April 2025
“Acceptance doesn’t mean resignation. It means understanding that something is what it is,
and that there’s going to be a way through it.”
~ Michael J. Fox
Welcome to April’s edition of the Buzz from the Hub! This edition of the Buzz is coming to you later than usual due to our 2025 National Parent Center Conference last week! We hope everyone who was able to attend had a great time and was able to fully enjoy the learning and networking opportunities.
As always, the CPIR is excited to share resources and events with you. In this issue, we feature:
- a Family Voices National Study,
- a Podcast on how early experiences shape brain development,
- NCADEMI resources on accessible digital learning,
- the link to apply for the 2025 Youth Leadership Forum,
- the IDD Toolkit: Health care tools for adults with developmental disabilities,
- a podcast on media use and neurodivergent kids.
Last, but not least, check out the virtual event scheduled in April in the Upcoming Events section.
Best wishes and happy reading,
The CPIR Team
Featured Resource!
Family Voices National Study: Experiences of Parents Seeking Emergency Care for Injured Children with Special Health Care Needs
Family Voices is conducting a study to improve the injury care of children and youth with special health care needs. The objectives of the study are to:
- Develop a better understanding of family caregiver experiences related to seeking emergency care for children with special health care needs and
- Identify aspects of patient care that family caregivers think are likely to be affected by special health care needs status.
Family Voices is looking for family caregivers who:
- are at least 18 years old and
- take care of a child less than 19 years old with special health care needs who visited the hospital for an injury within the past 12 months.
What You Can Expect:
- Short background survey (5-10 minutes)
- 30–45-minute interview via phone or Zoom
- Responses will be kept confidential
- Opt out or skip questions at any time
- Receive a $50.00 gift card for your time
If you would like to participate, please click on the following link to share your contact information and fill out a brief eligibility questionnaire:
Shareable Resources
Early Childhood |
How Experience and Environment Impact Our Early Brain Development
In this episode of Your Child’s Brain, Dr. Brad Schlaggar and his guests reflect on the influential report, From Neurons to Neighborhoods, and discuss how early experiences, environments and exposures influence the developing brain early experiences, environments and exposures influence the developing brain.
Listen to the podcast episode here.
Education |
Resources from the National Center on Accessible Digital Educational Materials & Instruction (NCADEMI)
NCADEMI’s goal is to help schools and families improve the accessibility of digital educational materials and instruction from preschool through high school graduation. Two of their resources are More Myths & Facts: Let’s Talk About the Role of AEM in the 2024 AT Guidance and Navigating a New Landscape of Digital Accessibility Requirements in K-12.
Access these NCADEMIs resources here.
Youth |
Youth Leadership Forum
The Youth Leadership Forum is accepting applications for Summer 2025! This year, YLF is open for young adults with disabilities, ages 18-30 with any kind of disability. Priority acceptance will be offered to participants of the MassAbility NextGen Careers program, as well as new participants to YLF!
When: June 26-28th, 2025
Where: Emerson College, Boston
Please reach out to Carol at cmurray@pyd.org with questions.
Young Adults |
The IDD Toolkit: Tools to Enhance Health Care for Adults w/ Intellectual Developmental Disabilities
The IDD Toolkit, is an online resource aimed at primary care clinicians as well as mental health providers to ease the health disparities that adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities often experience. The tools are based on consensus guidelines and include several tools for individuals with disabilities, their family members, and their support persons to use to improve health care, clinic visits, and hospital stays.
Janet Shouse, the IDD Toolkit program coordinator with Vanderbilt Kennedy Center presented on the IDD Toolkit on March 26th. Watch the presentation here.
Parent Leadership |
Screen Deep Podcast – a podcast by Children and Screens: Institute for Digital Media and Child Development
Episode 12: Neurodivergent Children and Media Use | Meryl Alper, PhD
Neurodivergent children’s relationships with technology is subject to many common myths and misconceptions: Does digital media use cause ADHD? Do children with autism have more affinity for screens? In this episode of Screen Deep, host Kris Perry and guest Dr. Meryl Alper, Associate Professor of Communication Studies at Northeastern University, address these myths and what her research on digital media and neurodivergent youth can tell us about how they experience media use and potential overuse.
Listen to the episode here.
Upcoming Events
Parent Engagement and Partnerships in Early Childhood: Research from Across the Big Ten
Featuring experts from the Big Ten Early Learning Alliance, this event will discuss current research on parent engagement and partnerships and outline its vital connection to policy and practice.
This event is free and open to all including researchers, policymakers, students, practitioners, journalists and parents who are interested in parent engagement and partnerships in early childhood.
When: Wednesday, April 16, 2025
Time: 1 p.m. – 2 p.m. EST
Looking for more events? Check out
the Hub Central Event Calendar
This e-Newsletter from the CPIR is copyright-free. We encourage you to share it with others. Scan our QR Code or click here to sign up to receive the Buzz from the Hub!
Publication of this e-Newsletter is made possible through Cooperative Agreement H328R230009 between OSEP and the SPAN Parent Advocacy Network (SPAN). The contents do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Department of Education, nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government or by the Center for Parent Information and Resources.
