MAKING CONNECTIONS WEST TARRANT
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 28
10 AM - 2 PM
Education Service Center Region 11
1451 South Cherry Lane, White Settlement, TX 76108
Schedule of Events
10 A.M.
Exhibitor Hall Opens
Visit with a variety of Exhibitors providing services and resources for people with disabilities and their families.
10:30 A.M.
Kids Activity (Childcare) Opens
Kids ages 5-13 are invited to attend the kid's activity while parents/caregivers attend Breakout Sessions and visit with Resource Providers. Each Child will leave with their very own creations.
11 A.M. - 11:45 A.M.
Breakout Session 1
Breakout descriptions
Choose to attend a breakout session on:
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Sexual Health Education and Puberty
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Waivers and Interest Lists
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Life Planning Nuts and Bolts
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Accessing Services through My Health My Resources
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I’m Determined!
12 P.M. - 1 P.M.
Complimentary Lunch & Learn Session
Session descriptions
Enjoy a complimentary lunch while attending a learning session on:
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Partnership with a Purpose
Benefiting families with school-age children -
Guardianship: Rush to the Courthouse or Last Resort?
Most useful for families with children over 14
1:15 - 2 P.M.
Breakout Session 2
Earlier Sessions Repeated
2:00 P.M.
Exhibitor Hall Closes
.
Breakout Sessions:
Sexual Health Education and Puberty
Going through puberty can be just as challenging for parents and caregivers as it is for their children. This session will offer information to help parents and youth develop supportive bonds during the physical and emotional changes brought on by puberty. By Dr. Michael J Parker, PhD, Senior Clinical Director; Dr. Laura Golden, PhD; and James Turnage, M.A, LPC-S, My Health My Resources of Tarrant County
I’m Determined!
Being self-determined means making things happen in your own life instead of having others do things to or for you. Self-determination is choosing and setting your own goals; it’s advocating on your own behalf, being involved in problem solving and making decisions. Learn strategies to assist your son, daughter or yourself in developing self-determination skills. By John McNaught, Co-State Coordinator, TTAC, James Madison University
Accessing Services through My Health My Resources (MHMR)
As the State’s Local IDD Authority (LIDDA), 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. By Stephanie Morris, Parent and Family Advocate, My Health My Resources of Tarrant County.
Special Plans for a Special Life
Caregivers have many concerns and responsibilities in the care for their loved one. How does one plan for their finances, daily physical care, emotional support, medical and education needs, housing and transportation needs, or attendants for legal matters? Learn how to make special plans and estate plans that will not disqualify your loved one from government assistance programs. By Alyssa Glick, Capital Wealth Strategies
Medicaid Waivers & Interest List, what are they and how do they work?
Medicaid Waiver Programs allow the state to use funds for home and community-based services and supports for people with disabilities. These programs provide funding supports such as a personal attendant, respite, therapies, adaptive aids, home and vehicle modifications, etc. Learn how to get your name on the interest list, what programs are available and why it is important. Presenter: Elizabeth Dalglish, HHSC
The ABLE Account: A Tax-advantaged savings
An ABLE Account is a tax-advantaged savings account to help individuals with disabilities save money. Learn how Texans with disabilities can to save up to $15,000 per year for disability-related expenses without losing eligibility under SSI, SSDI, Medicaid and other means-tested public benefits. By Anna Mallett, ABLE Outreach Specialist, Texas Comptrollers Office
Complimentary Lunch and Learn Sessions:
Guardianship: Rush to the Courthouse or Last Resort? Most useful for families with children over 14
An overview of the laws applicable to guardianship in Texas, the evidence and standard of proof needed to obtain a guardianship and the many alternatives to guardianship. By Judge Ponder, Tarrant County Probate 1 Court.
Partnership with a Purpose. Benefiting families with school-age children
This session is designed to help families of children with disabilities understand the importance of collaboration and partnerships. Participants will gain an awareness of community and school-based resources available to assist with the development of children from early childhood to adulthood. Participants will also learn the importance of utilizing planning tools to ensure there is a continuum of support for them and their children. By Michael Pogue, Director of Special Programs, White Settlement ISD
About Our Presenters:
John McNaught
Co-Director, TTAC at James Madison University (JMU)
John has been working in the field of special education for over 20 years. John received his undergraduate degree from the University of Richmond, his Master of Education Degree from James Madison University and will complete his doctoral degree in School Improvement with a focus on Special Education this May at the University of West Georgia. He started his career at a residential wilderness school for at-risk youth and youth with emotional disabilities. John also worked in a public high school as a special education teacher and supervised a community-based work-study program for students with disabilities. He was one of the first individuals in the state of Virginia to implement student directed IEP meetings, and he worked diligently as an educator to bring the student’s voice to the forefront. For the past fourteen years, John has worked at the Virginia Department of Education’s Training and Technical Assistance Center at James Madison University as a coordinator, focusing on transition and self-determination and as co-director of the center for the past six years. John is a founding member of the Virginia Department of Education’s I’m Determined Project and has served as the State Director for the past ten years. Under his leadership, I’m Determined has grown from 9 pilot schools to over 70 participating school divisions in Virginia and over 30 states across the nation.
Dr. Michael J Parker, PhD
Senior Director, My Health My Resources of Tarrant County
Dr. Michael Parker is Senior Clinical Director of MHMR Tarrant Disability Services and Director of IDD Eligibility. He chairs the DS Clinical Team and belongs to a variety of agency committees. Dr. Parker is a graduate of Northwestern University, holds a master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from Fisk University and obtained his doctorate in School Psychology at Texas Woman’s University. He has 40 years of experience in private practice, community-based settings, such as Child Study Center, and the school districts Dallas ISD and Fort Worth ISD. His preferred populations included individuals with emotional, intellectual and behavioral issues. Professionally he enjoys consultation, supervision, program development, and public speaking. Dr. Parker is a former adjunct with the University of North Texas. He has been interviewed by CNN, NBC and CBS news as well as quoted extensively in Time Magazine. He contributed to writing the Texas HHS Commission’s Determination of Intellectual Disability: Best Practice Guidelines. Dr. Parker is a licensed Psychologist, a Licensed Specialist in School Psychology, and a certified mediator.
Alyssa Glick Lowe
Capitol Wealth Strategies
Alyssa is a Financial Representative for Guardian, the Capitol Wealth Strategies firm. She is a graduate from West Texas A&M University in Canyon, Texas with over five years of teaching experience, working in special education classrooms for Fort Worth ISD for the majority of her teaching career. Alyssa is a member of the IDD Council of Tarrant County and sits on the Special Education PTA Board for FWISD as the VP of Communications.
Dr. Laura Golden, OTR, OTD
Occupational Therapist, My Health My Resources of Tarrant County
Dr. Laura Golden, OTR, OTD, is a licensed and registered Occupational Therapist in the state of Texas. She graduated from Washington University in St. Louis with a Doctorate in Occupational Therapy. Areas of expertise include intellectual and developmental disabilities, autism spectrum disorder, sensory processing disorder, feeding impairment, and movement disorders. She has provided clinical therapeutic intervention to individuals from birth to adulthood with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Michael Pogue
Director of Special Programs, White Settlement ISD
Stay tuned for updates
Judge Chris Ponder
Tarrant County Probate Court #1
Judge Ponder was elected as Tarrant County Probate Court Judge in 2019. As one of the two Probate Courts in Tarrant County, he establishes guardianships for incapacitated persons and minors; handles civil mental health commitments; hears cases related to family and charitable trusts and responsible for maintaining contact with every person under a guardianship each year. Prior to election, Chris served as an Assistant District Attorney in the Tarrant County District Attorney’s Office. Always in the Civil Division of the District Attorney’s Office, Chris spent much of his time as the Chief of the DA’s Mental Health Division. Chris received a bachelor’s degree in History from the University of Texas at Arlington prior to earning his law degree from Texas Wesleyan University School of Law in 2003. Throughout his career, Chris has been a frequent speaker on mental health law to the Texas District and County Attorney’s Association. Chris has also been honored with induction into the exclusive Eldon B. Mahon Inn of Court.
Anna Mallett
Texas Comptroller's Office
Anna Mallett has worked the Texas Comptroller's Office for nine years and currently serves as the Outreach Specialist for the state’s new Texas ABLE® Program. She previously worked as an Outreach Coordinator for the Texas Tuition Promise Fund, the state’s prepaid 529 plan. Anna has over 19 years of service with the State of Texas including serving as Grant Program Manager for the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles and Public Relations Manager at the Texas Department of Transportation.
Stephanie Morris
Parent and Family Advocate, My Health My Resources
Stephanie Morris is the Parent & Family Advocate for Disability Services, MHMRTC. She is a parent of a young man with special needs. She 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. Finally, she is parent who can relate and listen to your concerns.
Elizabeth Dalglish
CLASS/DBMD Policy Lead, Medicaid/CHIP Policy Development Support, LTSS Unit
Elizabeth has a bachelor’s degree in psychology for the University of the Incarnate Word and has been working for HHSC for over six years. Elizabeth is a program lead for the Community Living Assistance and Support Services (CLASS) and Deaf Blind with Multiple Disabilities (DBMD) waiver programs in the Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS) Policy unit within HHSC. Previously, she worked as a policy specialist in the LTSS Policy unit working Home and Community-based Services (HCS) and Texas Home Living (TxHmL) waivers creating policy and rule. She also worked as a supervisor in the Utilization Review unit over the HCS and TxHmL programs, and in the utilization review area as a program specialist reviewing CLASS and DBMD Individual Plans of Care (IPCs) and Intellectual Disability/Related Conditions (ID/RC) assessment submissions for program standards.
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.