Recommendations

• A public/private partnership should be formed to create an online portal for “one-stop shopping” of educational materials and resources for parents of children with developmental disabilities in West Virginia. The Jeremiah Tree Foundation is already working on this, but the project is more extensive than its current capacity and could use support.

• Create a core group of advocates to serve as a liaison with other state support networks to learn best practices to implement here as we expand our reach.

• Start a podcast. Parents can listen at their leisure — maybe when traveling or picking up kids from school. It could highlight resources, interview local advocates, and discuss relevant legislation during the legislative session.

• Provide parents with medical information learning opportunities, like continuing education units for providers. It could be beneficial in building bridges between our in-state health care system and families. Some parents are eager to learn more about their child’s condition and how to best access care. We have families that have attended medical conferences to acquire this information; let’s make it easier for them to learn virtually.