MAKING CONNECTIONS MANSFIELD
DISABILITY RESOURCES FOR ALL AGES!
Saturday, March 7, 2026
9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
First Methodist Mansfield
777 N. Walnut Creek Drive, Mansfield, TX 76063
The IDD Council’s Making Connections Disability Resource Fairs bring together the disability resources in our community to one, easily accessed location for families and caregivers to collect information and learn about benefits and services each provide. Making Connections Disability Resource Fairs are held throughout the year in various Tarrant County locations.
Attend Breakout Sessions and Visit with organizations providing services for:
Medicaid Waivers, Social Security, Guardianship/Supported Decision-Making, Behavioral Health, Transition & Employment Services, College Programs, Assistive & Adaptive Technology, Special Needs Trusts / Wills, Assisted Living / Housing, Financial Planning, Recreation & Leisure, Therapy & Camp Providers, Respite/Day Habilitation, and more
Download Exhibitor Directory and Schedule
available day of event
Escanee para acceder a la copia digital del directorio
disponible el día del evento
Exhibitor Registration
Breakout Descriptions
About our Presenters
Download Flyers(promocional en English en Español)
Event/Exhibitor Directory
available day of event
English Spanish
SPECIAL THANKS TO MAKING CONNECTIONS MANSFIELD SPONSORS:
H-E-B
https://www.heb.com
Cook Children's Health Plan
https://www.cookchp.org
Become a
Highlight Sponsor
Company Name
website/contact information
ADDITIONAL SPONSORS:
9 A.M.
Exhibitor Hall Opens
Sensory Room/Quiet Room Opens (An adult must remain present)
Kids' Activity Room Opens (for Ages 12 and under)
9:30 A.M - 1:00 PM
Breakout Sessions
9:30 - 10:15 a.m.
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Guardianship: Rush to the Courthouse or Last Resort?
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Texas Achieving a Better Life Experience (Texas ABLE®): A Savings Plan for Texans with Disabilities
10:25 - 11:10 a.m.
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Sexuality Health and Puberty
11:15 - 12:00 p.m.
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Medicaid Waiver Programs and Interest Lists / Accessing Services through your Local LIDDA
12:15 - 1 p.m.
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Saving for Your Loved Ones Future: Special Needs Trusts, Wills & ABLE Accounts
12:50 P.M.
Sensory Room/Quiet Room Closes
Kid's Activity Room Closes
1:00 P.M.
Exhibitor Hall Closes
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:
Session Descriptions:
9:30 - 10:15 a.m.
Guardianship: Rush to the Courthouse or Last Resort?
Most beneficial for families with loved ones who are approaching the age of 18 and over, this presentation will provide an overview of the laws applicable to guardianship in Texas, the evidence and standard of proof needed to obtain guardianship and the many alternatives to guardianship. By Tarrant County Probate 2 Court.
Texas Achieving a Better Life Experience (Texas ABLE®): A Savings Plan for Texans with Disabilities
Appropriate for families with loved ones of all ages, attendees will learn about the Texas Achieving a Better Life Experience (Texas ABLE®) Program and how Texans with disabilities and their families can save for disability-related expenses in a tax-advantaged ABLE account without losing eligibility for certain public benefits, such as Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Medicaid. By Vanessa Goodson, Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts Educational Opportunities and Investment Division
10:25 - 11:10 a.m.
Sexuality Health and Puberty
This session will help parents strengthen their bonds with their youth during puberty by exploring emotional and physical changes, encouraging open communication, and promoting sexual health, safety, hygiene, and preventative care. Parents will leave with practical tools to support healthy development and well-being. Session most beneficial for families with loved ones approaching puberty or older. By Dr. Michael J Parker, PhD, and James Turnage, LPCS
11:15 - Noon
Medicaid Waiver Programs and Interest Lists / Accessing Services through Your Local LIDDA
As the State’s Local IDD Authority (LIDDA) for Tarrant County, My Health My Resources (MHMR) is the first point of contact for families looking for services. Learn about Texas’ interest lists, options and benefits, and the criteria for services. Designed to help families, caregivers, and professionals understand how Texas waiver program interest lists work, and why getting on them early matters, this discussion breaks down the different waiver options, what services they provide, how the interest list process operates, and strategies for staying informed while you wait. Attendees will gain clarity, confidence, and take actionable steps to ensure their loved one is positioned for the support they may need in the future. It’s an essential conversation for anyone planning ahead and navigating long‑term services and supports. Session benefits families with loved ones of all ages. By Stephanie Morris, My Health My Resources of Tarrant County
12:15 - 1 p.m.
Saving for Your Loved Ones Future: Special Needs Trusts, Wills & ABLE Accounts
Designed to give families and caregivers the clarity and confidence they need to prepare for the future. This presentation breaks down essential planning tools like special needs trusts, will considerations, and ABLE accounts, in a way that’s easy to understand and immediately useful. Attendees will learn how each option supports long‑term financial security, protects benefits, and empowers individuals with disabilities to thrive. Session benefits families with loved ones of all ages. By: Cody Sutton, AIF, ChSNC
About our Presenters
Cody Sutton, AIF, ChSNC
Stonewater Financial
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Cody Sutton is a financial planner and SpecialCare planner with more than nine years of industry experience. As part of the Dallas financial consultants team, Cody specializes in personalized financial planning, creating tailored strategies and providing one-on-one guidance to help families build security today and establish a lasting legacy for the future. Cody earned his bachelor’s degree in Investment Finance from Texas Tech University in 2014 and obtained his Chartered Special Needs Consultant (ChSNC) designation in 2018. His passion for financial planning began with a college internship and continued to grow as he launched his own practice.
What truly sets Cody apart is his personal connection to the work he does. Growing up with a brother with special needs, Cody experienced firsthand the unique challenges families can face. His own family worked with a specialized financial planner who helped them implement strategies to protect their future, an experience that inspired Cody’s career path. Today, he takes a holistic approach to financial planning, with particular expertise in navigating the complexities of special needs planning. He is deeply committed to helping families feel confident, informed, and supported every step of the way.
Cheriece Overstreet, LMSW
Tarrant County Probate Court #2
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Cheriece Overstreet is a Licensed Master Social Worker, earning both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in social work from Tarleton State University. She has 13 years of experience in the field, including working in mental health with MHMR and school social work with Fort Worth ISD. She is also currently pursuing an advanced licensure in Clinical Social Work. Cheriece currently serves as an Assistant Court Investigator for Tarrant County Probate Court No. 2 under the Honorable Judge S. Brook Bell, where she supports the court by assessing the need for guardianship and advocating for vulnerable individuals. Beyond her professional work, Cheriece is a proud mother of two adult children and has been married for 27 years. She enjoys being in nature and traveling.
Jordyn Casto-Fisk, LMSW
Tarrant County Probate Court #2
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Jordyn Casto-Fisk is a Licensed Master Social Worker. She earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of North Texas, with a minor in substance use counseling, and her master’s degree from the University of Texas at Arlington. Jordyn brings nine years of experience working with diverse populations, ranging from children in foster care to older adults in nursing home settings. In her role with Probate Court No. 2, Jordyn serves as an Assistant Court Investigator and the Court Visitor Program Manager under the Honorable Judge S. Brook Bell. She oversees all active guardianship cases for the court and supervises social work interns who conduct annual court visits. Outside of her professional life, Jordyn enjoys spending time with her family and is recently married. She can often be found at a hockey rink cheering on her husband and cousins. She also loves expressing her creativity and making meaningful memories with her loved ones.
James Turnage, M.A., LPC-S
Director of Supports Disability and Behavioral Health Services, My Health My Resources
James Turnage, M.A, LPC-S, is Director of Supports with Disability Services and Behavioral Health Services. He is also clinical supervisor for the supported employment program which serves disability and behavioral health programs. He directs a trauma-based services team for individuals who are victims of crime within the Disability Services division of My Health My Resources of Tarrant County. He also provides professional staff developmental trainings in MHMRTC and in the community related to understanding mental health issues in individuals with IDD.
Dr. Michael Parker
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Michael J. Parker, PhD, is a licensed Psychologist and Specialist in School Psychology with more than 44 years of experience in both clinical and educational settings. Throughout his distinguished career, he has provided leadership, consultation, and direct services that positively impacted students, families, and professionals across Texas. Dr. Parker’s extensive background includes serving as Director of Psychological Services for Fort Worth ISD and Senior Clinical Director for MHMR Tarrant Disability Services prior to his retirement. He has been a frequent presenter and interviewee on topics related to psychology, education, and disability services.
In 2006, he served as President of the Texas Association of School Psychologists and was later honored by the association in 2014 for Outstanding Services to the Profession and significant contributions to the field.
Vanessa Goodson, MBA
Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts
Vanessa Goodson is an experienced public sector professional dedicated to empowering individuals with disabilities and their families through education and strategic outreach. She serves as the Outreach Specialist for the Texas ABLE Program at the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, where she focuses on helping Texans understand and access tax-advantaged savings opportunities that support long-term disability-related expenses.
Vanessa brings a unique blend of public service and private-sector leadership to her work. She holds a Master of Business Administration from University of Arkansas Grantham University and has served the State of Texas across multiple roles, including as a Business Specialist in the Office of the Governor. Prior to her state service, Vanessa managed large-scale businesses in Central Texas and honorably served six years in the United States Air Force.
Stephanie Morris
My Health My Resources
Stephanie Morris is the Parent & Family Advocate for Disability Services, at My Health My Resources of Tarrant County (MHMRTC), where she's been employed for over twenty years. As a parent of a young man with special needs, she can relate and listen to your concerns. Stephanie supports families by helping them make decisions and choices regarding services and negotiates families concerns with service providers when requested. She helps educate families to have a clear understanding of their rights and how services should be provided.