VR retreat focuses on team-building (photo gallery)

The Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) general program staff retreat kicked off April 26 at Lakepoint State Park in Eufaula. The three-day training, which concludes today, is focusing on team building and professional development.

‘Early Intervention Week’ celebrates impact of services for children with disabilities

The seven districts of Alabama’s Early Intervention System (AEIS) held several special events for the week of April 17-21 to celebrate the vital role early intervention plays in the success of children with disabilities or developmental delays. The celebrations were part of “Early Intervention Week” in the state of Alabama. Former Gov. Robert Bentley signed a

Together Success: MacKenzie Reeves (featured story + video)

When Pamela Reeves was pregnant with her daughter MacKenzie, her obstetrician noticed that her legs were not forming as they should. “We didn’t fully understand the issue until after the delivery,” said Pamela. “I felt blindsided when I was told MacKenzie had PFFD.” PFFD – proximal femoral focal deficiency – is a rare, non-hereditary birth defect that affects

Summit unites families, professionals as ‘partners in care’ (photo gallery + video)

More than 100 attendees came to Prattville’s Marriott Legends at Capitol Hill Conference Center for the seventh annual Family Voices Partners In Care Summit, April 20-21. The two-day family/professional development workshop aims to strengthen networks between families and care professionals and spotlights current challenges to developing quality systems of care for children and youth with

Employment training conference brings ‘Carnival of Careers’ to Andalusia (photo gallery + video)

The Covington County Committee on Employment of Persons with Disabilities (CCCEPD) hosted its 11th annual Employment Training Conference for area youth April 11 in Andalusia. The one-day training connected more than 240 high school students with disabilities from 10 area schools with different and exciting employment opportunities to explore and expand their horizons within the community. Jobs in public

Kids Wish Network honors Tuscaloosa CRS consumer (photo gallery)

Ashlyn Wilson, a CRS consumer from Tuscaloosa, was named April’s Hero of the Month by the Kids Wish Network. To celebrate the honor, staff in the Tuscaloosa CRS office sponsored a party for Ashlyn and her family, complete with pizza and cupcakes. Ashlyn, who has Down syndrome and bilateral hearing loss, loves cheerleaders and cheerleading,

Older Alabamians learn IL skills at Camp SAVI (photo gallery)

Seven seniors with visual impairments are attending Camp SAVI (seniors adjusting to visual impairments) at E.H. Gentry in Talladega this week. The camp, in its seventh year, teaches skills that help the participants remain independent in their homes. The program also features sessions to educate the relatives of the seniors about issues faced by people