Daemen to hold program on caring for individuals with developmental disabilities

A one-day education program on caring for individuals who are medically fragile/frail with developmental disabilities will be held from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday, June 16, in the Daemen College Wick Campus Center Social Room.

The free program, which is funded by a grant from the New York State Developmental Disabilities Planning Council, will include sessions on communications and advocacy, accessing community resources, legal considerations and bridging care for children, adults and families.

"This program will offer valuable information on ways health and human services professionals can improve care for individuals with developmental disabilities and their vital role in assisting families and caregivers with accessing available resources," said Dr. Catherine Mann, associate professor of nursing. She is overseeing the program.

Speakers will include Theresa Drum, quality improvement manager at the Parent Network of Western New York; Samuel Mattle, executive director of the Center for Self Advocacy; Erica Newsom, individual residential alternatives coordinator at Community Services for the Developmentally Disabled; Tonia Weichmann, transition coordinator at the Parent Network of Western New York; and Elizabeth Wright, associate dean of education at Daemen.

The program is open to health and human services professionals and students in related programs. Registration was requested by June 1.