Baylor Center for Developmental Disabilities

The Baylor Center for Developmental Disabilities (BCDD) played a significant role at the 2025 Disability and the Church Conference (DATC), held April 29 to May 1 at McLean Bible Church in the Washington metropolitan area. Hosted by Key Ministry, the national conference convenes annually to inspire and equip pastors, ministry leaders, advocates, parents, caregivers, and people with disabilities working to build more inclusive church communities.

For Kenny Davis, a local autistic adult and gifted artist, counseling at the Baylor Center for Developmental Disabilities (BCDD) has been life-changing. To express his deep gratitude for the care and support he received, Davis recently donated a painting to the Center in honor of his therapist, Kayla Trites.

Dr. Melody Escobar was recently featured on the Careful Thinking podcast, hosted by Dr. Martin Robb, Professor of Care, Ethics & Culture at The Open University.

In a compelling episode that weaves together themes of theology, caregiving, and disability justice, Dr. Escobar reflects on how caregiving can be reimagined as a space for mutual belonging, transformative relationships, and inclusive community life.

Dr. Emily Frake co-authored an article published in the Journal of Special Education Preparation (JOSEP). The article, "Empowering Our Future: Integrating Advocacy into Special Education Coursework," emphasizes that preparations for special education teachers go beyond instructional methods—it requires equipping them to be advocates at the local, state, and national levels. The publication explores how advocacy can be effectively embedded into undergraduate coursework and offers actionable steps to further integrate advocacy training into teacher preparation programs.