Dos and Donts When Explaining Disability to Your Typically Developing Children
Center for Family Care
October 31, 2022
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Webinar: Wonderfully Made
Center for Family Care
August 11, 2022
We are created in the image of God, "fearfully and wonderfully" made by our Creator, yet most of us fail to appreciate the complexities of our bodies and how miraculously they operate. This discussion focuses on the wonder of our bodies, how disabilities lead to other abilities, and what we can do to fulfill our unique potential even with illnesses and disabilities. Read More
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Strength in Community
Center for Family Care
June 29, 2022
Pres. Melanie DiStefano speaks with Eleni Anast about finding faith, hope, and direction through prayer, spiritual counsel, and community as she and her husband grew their family through open adoption and faced their daughter's Autism diagnosis. She and her husband focus on and cultivate their children's strengths, cherish daily routines together, and balance their active lives according to every family member's needs and interests. Read More
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A Second Chance
Center for Family Care
June 29, 2022
Presvytera Melanie speaks with her parents Pete and Alexis Tsikouris about learning from their past mistakes, what they want most for their grandson with disabilities, and what they cherish most about their relationship with him. Read More
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Webinar: Doing Lent with Disabilities
Center for Family Care
June 27, 2022
The increased prayer services, fasting, and almsgiving guidelines during Lent can seem illusive for families with disabilities. Discerning ways and degrees to which the whole family can journey through Lent together often causes frustration. This webinar shares tools, ideas, and lessons learned for helping your family enjoy a fruitful Lent. Read More
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A Life Changing Conversation
Center for Family Care
April 15, 2022
Our days are filled with tasks that require our attention. Unexpectedly, Christ comes alongside us. Christ invites us to turn our attention towards Him. Right in the middle of our mundane tasks, Christ invites us to participate in a potentially life transforming encounter. At Jacob’s well, St. Photini talked with Christ. In the place where we are at the present moment, Christ comes to us. Christ reaches out to us. Again and again, Christ invites us to respond to His abundant loving kindness. Read More
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Fully Human Family Feature, Episode 1: The Haghnazari Family
Center for Family Care
January 11, 2022
Prematurely born, weighing 1 pound with a 6-month NICU stay, Cyrus has become a thriving, happy teen who plays in his high school marching band. Want to learn how to face challenges with faith and embrace the joy of living? Meet the Haghnazari family. Read More
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Thank Full
Center for Family Care
November 1, 2021
There was a time when Michael’s odd behaviors would send shivers of shame throughout my body, and to be honest there are still times – though fewer and farther between. I have come to a place in our walk with our child’s Autism and Down Syndrome and Sensory Processing Disorder that is one not only of acceptance, but even amusement over the little quirks that are a part of who Michael is and what his body experiences. Read More
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Freedom from Fear of the Future for Your Child with Disabilities Webinar
Center for Family Care
October 8, 2021
Parents of children with disabilities often have compounded fears about their future. Panelists share their insights surrounding these fears, with a particular emphasis on how to cultivate freedom from fear of the future in order to enjoy life with our families now. Read More
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Growing the Virtue of Philoxenia in Our Families and Communities
Center for Family Care
September 8, 2021
Presvytera Melanie speaks with Charlotte Riggle about her familial experience of invisible disabilities; how she came to see God's commandment to not bear false witness against one's neighbor as the virtue of philoxenia—the love of strangers—the Giant Cookie Test; and the value of online support for families with special needs. Read More
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Out of the Mouths of Babes You Have Perfected Praise
Center for Family Care
August 18, 2021
Presvytera Melanie speaks with Sarah Riccardi-Swartz about her involvement with disability rights, how her Autistic daughter further developed her advocacy role, the need for the Church to listen to and incorporate the stories of those with disabilities and their guardians to develop a theology of disability, and the pure-hearted offerings to God in triumphant "Amens!" and Daniel Tiger songs. Read More
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The Heusel Family: All Children Can Learn, and All Children Can Teach
Center for Family Care
August 10, 2021
Presvytera Melanie speaks with Matt and Louise Heusel on medical practitioners' adverse reactions to prenatal discoveries of disabilities and the pressure put on parents to abort their children, how their daughter with Down Syndrome has enriched their family life, and the special gifts she contributes to their parish family. Read More
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UOC St. Nicholas Summer Camp for Families with Disabilities
Center for Family Care
July 14, 2021
Pres. Melanie speaks with Natalie Kapeluck Nixon, the Director of Youth & Young Adult Ministry for the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA and founder of the St. Nicholas Program, a church camp experience for persons with special needs of all ages, and their families. Read More
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Fostering Independence in Families with Disabilities Webinar
Center for Family Care
July 6, 2021
Panelists offer their personal and professional lessons learned in a discussion of what healthy independence looks like in families with disabilities. Read More
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Memory Eternal Rev. George Livanos
Orthodox Observer
July 1, 2021
This morning, Rev. George Livanos, Protopresbyter of the Ecumenical Throne, peacefully passed away surrounded by his family. Read More
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