For Families

Support groups meets monthly, on the 4th Monday of each month from 12-1pm on Zoom. This is different than our 5 session courses- you can attend as many or as few support groups as you want Designed for parents/caregivers of children with a range of disabilities Everything shared is confidential You can share or not share- participation can just be listening Guided by Nadine, our clinical social worker Each support group includes a check in, time to share and connect with each other and a self-care activity At no cost to families

Recognizing that you are not alone. You’ll meet others who are navigating similar journeys. Share wins and hard things- little or big Share knowledge and resources. Learn through the experiences of others. Practice self-care strategies to implement in your daily life.

Confidentiality Compassion for ourselves and others “In my experience” -Everyone is on their own path Share the Air: Take turns in small and big groups All feelings are welcome Show up and end on time

Virtual programming is offered to any parent of a child with a disability no matter where they reside as long as they have access to a the internet. VELA offers limited in-person programming at our Austin location only but parents do not have to live in Austin to access services.

VELA works with families of children with ANY disability. We currently serve families of children ages 0-18 with over 21 different diagnoses including but not limited to autism, down syndrome, dyslexia, ADHD, cerebral palsy and more. If students are enrolled in 18+ programming with an IEP, we might be able to provide support or referral to an adult-focused agency.

No, VELA works with parents to locate therapy providers for their children through a community home health agency and/or request therapies through their child’s school.

No, VELA supports parents whose children are in the evaluation process or who need help obtaining an evaluation through a specialist, their respective school district or charter school. We know that getting an evaluation can take time. So while you wait, you can meet 1:1 with one of our social workers for Case Management, join a Monthly Support and/or enroll in a relevant course.

All courses are 5 weeks long. Virtual sessions are held weekly online through Zoom for 1.5 hours and In-person sessions are held weekly for 2 hours at our Austin location only.

Case management is available for parents who have a child with a disability on a short-term basis and to focus on specific needs. Parents can receive support finding therapies, providers, advice and support in requesting or navigating through special education services and medical care by calling 512-850-8281.

Yes, if you meet the criteria for each of the courses, you can attend as many as your schedule allows. Keep in mind that we require attendance at all five sessions of the course and the first session’s attendance is mandatory.

VELA offers monthly virtual support groups for any parent who has a child with a disability and you can register to attend here while you wait for the course to start. If you need individualized support to find therapies, resources or with a school related situation, you can call us at 512-850-8281 to find out how to access case management support with our Clinical Social Worker.

You can call our main number 512-850-8281.

No, the courses are for parents and children are not required to attend, especially if they are enrolled in school. VELA offers specialized childcare for parents while they attend the courses with prior registration.

No, all the content in the courses will stay the same. We hold multiple course offerings daytime and evening to accommodate your availability throughout the year.

No. VELA's focus and goal is to prepare you by giving you the knowledge and skills to do this on behalf of your child.

We believe in equitable access to care, and since we are a non-profit organization, our services are free to you. You do not need to show proof of income or have insurance to receive services.

Yes. VELA knows each family's journey is different- you can take a course, or join a support group or get case management or come play at a Family Fun Day. How and what you start with is up to you.

Available for families participating in VELA’s Support Groups, Courses, and/or Workshops 1 on 1 individualized meetings in-person or virtually Offered on a case by case basis for families of children with disabilities Provided in English and Spanish Provided at no cost to families

Accessing Disability Community Resources Health Insurance such as Medicaid, SSI, CSCHN, CHIP, Marketplace Health Insurance Therapy Referrals - Speech, Physical, Occupational, ABA Mental Health Referrals for Children and Adults Addressing School Concerns: special education support, starting and managing individual education plan (IEP), preparing for ARD meetings, advocating for equal opportunities for students with disabilities, etc.

VELA does not attend school meetings and medical appointments with families; VELA’s model is to prepare families to navigate these visits independently. VELA does not provide home based services. VELA does not provide direct support with housing, emergency financial assistance, or legal aid. VELA is not a crisis response agency. Once Case Management services are requested, VELA’s Social Worker will reach out within five business days to schedule an appointment. Case management sessions provided are determined by the needs identified between the family and VELA’s Social Worker.

Services are limited and eligibility will be determined on a case by case basis. Self Refer by calling VELA yourself as a caregiver or be referred by a VELA Parent Facilitator and/or community provider. Contact us at 512-850-8281 to learn more.

Referrals should be submitted through the website’s “Refer a Family” tab. All referrals will be contacted within 5 business days. Families can contact us by calling 512-850-8281.

All services are offered in English or Spanish, without the need for translation.

All VELA services are free of cost for any parent or caregiver of children with disabilities. Families do not need to show proof of income in order to receive services.

We believe in equitable access to care, and since we are a non-profit organization, our services are free to you. You do not need to show proof of income or have insurance to receive services.

No, VELA equips families with the tools and skills they need to prepare, participate, and advocate for their children through VELA’s Special Education Course or individualized Case Management support.

Once you make a referral on our website, a VELA staff member will reach out to the family to share our services with them and learn more about their needs. A family must of course want to participate/ be available to enroll in services. You can always reach out to VELA if you have questions about a particular referral.

All courses meet weekly for 5 sessions and are offered multiple times per year. Check our website for availability!

No, all the content in the courses will stay the same. We hold multiple course offerings for families to accommodate their availability throughout the year.

VELA courses are only for parents or caregivers of children with disabilities to provide a safe sharing and learning environment for families experiencing similar paths.

VELA has some limited availability to offer parent courses or workshops for partners who meet certain criteria for attendance, outreach and fees. You can reach out to us at Info@velafamilies.org with your inquiry.

VELA works with families of children with ANY disability. We currently serve families of children ages 0-18 with over 21 different diagnoses including but not limited to autism, down syndrome, dyslexia, ADHD, cerebral palsy and more. If students are enrolled in 18+ programming with an IEP, we might be able to provide support or referral to an adult-focused agency.

No, VELA works with parents to locate therapy providers for their children in their community and/or request therapies through their child’s school.

No! VELA's virtual services can be accessed by any parent wherever they are. However, in-person programming is only offered at VELA’s east Austin location and is available to families who can travel to this location.