Special Connections

08/23/2026

Yesterday was everything we hoped for and more. The Pathways to Connection mini-retreat was truly wonderful, and seeing so many parents, caregivers, educators, and support professionals step away from their busy lives to rest and connect was a beautiful sight.

From the tears and laughter during Kate and Amanda’s incredible keynote sessions, to the hum of conversation over lunch, to the amazing resources shared by our local vendors… it was a day we will never forget.

We have so many people to thank for making this happen:

To our attendees:
Thank you for trusting us with your Saturday, leaving your to-do lists at home, and giving yourselves permission to recharge. You are the heart of this community.

To our speakers:
Kate Swenson (Finding Cooper's Voice) and Amanda DeLuca (Jackson's Journey, Jackson's Voice & Advocate.Out.Loud - Amanda DeLuca), thank you for sharing your hearts, your stories, and your wisdom with our hometown.

To our generous sponsors:
Thank you to JeffCo Services, Jefferson County Board of DD, and Harrison County Board of Developmental Disabilities. You made this event possible and helped our guests feel so valued!

To our incredible vendors:
Thank you for showing up to support our community and providing such amazing resource tables for our attendees. We are so grateful to:
The More Than Project
Pathways for Inclusion: A DeLuca Family Initiative
Jefferson County Board of DD
Groovy Drinks
Bella Capelli Academy, A Paul Mitchell Partner School - Pittsburgh
Daydream Permanent
Kelly Wells
Hometown Pediatric Solutions
Kendall Behavioral Solutions, LLC
Better Movement Therapy
Jefferson County Early Intervention
Ohio Children's Alliance
CareSource
Jefferson County Resource Network
Sycamore Youth Center

To our partners at Pathways for Inclusion:
This beautiful day was the result of a labor of love and a true partnership between Pathways for Inclusion and Special Connections. Thank you for sharing this vision with us, for the countless hours of planning behind the scenes, and for your unwavering dedication to uplifting and supporting the disability community in our area. We are so much stronger when we work together, and we are incredibly grateful to be on this journey side-by-side with you!

"Because it takes a village, and even the village needs to refuel."

We are still riding the high from yesterday and looking through all of these amazing photos!

What was your favorite moment or biggest takeaway from the retreat? Share your thoughts and your own photos in the comments below! 👇

08/22/2026

The room is set and our hearts are so incredibly full! 💙✨

We are officially ready for the Pathways to Connection mini-retreat tomorrow morning, and the excitement is setting in. We cannot wait to see familiar faces, hug our friends, and connect with so many new people who are joining our village for the very first time.

We are also so thrilled to officially welcome Kate of Finding Cooper's Voice to Steubenville! We have had the privilege of experiencing her incredible heart and storytelling, and we are beyond excited for all of you to finally get to experience her in person tomorrow.

This beautiful day of rest and community would not be possible without our amazing partnership with Pathways for Inclusion: A DeLuca Family Initiative. Thank you for dreaming up this vision with us and working so hard to create a space where caregivers and support professionals can truly feel seen and celebrated. We are so incredibly grateful for you! 🫶

To everyone attending tomorrow: get a good night's sleep! Leave your to-do lists at home, come exactly as you are, and get ready for a day of inspiration and genuine connection.

📍 Reminder: Registration begins at 8:30 AM at the JeffCo Event Center!

08/22/2026

We are so grateful for the partnership and friendship we have with Pathways for Inclusion: A DeLuca Family Initiative. Tonight was wonderful 🤍

08/21/2026

Only TWO MORE SLEEPS! Can’t wait to see everyone on Saturday!! 🤍

08/18/2026

🤍 TICKET GIVEAWAY!
Update: Winners have been selected & notified 🤩 Thanks to all who shared this post!

We know that caregiving often comes with unexpected expenses, and treating yourself can easily take a back seat. Thanks to incredibly generous community partners, we are giving away tickets so you can come refuel with us on Saturday, August 22nd! ✨

Here is what we have available:
We will be drawing TWO lucky winners! Each winner will receive TWO tickets—one for yourself, and one to bring a fellow caregiver or support professional along with you!

🎟️ Winner 1: Must be a Jefferson County resident (Sponsored by the Jefferson County Family & Children First Council)
🎟️ Winner 2: Open to anyone living outside of Jefferson County (Sponsored by a generous anonymous donor)

How to enter to win:
1. Like & Follow: Like this post and make sure you follow BOTH the Special Connections and Pathways for Inclusion: A DeLuca Family Initiative pages. 👍
2. Comment & Tag: Tell us in the comments why you want to attend, and tag a fellow caregiver you’d love to bring with you! 👇
(When you comment, let us know if you are a Jefferson County resident so we can enter you in the correct drawing!)

⏳ Hurry! This contest closes tomorrow, Tuesday, August 18th at 10:00 PM EDT. We will announce our winners on Wednesday morning!

Learn more about Pathways to Connection here:
https://www.pathwaysforinclusion.org/event-details/pathways-to-connection-caregivers-support-professionals-mini-retreat

A massive thank you to Jefferson County FCFC and our anonymous donor for championing the disability community and making this giveaway possible! 🫶

08/17/2026

Caregivers—this Saturday is for YOU. 🤍

Join us Saturday, August 22nd for Pathways to Connection, featuring bestselling author and creator of Finding Cooper's Voice, Kate Swenson!

Kate has spent years sharing the real, beautiful, complicated journey of autism, caregiving, family, and finding joy—and we are so excited to welcome her to our community.

Registration begins at 8:30 AM
Kate’s keynote begins at 9:30 AM

Tickets are still available! You can also choose a bundle ticket that includes one or both of Kate’s books, Forever Boy and Autism Out Loud.

Come spend the day learning, connecting, laughing, and being surrounded by people who understand the caregiver journey.

There’s still time to join us—we would love to see you there!

Tickets available here: https://www.pathwaysforinclusion.org/event-details/pathways-to-connection-caregivers-support-professionals-mini-retreat

08/15/2026

Pathways to Connection Attendees: Check your emails for information about our Friday night meet up! We can’t wait to see you there 🩵

Hey retreat attendees, we are one week away!!!

We sent out an email last week about our meetup happening next Friday night from 6-8pm.
If you didn’t see the email please check your spam or promotions inbox!

We would love to have you (your family is invited too!) join us for our Friday night meetup, so please send us an email at: [email protected] to RSVP or for details if you didn’t get the email!

Want to join us for Friday and Saturday? We still have tickets available for the retreat, snag yours now!

https://www.pathwaysforinclusion.org/event-details/pathways-to-connection-caregivers-support-professionals-mini-retreat

Special Connections

08/13/2026

Looking for a fun night out at the Jefferson County Fair? 😊

Join us for Inclusion Day on Wednesday, August 19 from 3:00–7:00 PM at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds in Rayland!

This event is designed to strengthen community connections, build peer support, and create opportunities for families to come together in a welcoming and inclusive environment.

Be sure to stop by and meet our JCESC OhioRISE Care Coordinators to learn more about the program and available supports. OhioRISE (Ohio Resilience through Integrated Systems and Excellence) helps children and youth with complex behavioral health needs by connecting families to coordinated care, community resources, and individualized support services.

To learn more about OhioRISE and the services available,
visit: https://www.jcesc.k12.oh.us/CareManagementEntity.aspx

We look forward to seeing you at the fair! 🎡🎠

08/13/2026

We are having the best time being out with our friends & neighbors. We still have a few more stops on our back to school tour- hope to see you soon if we haven’t already! 🖍️🤩✂️