Navigating services for intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) can be challenging, but ADAPT Community Network strives to make it easier through our annual Virtual Family Connect Summit. This full-day virtual event features a variety of informative sessions, each led by I/DD experts and designed to support families of individuals with disabilities.
Our latest Summit kicked off with a panel discussion titled, “Creating the Future.” Panelists included Peter Anzalone, Senior Vice President of Education Program Services, Peter Pitarresi, Director of TechWorks: NYC Regional TRAID Centers, Dr. Mark Friedman, Adjunct Associate Professor of Disability Studies at the City University of New York, Vincent Siasoco, Family Medicine Physician and Medical Director at ADAPT Community Network, and Tracy Pickar, Vice President of Family Services at ADAPT Community Network. During this session, the experts discussed education, technology, and healthcare as they relate to the developmental disability services field.
Other sessions included “Supporting Individuals on the Autism Spectrum in Medical Settings,” which provided information and practical skills for guardians of people on the autism spectrum to use at their next doctor’s visit. The session also gave an overview of questions to ask and decision-making steps to ensure necessary medical care.
The following session was titled “How to Supplement In-Home Support Outside of the OPWDD Waiver & School Services” and provided families with a myriad of options to obtain supplemental support or in-home assistance through fee-for-service Medicaid, managed care, or private insurance.
The next session, called “Navigating the Special Education System and the Need for Good Evaluations,” which informed parents about their rights and how to effectively deal with the challenges of securing an appropriate education for students with learning disabilities.
Finally, the last session, “Benefits 101,” addressed different types of benefits available to people with disabilities and how they can maintain their benefits while saving money and earning income. In addition to these informational sessions, the Project Connect team hosted a lunch session to answer questions about supports and services within ADAPT and beyond.
After the conference concluded, Tracy Pickar, ADAPT’s VP of Family Support Services and head of planning and execution for the Summit, gave a statement addressing attendees.
“Whether you joined us for one session or for the whole day, we hope that you discovered new resources and support,” she said.
If you missed the Summit or would like to review the material, recordings are available on the ADAPT YouTube channel with subtitles in English, Spanish, and simplified Chinese. Thanks to the organizers, panelists, sponsors, and all who attended for making the Summit a success! If you have any questions about ADAPT’s services or general questions relating to I/DD services, please contact Project Connect, ADAPT’s information and referral service for people with disabilities and their family members and loved ones. You can email Project Connect at projectconnect@adaptcommunitynetwork.org, call (877) 827-2666, or visit https://adaptcommunitynetwork.org/service-options/getting-started/
