The Grief We Carry: Black and Brown Families Navigating Disability

The Grief We Carry: Black and Brown Families Navigating Disability, Loss, and Hope is a powerful half-day symposium presented by ABA Centers of Pennsylvania, in partnership with Ausomeness Inc. and Your Voice Heard, LLC. This symposium is designed to explore the often-unspoken experiences of grief, resilience, advocacy, and healing within Black and Brown communities impacted by disability.

This unique gathering brings together families, self-advocates, practitioners, educators, community leaders, and policymakers to engage in meaningful conversations about the emotional, social, and systemic challenges that arise when navigating disability. Through lived experiences, professional expertise, and community-centered dialogue, participants will gain a deeper understanding of how grief can show up throughout the disability journey and how hope, healing, and collective support can help families move forward.

The symposium will examine topics such as ambiguous loss, caregiver grief, cultural perspectives on disability, mental health and wellness, community advocacy, and strategies for building stronger support systems for individuals with disabilities and their families.

Attendees will have the opportunity to learn from an interdisciplinary panel of experts and community leaders while connecting with others who share a commitment to equity, inclusion, and family-centered support. The event aims to foster understanding, inspire action, and strengthen partnerships that help Black and Brown families thrive.

• Marilyn Pendleton, EdD, RN, LNC, CSN
• Jamiel Owens

• Tiara Waterman
• Klarissa Spencer, Ed.S, MPA
• Deborah McMillan, MSW, LSW
• Ricktesha Hall, MSW, LCSW, LBS
• Melissa DiSipio, MSA, FAAIDD

By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:

1. Define grief from a grief recovery-informed lens and dispel common myths.

2. Recognize how grief may manifest in children, teens, and young adults with exceptionalities.

3. Understand the emotional and psychological impact of grief on families and caregivers.

4. Identify culturally and developmentally sensitive ways to support grieving students and families.

5. Apply trauma-informed, strength-based strategies within schools, clinical settings, and community programs.

6. Know when and how to make appropriate referrals for more specialized grief support.

Participants may earn continuing education credit. The program offers 1 CE hour and is approved for social workers, marriage and family therapists, professional counselors, and psychologists through the Phoenix Center for Experiential Trauma Therapy.

• Phoenix Center for Experiential Trauma Therapy (Lic. #004115) is approved by the Pennsylvania State Board of Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists and Professional Counselors to offer continuing education for social workers, marriage and family therapists and professional counselors.The Phoenix Center for Experiential Trauma Therapy (Lic. # PSY000215) is approved by the Pennsylvania State Board of Psychology to offer continuing education for psychologists. Phoenix Center for Experiential Trauma Therapy maintains responsibility for the program.

1 CE hour event and learning objectives:

1 CE will be provided for attendance to the workshop "The Grief We Carry: Black and Brown Families Navigating Disability, Loss, and Hope. A Whole-Person Symposium for Families, Advocates, Practitioners, and Policymakers" from 9:15am- 10:15am; Presented by Marilyn Pendleton, EdD, RN, LNC, CSN The learning objectives that were approved for the 1 CE presentation were the following.

1. Identify at least two common assumptions or misconceptions about autism and Black individuals and families.
2. Describe at least two barriers that Black autistic individuals and families may experience when accessing social, educational, healthcare, or community services.
3. Identify at least two culturally responsive strategies social workers can use to better support and advocate for Black autistic individuals and their families.

Together, we will honor grief, uplift hope, and create space for healing, understanding, and action in support of Black and Brown families navigating disability.

Event venue & nearby stays

4601 Market St, 4601 Market Street, Philadelphia, United States

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