TEXAS SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF PRESS RELEASE
Contact: Keena Miller
512-462-5328 c: 512-658-4444
[email protected]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
39th Annual Family Weekend Retreat Empowers
Texas Families and Caregivers with Children who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing
June 2-4, 2023
Austin, Texas June 2, 2023 —Today, the Statewide Outreach Center (SOC) welcomes over 300 guests to the Texas School for the Deaf for an enriching and inspiring weekend retreat centered on Texas families with children who are deaf or hard of hearing.
Transforming and educating Texas families and caregivers since 1984, SOC’s Family Weekend Retreat (FWR) offers an inclusive, trilingual (American Sign Language, English and Spanish) format where all families connect, learn, and grow together.
At the heart of the retreat – led by distinguished professionals, experienced parents, caregivers, and role models who provide diverse perspectives and expertise – adult sessions are tailored to empower parents with valuable insights and knowledge on a wide range of topics, including early childhood intervention, literacy and language development, parenting tips and techniques, cultural considerations, family-school connections, technology resources, and more. While children, along with their siblings, have fun together enjoying a mix of engaging camp-like activities catered to the specific needs and interests of each age group.
FWR 2023 kicks off with keynote speaker, Erica Trevino, and her mother, Cindi, who will share the story of their journey, and how Sergeant Trevino became the first Deaf female police officer in Texas, working for the city of Dalhart.
SOC Director, Dr. Bobbie Beth Scoggins, knows how important this type of event is for families who may be in need of peer and professional support.
“At FWR, the aim is to equip and empower families with the necessary information and resources, to build bonds so they know there is this supportive network, and gain a deeper understanding of the unique challenges and opportunities that may lie ahead throughout their journeys.”
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ABOUT THE STATEWIDE OUTREACH CENTER AT TEXAS SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF: Your trusted resource in deaf education, the Statewide Outreach Center (SOC) at Texas School for the Deaf (TSD) carries forth the second tenet of the school’s mission through outreach with the resources and expertise of TSD shared with students who are deaf and hard of hearing, their families, and professionals anywhere across the state. Working collaboratively with a variety of partner agencies, family-focused groups and schools across Texas, the SOC offers a network of support, in-depth information and quality resources for those who need it. To learn more visit: texasdeafed.org, and follow SOC on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube. For more about SOC’s Family Weekend Retreat, please visit https://go.texasdeafed.org/FWR2023.
ABOUT THE TEXAS SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF: The Texas School for the Deaf (TSD) is the oldest continuous operating public school in Texas. Educating deaf and hard of hearing students of Texas since 1856, the campus also provides outreach and educational resources for students, their families and professionals in the field throughout the state of Texas. With educational excellence and a strong belief in a culture and community at TSD, students form a unique identity based on their individual strengths and talents. TSD is an environment where students learn, grow, and belong. For more information about the Texas School for the Deaf, http://www.tsd.state.tx.us