Liaison Highlight- Suzanne Chen 

Suzanne Chen is our amazing Family Liaison for New York! Suzanne is a true champion for our families and wears many hats. She’s not only the Family Engagement Coordinator for the New York Deafblind Collaborative, she also represents the New York Parent Association for Deafblind Individuals. 

Suzanne goes above and beyond to make sure families feel connected, informed, and supported. Last June, she played a vital role in the NYDBC’s CHARGE Syndrome Conference, where several of our Family Liaisons had the chance to volunteer and see Suzanne shine! 

What makes her really special is her ability to connect with families all sorts of backgrounds while being a wealth of knowledge about resources. We are so lucky to have you, Suzanne - thank you for everything you do for our families—you truly make a difference! 

Welcome Kelly Merryfield 

We are thrilled to have a new Family Liaison for Michigan. Kelly comes highly recommended by Jodie Beavers, our former Michigan Liaison, and her Deafblind Project. She is very involved in her community and has a passion for helping and supporting our families. Her family includes her husband and three beautiful children, who enjoy camping and nature. Her active participation in our past conferences demonstrates her deep understanding of our work, and she is planning to attend our next one in Arizona! 

Tips for Engaging Families During the Holidays 

The holiday season can be a hectic time for many families, often leading to a quieter period for engagement, however, the joy and warmth of the season present a great opportunity to connect in meaningful ways.

Here are a few tips to keep in touch and support families: 

• Check In: While many families may be busy with gatherings and holiday activities, some may choose to stay home due to their child’s immunity concerns, which can be isolating. A simple check-in, even a single email, can be a warm reminder that you’re there for them.  
• Share Fun Events: Pass along information about family-friendly holiday events in your area. This can help families feel more connected to the season, and you can even encourage them to share events they’ve enjoyed as well. 
• Social Media Sharing: If you have a Facebook group or online community, encourage families to share holiday photos, recipes, crafts, and decorations. This can create a festive, supportive space where everyone can enjoy each other’s seasonal traditions. 
• Holiday Card Exchange: Ask if families are interested in participating in a holiday card exchange. This is often a popular activity and can bring extra joy to families as they receive thoughtful cards from others who understand their experiences. 
• Share Helpful Resources: The holiday season can be challenging for some families struggling financially. Providing information on local food banks, holiday gift giveaways, or support programs can be a huge help for those who may be facing extra stress this time of year. 

Connecting with families during the holidays, even in small ways, can create a lasting sense of community and support! 

Volunteer at Our Upcoming Conference! 

We’re excited to bring together families and professionals at this year’s conference, and we’ll need support from all our Family Liaisons before, during, and after the event! Whether you plan to attend in person or not, there are numerous ways you can help.

Here’s a preview of the needs we anticipate: 

• Before the Conference: Preparing for Conference can be complex for families, from registration and scholarships to hotel bookings and more. Family Liaisons can play a key role in answering questions and providing guidance to help make their attendance smooth and enjoyable. We’ll keep you updated through our regional meetings, emails, and other communication channels. As we get closer to the event, we’ll share a list of families attending from your state. 
• During the Conference: We’re planning next year’s conference to give you plenty of time to interact with families. There will be opportunities to volunteer in ways that connect you directly with attendees, and we’ll ensure that families can easily identify and connect with their Family Liaisons. Some of these opportunities include helping at our Family Events, Greeters, Room Monitors and more. 
• After the Conference: The energy after a conference is a perfect time to connect! Families will feel inspired by what they learned, and you can support them in continuing that momentum. 
• Volunteer Opportunities: If you know of others who may want to get involved, please encourage them to volunteer! There are various opportunities to help, and we’ve included a list of ideas and signup details here. 

Thank you for all you do to make this conference meaningful and supportive for our families! We look forward to working together to create an incredible experience.  

State Resource Lists 

This is a good time for you to finish your State Resource Lists, so that we have enough time to edit them and prepare them for sharing during Conference. If you need help getting started, please get in touch with your Regional Facilitator as soon as possible.

Once you finish your list, you can share it with your local partners to see if they have any suggestions to add. We have found that this activity will help you discover great new resources that your families will love.  

Holiday Card Exchange 

We would like to do our annual Holiday Card Exchange and we are working on getting those addresses to you with plenty of time.

Please email Sharren Foster (sefoster1@yahoo.com) if you are interested in participating. Don’t forget to include your mailing address in your email. Respond by November 22nd.