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ETB 30:  In this episode, I talk with former guests Jean and Brianna TenBrink, a dynamic mother/daughter duo about Project LEAH (Leaders Ending Abuse & Harm) a community coalition against educator abuse and mistreatment of children with disabilities in Texas public schools.

Jean,  mother of 3 daughters, 2 of whom are on different ends of the autistic spectrum is an advocacy coordinator who helps build bridges between home and school for families that have a child with a disability.  She talks about the abuse her youngest daughter Leah was subject to in her self-contained classroom by teachers Jean knew well and trusted.  The abuse was misrepresented and school officials lied about the mistreatment.  It wasn’t until Jean watched video footage of the abuse herself, that she was made fully aware of all that her daughter endured at the hands of those they believed had Leah’s best interest at heart.

Brianna, Jean’s oldest daughter is the Director of Marketing and Sales for Neural Divergence, LLC.  As a Partner in the Texas Partners and Policymaking Program and a very recent MBA graduate, Brianna has been a tireless advocate for individuals with disabilities for the past 13 years, winning the Sibling Scholarship from Knapps and Roberts law firm, the Rose Award from disAbility Connections, Inc., and Advocate of the Year award from the Arc of the Gulf Coast which granted her the opportunity to speak on the experiences of being a sibling at district-wide conferences.

Together Jean and Brianna have co-founded Project LEAH (Leaders Ending Abuse & Harm), an organization that armors parents, families and allies of loved ones of students in the Texas Public School System who have endured restraint, assault or seclusion with educational, legislative advocacy training to foster macro-level change.

Project LEAH is affiliated with The Arc of Texas, Disability Rights Texas, Alliance Against Seclusion and Restraint, and Texas Partners in Policymaking

Project LEAH TX
https://linktr.ee/projectleahtx

End #restraint #assault & #seclusion

Project LEAH Private Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/4127855043987645/

Arc of Texas
https://www.thearcoftexas.org/

Disability Rights Texas
https://www.disabilityrightstx.org/en/home/

Alliance Against Seclusion and Restraint
https://endseclusion.org/

Texas Partners in Policymaking
https://txpartners.org/

Connect with Brianna:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebriannashley/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/briashten

Connect with Jean:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/superautismmom/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jean.tenbrink

Connect with Sandy:
IG: https://www.instagram.com/sandydeppisch
Embrace the Blessing Facebook Group: http://bit.ly/ETB4ME
Website: http://www.embracetheblessing.com/

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ETB 29:  In this 2nd half of a 2 part episode I talk with Ricky Broussard, Self-Advocate, Peer Support Leader and all around great guy, who at the age of 10 had to move out of his family’s home and into a large facility for people with disabilities.  Ricky lived in 4 different facilities over the next 29 years.  He went from  having most of his decisions made for him, to surrounding himself with people he knew and trusted to support him as he began to speak up for himself and advocate for changes in his life.

Today, Ricky lives in his own place, has an accessible van, hires his own support staff,  manages his schedule and  works full time at a job he loves.  As a Peer Support Leader, Ricky works for Imagine Enterprises, training others on self-advocacy and self-determination.  He’s traveled all over Texas, sharing his story and teaching others the importance of learning to advocate for themselves.

Ricky sits on various boards, speaks at state conferences, has won numerous awards and  has presented his testimony at legislative sessions in Austin.  He meets monthly with a group of self-advocates and is also a member of Toast Masters.

In 2013, the Ricky Broussard Act was signed into law. The law provides that improved and consistent transition services be available to high schoolers regardless of their school district, thus increasing the likelihood of graduates obtaining post-secondary education and employment opportunities.

Ricky believes anyone who wants to work, should be given every opportunity to do so.   He encourages others with a disability to pursue meaningful employment and says, “All we need is support, an opportunity and a chance!”

This is part 2 of a 2 part series.   If you haven’t heard the first half of Ricky’s  interview,  be sure to listen to it in its entirety.  You won’t want to miss any of his incredible story.

My Life With a Disability
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6ewlo1-mDOOlqUmYj3GAig

Arc of Texas
https://www.thearcoftexas.org/

Arc of the Gulf Coast
https://thearc.org/chapter/the-arc-of-the-gulf-coast/

Imagine Enterprises
https://www.imagine-enterprises.org/

Gulf-Coast Self-Advocates
https://www.facebook.com/gulfcoastselfadvocates/

What is Self-Advocacy/Texas Advocates
http://www.texadvocates.org/our-history/

Texas Council for Development Disabilities
https://tcdd.texas.gov/

The Ricky Broussard Act:
https://cdn.ymaws.com/www.tcase.org/resource/resmgr/Bill_Summaries/HB_617_Bill_Summary.pdf

The Arc of Texas 2021 Virginia Eernisse Legacy Award Winner – Ricky Broussard:
https://www.thearcoftexas.org/get-informed/newsroom/the-arc-of-texas-2021-virginia-eernisse-legacy-award-recipient-announced/

Connect with Ricky:
ricky.broussard@imagine-enterprises.org

Connect with Sandy:
IG: https://www.instagram.com/sandydeppisch
Embrace the Blessing Facebook Group: http://bit.ly/ETB4ME
Website: http://www.embracetheblessing.com/

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ETB 28:  In this episode I talk with Ricky Broussard, Self-Advocate, Peer Support Leader and all around great guy, who at the age of 10 had to move out of his family’s home and into a large facility for people with disabilities.  Ricky lived in 4 different facilities over the next 29 years.  He went from  having most of his decisions made for him, to surrounding himself with people he knew and trusted to support him as he began to speak up for himself and advocate for changes in his life.

Today, Ricky lives in his own place, has an accessible van, hires his own support staff,  manages his schedule and  works full time at a job he loves.  As a Peer Support Leader, Ricky works for Imagine Enterprises, training others on self-advocacy and self-determination.  He’s traveled all over Texas, sharing his story and teaching others the importance of learning to advocate for themselves.

Ricky sits on various boards, speaks at state conferences, has won numerous awards and  has presented his testimony at legislative sessions in Austin.  He meets monthly with a group of self-advocates and is also a member of Toast Masters.

In 2013, the Ricky Broussard Act was signed into law. The law provides that improved and consistent transition services be available to high schoolers regardless of their school district, thus increasing the likelihood of graduates obtaining post-secondary education and employment opportunities.

Ricky believes anyone who wants to work, should be given every opportunity to do so.   He encourages others with a disability to pursue meaningful employment and says, “All we need is support, an opportunity and a chance!”

This is part 1 of a 2 part series.  Tune in next week for the second half of Ricky’s interview.

Arc of Texas
https://www.thearcoftexas.org/

Arc of the Gulf Coast
https://thearc.org/chapter/the-arc-of-the-gulf-coast/

Imagine Enterprises
https://www.imagine-enterprises.org/

Gulf-Coast Self-Advocates
https://www.facebook.com/gulfcoastselfadvocates/

What is Self-Advocacy/Texas Advocates
http://www.texadvocates.org/our-history/

Texas Council for Development Disabilities
https://tcdd.texas.gov/

The Ricky Broussard Act:
https://cdn.ymaws.com/www.tcase.org/resource/resmgr/Bill_Summaries/HB_617_Bill_Summary.pdf

The Arc of Texas 2021 Virginia Eernisse Legacy Award Winner – Ricky Broussard:
https://www.thearcoftexas.org/get-informed/newsroom/the-arc-of-texas-2021-virginia-eernisse-legacy-award-recipient-announced/

Connect with Ricky:
ricky.broussard@imagine-enterprises.org

Connect with Sandy:
IG: https://www.instagram.com/sandydeppisch
Embrace the Blessing Facebook Group: http://bit.ly/ETB4ME
Website: http://www.embracetheblessing.com/

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ETB 27:  In this episode I talk with Vivecca Hartman, mother of 2 and new grandmother, about life with her 24 year old son Christopher, born with a rare genetic mutation, Leber Congenital Amaurosis. Physically healthy in every other way, his vision and hearing was all that was affected at birth.  Very curious, physically fit and funny, Christopher likes to stay active and keep busy.  He communicates with tactile sign language.  As long as he feels safe, Christopher is a very happy person, very independent within his home.

Vivecca is cofounder of Touch Base: Center for the Deafblind, a nonprofit organization that benefits deafblind people after they graduate from school. Currently, Touch Base is located in Houston, Texas. It is a small organization with a board consisting of parents of deafblind children, experienced staff from the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired, and other dedicated professionals.  The purpose of Touch Base is to provide deafblind men and women with a day habilitation facility where they can participate in organized, meaningful, and purposeful activities.

Vivecca is also a long standing board member for the Lighthouse for the Blind, having served 10+ years.  The Lighthouse of Houston serves 5,000 individuals annually through health and community programs, independent living centers and assisted living facilities.  Of those they employ, nearly 40% are blind or visually impaired. Employees are trained to work in their service or products division.  Their programs and services provide individuals with the ability to live independently and to reach their full emotional, social and educational potential.

Deaf-Blind with Multiple Disabilities (DMBD) Medicaid Waiver
https://www.hhs.texas.gov/providers/long-term-care-providers/deaf-blind-multiple-disabilities-dbmd

Deaf-Blind Multihandicapped Association of Texas (DBMAT)   
https://dbmat-tx.org/

Community Living Assistance and Support Services (CLASS)
https://www.hhs.texas.gov/providers/long-term-care-providers/community-living-assistance-support-services-class.

Texas Medicaid Waiver Programs for Children with Disabilities
https://www.navigatelifetexas.org/en/insurance-financial-help/texas-medicaid-waiver-programs-for-children-with-disabilities
Phone Number: 1-877-438-5658 

Lighthouse for the Blind
https://www.houstonlighthouse.org/

PPCD
https://www.navigatelifetexas.org/en/education-schools/what-is-ppcd

Touch Base Center for the Deafblind
https://www.touchbasecenter.org/about-touch-base

Touch Base: Center for the Deafblind Facebook Page
https://www.facebook.com/TouchBaseCenter

Connect with Vivecca Hartman
hartmanfam28@sbcglobal.net
1-713- 231-7508

Connect with Sandy
IG: https://www.instagram.com/sandydeppisch
Embrace the Blessing Facebook Group: http://bit.ly/ETB4ME
Website: http://www.embracetheblessing.com/

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ETB 26:  In this episode I talk with Rick Deppisch. the first dad to be featured on the podcast who also just happens to be my husband and the father of our 5 children.  Rick shares his perspective on the challenges our family has endured and overcome over the years as we’ve navigated life with Josiah, our 20 year old son who has Down syndrome and non-verbal Autism.

Rick believes faith is what sustained him through the darkest days when Josiah, only 8 years old at the time, spent 10 months living away from home in a residential Behavior Treatment and Training Center.  He advocates the need for community and encourages parents who have a child with a disability to reach out to others to find a group of people to plug into for encouragement, resources and support.

Acknowledging that men handle their emotional responses differently than women and often times struggle to support other men who may be going through difficult times, Rick feels there should be more opportunities for dads to gather to be heard, strengthened and encouraged.

He also believes that if someone has helped you in your struggles, it’s your responsibility to reach back to offer a helping hand to others in need.

Meyer Center for Developmental Pediatrics
https://www.texaschildrens.org/location/meyer-center-developmental-pediatrics

Dr. Kathryn Ostermaier
https://www.texaschildrens.org/find-a-doctor/kathryn-katy-klish-ostermaier-md

Sleep Safe Bed
https://sleepsafebed.com/products/bed-models/

Connect with Rick
rdeppisch@gmail.com

Connect with Sandy
IG: https://www.instagram.com/sandydeppisch
Embrace the Blessing Facebook Group: http://bit.ly/ETB4ME
Website: http://www.embracetheblessing.com/