grief and loss. The program also included information about interventions developed to help families with future planning as they age. Speakers: Dr. Tamar Heller and Dr. Katie Arnold.

For many families, planning for the future can be overwhelming. This program broke down future planning into manageable steps and discussed important topics, including legal and financial planning; residential plans; communication supports; and building relationships and social support networks. Speakers: Dr. Tamar Heller and Dr. Katie Arnold.

This program covered the importance of future planning for people with developmental disabilities and how to break through planning barriers and start the conversation. The program discussed what the future planning process looks like and the positive outcomes that can result. Speakers: Dr. Tamar Heller and Dr. Katie Arnold.

Inclusive Employment

The final session of this three-part workshop series covered professional attire, accommodation requests, workplace expectations, and strategies for professional development. 

This session covered interview do’s and don’ts, how to practice and prepare for an interview, disability status disclosure, requesting accommodations, interview attire, and post-interview steps for success.

The session was part of a three-part workshop series that covered practical job-seeking strategies such as resume writing, interview preparation and skills, and professionalism in the workplace. 

This session provided practical strategies for creating effective resumes and determining key skills and experiences to highlight. Dr. Lakshmi Mahadevan, associate professor and extension specialist for special populations at Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, led the session.

The session was part of a three-part workshop series that covered practical job-seeking strategies such as resume writing, interview preparation and skills, and professionalism in the workplace. 

This session explored the importance of identifying the roles of family members and other support people involved in the career preparation and job searches of people with developmental disabilities. Presenter Ali Ramos, LMSW, of Equitable Living, discussed the positive impact of family supports on job seeking and employment outcomes. 

This two-part webinar explored the importance of identifying the roles of family members and other support persons involved in the career preparation and job searches of people with disabilities. The event was led by Candace Davis, a rehabilitation services professional and owner of Guidepost Workforce Support.

This webinar included discussions about vocational rehabilitation services, training opportunities, Social Security benefits, and employment navigation. The webinar was led by Vanessa Vera, business relations coordinator at the Texas Workforce Commission Vocational Rehabilitation Division.

This webinar covered soft-skills training, opportunities for workplace exposure, employee retention, and strategies for remote work. Attendees learned about concepts and topics such as self-advocacy, self-determination, requesting accommodations, ongoing adaptations, and developing advancement skills in the workforce. The webinar was led by Dr. Lakshmi Mahadevan, associate professor and extension specialist for special populations at AgriLife.

This panel included discussions on best practices for hiring people with IDD; understanding and meeting the needs of employees with IDD; understanding the benefits of an inclusive working environment; expectations, challenges, and keys to success for employees with IDD; and accommodations and legal issues

Panelists included Heather Choate from The Dual After School Program, Elizabeth Kendall from the H-E-B Disability Bridges Program, Chevella Layne from Goodwill Industries of East Texas, and Brad and Karen Thompson from The TURN Center and The HALI Project. The panel was moderated by TCDD Regional Coordinators Morgan Bradley and Rosa Guel.

This panel highlighted self-advocates (people with disabilities) from across the state. Panel discussions covered each self-advocate’s journey to employment; resources for job seekers; professional development and training opportunities; and challenges and barriers in the workplace.

Panelists included Kyle Cox, Jesse Garza, Hali Thompson, and TCDD Council Member Eric Shahid. The panel was moderated by TCDD Regional Coordinators Morgan Bradley and Rosa Guel. 

Sign Up To Our Newsletter

Subscribe to TCDD eNews and receive important disability-related information via email. Just enter your email address and name, and then select the information you wish to receive.

* indicates required
Select the information you wish to receive:

When you press subscribe you are agreeing to TCDD’s Privacy Policy