Family Connection South Carolina to Host 2026 Hopes & Dreams Conference March 25th
Annual conference highlights resources for families and professionals caring for individuals who have a disability Family Connection of South Carolina will be hosting its annual Hopes and Dreams Conference on Wednesday, March 25th at the R2i2 Conference Center in Columbia. This event brings together professionals and families who care for children and young adults who have a disability as well as self-advocates for a day of learning and collaboration. Keynote Presenters include: Dr. Meghan Burke, is a professor of special education at Peabody College at Vanderbilt University. Her research interests include family-professional partnerships, families of individuals with disabilities, and disability policy. Her research examines how families advocate for services for their family members with disabilities. She also conducts research examining how siblings of individuals with disabilities transition to caregiving roles. Dr. Burke has developed and tested several advocacy programs, including the Volunteer Advocacy Project (VAP) to educate and empower parents of individuals with disabilities to access services, not only for their own offspring but also for other families and for systemic change. To date, the