Melissa Cornelius-Freyre

@melissacf.bsky.social

243 Followers 352 Following

• PhD student at UTSA in Interdisciplinary Learning & Teaching • Researching disability and entrepreneurship • Sharing education and disability ideas and info, along with a few stories about being a mom and grad student

Infographic: People with intellectual disabilities as business owners, a systematic review of peer-reviewed literature Purpose: The purpose of this research study was to identify the barriers, key factors and outcomes of microenterprise (or self-employment) for people with intellectual disabilities Method: This article used the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) Guidelines. Out of 1080 papers screened, 6 met inclusion. Barriers: Lack of access to business expertise and resources & Tension between growing business and losing welfare Key Factors: Formal Supports: Limited access to paid support but a high need for support; Informal Supports: Parents/family could assist, but couldn’t support long-term Outcomes: Added income; Skill development; Increased confidence; Engagement in meaningful activities Citation: Hutchinson, C., Lay, K., Alexander, J., & Ratcliffe, J. (2021). People with Intellectual Disabilities as Business Owners: A Systematic Review of Peer-Reviewed Literature. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 34(2), 459–470. https://doi.org/10.1111/jar.12836
Infographic: 5 things I learned from my daughter this year 1. Embrace Uniqueness: If it brings you happiness, it doesn’t matter if other people think it’s weird. 2. We all need a break sometimes: Give yourself time each day to just chill out with no guilt about what needs to be done. 3. It's ok to say you don't understand: If you don’t speak up and let others know you need clarification, then you’ll continue to be left in the dark. 4. Find Joy in the small things: Take time to look at the cloud that looks like a giraffe or giggle at the crunch of acorns under your feet. 5. Show compassion: Whether it’s a lizard you carry to safety or a person you give a compliment to, your kindness brings light to the world.
A cup of coffee with the words "Good cup - see the good be the good" sits next to an agenda and a flyer for SACRD IDD & Disability Support Symposium
Top of woman's head with eyes looking at the camera is in the front of the photo. Behind her are 2 posters up on a board with the logos for UT San Antonio on them, along with sections of text.
fireworks with pictures in front of them of different people at work. The text reads: Celebrating Value and Talent, National Disability Employment Awareness Month, Office of Disability Employment Policy, United States Department of Labor, #NDEAM dol.gov/odep
Employ 210’s second Job Experience Event (JEE) is coming up on October 8th and we are actively recruiting neurodivergent job seekers! Hosted at Zernona Black Multi-Generational Community Center and presented in partnership with Rosemary’s Catering (the culinary arm of San Antonio’s esteemed RK group), the free event is ideal for individuals interested in working in San Antonio’s thriving culinary and hospitality industries. During a series of job-training rotations, attendees will get hands-on experience in a variety of related areas including customer service, food preparation, health and safety protocols, event management, catering preparation and service. Upon completion, participants will be invited to enroll in additional free training sessions that will further pathways to competitive employment. For details and registration, visit Employ210.com/Events or email Employ210@gmail.com. Pictured: Employ 210 Special Research Associate Sophia Garcia perfecting her table-setting skills while shadowing front-of-house staffers at the RK Group’s headquarters in the Red Berry Mansion.
Picture of a man (labeled: Dr. Kerry Magro, Autistic Public Speaker) with a quote next to him: "Students with disabilities are rarely acknowledged for the heavy burden of accommodations they make to cope at school,while others who believe they are making the accommodations." -Inclusive Education Planning Speaker's website: kerrymagro.com
A little girl with short black hair stands holding a marker and facing a large dry erase board. On the right side of the board are words with pictures (lunch, bunch, inch, pinch, ranch, branch, chip, chop, chick, check), and on the left side of the board, the little girl writes three letter words.
Splash of color with a white circle in front that contains the words "When schools and parents work together, students benefit"
Blue skies with white clouds over three mountains coming out of the water. Water is a teal color far away and a sandy color near the beach.
Infographic: Microenterprise, an alternative to traditional employment for people with disabilities. -70% of people with disabilities want to work. -What is a microenterprise? a small business, less than 10 employees, starts with a small amount of money, can be operated out of the home. Starting a microenterprise allows you to: be your own boss, be creative, have fun while working, earn your own income. What are the benefits? : Improved self-esteem and purpose, increased community inclusion, a larger social network, centers around your passion and skills, you create your own work schedule. 700,000 workers with disabilities are self-employed. x2: people with disabilities are self-employed at a rate of twice that of their non-disabled peers. How to get started: Create a circle of support that includes family, friends, and organizations, Create an action plan with goals and objectives, Talk to family or a bank about a small loan to start your business.
Bills Signed into Law The following bills were passed by the Legislature and have been signed into law by the governor. They each took effect immediately, except where indicated. House Bill (HB) 1041, by Rep. Chris Turner, prohibits paid caregivers from serving as beneficiaries of life insurance policies for individuals under their care. Its Senate sponsor was Sen. Judith Zaffirini. HB 1188, by Rep. Christian Manuel, requires school districts to refer students with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) to their local IDD authority. Its Senate sponsor was Sen. Judith Zaffirini. HB 2081, by Rep. John Bucy III, establishes the Building Better Futures Program for students with IDD. Its Senate sponsor was Sen. José Menéndez. Senate Bill (SB) 769, by Sen. José Menéndez, requires the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to issue a report on the enrollment and success of students with disabilities in higher education. Its House sponsor was Rep. Mary González. SB 769 takes effect on Sept. 1, 2025.
A dog with mostly black fur on his body and white fur on his face, legs, and chest, lays on a wood floor looking at the camera showing his shaved stomach with an incision and a shaved area on his arm. His ears are pointy and his mouth is partially opened with his tongue showing in what looks like a smile.
A woman with down syndrome wearing a sweater stands with a smile. She has short brown hair and wears glasses. One hand has her first finger pointing up. The other hand is holding a notebook and she is wearing a backpack. Underneath the picture it says: "BUILDING A MEANINGFUL DAY, A STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE. Indiana Institute on Disability and Community, Center on Community Living and Careers"
UT Austin Texas Center for Disability Studies Autism Training for licensed mental health professionals CEUs provided What you'll learn: Session 1 (June 10th, 2025 from 5:30-7:30) The basics of Autism and how to be more inclusive in your practice Session 2 (June 11, 2025 from 5:30-7:30) Key techniques of solution-focused brief therapy and adaptations made to this model for working with the autistic community. All sessions are free and will be held virtually via Zoom. Please register for each individual session. (links in post)
Logo with the shape of Texas that has a person reaching for a star on the top and part of an apple on the bottom. Logo says "Project TEDD, Training Educators in Dual Diagnosis"
A little girl sits on the floor with a book open while a large black dog lays beside her looking at the book and a medium white and brown dog lays at her feet looking at her.
#Quotesforclarity "Inclusion works to the advantage of everyone. We all have things to learn and we all have something to teach" - Helen Henderson
A photo of Spurs former coach Gregg Popovich with a quote next to it that reads "The measure of who we are is in how we react to something that doesn't go our way:
A teal slide with an emoji party face (blowing a noisemaker and wearing a hat) and a heart emoji are in the background. The slide says: Why I love emojis and icons as an educator: They enhance understanding (brain emoji): Adding emojis provides a visual to enhance the message the text is trying to communicate They improve independence (person with arms up and a star emoji): Non-readers can use them to communicate a wide array of messages without needing written words They're inclusive (group of people cheering icon): By adding enojis to text, you are including a wider group of individuals in the message without singling anyone out.
A dog with a white face and brown and white body sits on her back legs and looks at the camera with her ears partially back and mouth open in a way that looks like a smile.
2025 San Antonio Disability Research Forum presented by Morgan's MAC and UTSA. Community Members, researchers, and serviiiiiiiiiiice providers are invited to join us in highlighting the innovative and inclusive research aimed at improving the quality of life for individuals with disabilities in the San Antonio area. Friday, June 6, 2025, 8:00AM to 1:00 at Morgan's MAC. You can click the link in the post to sign up.
picture of a giraffe waving with the work "hi" Pictire of a happy face holding a thank you and another picture of people sitting around a table. Underneath it says "thank you for coming to my meeting". This year i learned: picture of butterflies with one flying away and the word "separating". picture of the book Brown Bear Brown Bear and the word "reading", and a picture of a grass craft and the words "grow grass". What helped and what didn't help: Taking deep breaths and a thumbs down enoji. Thinking to 10 and a thumbs up emoji, sounding out a letter and thumbs down, earplugs and thumbs down. Spongebob saying done and done with the words "thats all!"
Helping Your Student Prepare for Life After High School infographic What planning activities can help my student prepare for life after high school? There are many pathways to success in life. But no matter the path a student chooses, parents and caregivers should start planning early to ensure their child is prepared for life beyond high school. To guide families, we draw on research to highlight planning activities in middle school and high school that can help prepare students for college and careers. Pathways to success after High School: Employment, 2 or 4 year college, Career Program, Apprenticeship, Military service, Public Service. Click the link in the post to go to a webpage with the full infographic.
KY-SPIN, Inc. Information Sheet Series “Working with Families”* Below is a list of things many families who have a child with a disability would like you to know. By no means is this list to be critical of professionals, instead it is intended to help build healthy and lasting partnerships.  We have dreams for our children with disabilities just as all parents do, even if you do not feel they are realistic or feasible, we are still entitled to them.  Please call us by our names versus, “Mom” or “Dad” we are people first just as our child with a disability is a child first.  Pity or pats on the back in sympathy are not needed; we need our personal space just like anyone else. We value each member of our family no matter the level of their disability.  It is overwhelming to come into a meeting with a whole group of professionals and it is just you. It by nature is very unbalanced and can feel as if you are the only one on your child’s side.  When we request something in writing, whether you are a parent or professional, it is nothing personal. If it is not in writing it does not exist.  Please do not get offended when we ask for a policy/procedure/law in writing; we want to be informed and on the same page.  Please give us all the options upfront so that we can make an informed decision for our child. This will also help avoid tension if we realize later all the facts were not shared.  We want to work together and build a support system for our child.  We do not want to argue or fight, we just want what is best for our child’s future.  We know our child best and expect to be an equal member of the team.  Through partnership and communication we can do wonders for our children! *This is not intended to represent how all families of children with disabilities feel. Rather it is a compilation of things many families have shared with KY-SPIN, Inc. and it’s purpose is to help strengthen parent and professional relationships to benefit the children.
A squirrel is still, holding on on the side of a tree with his head facing the ground and his tail facing the tip of the tree
Top of the page says "Accessible Chef". Then there is a picture recipe that pairs words and pictures. fried rice (title of recipe). You will need: 4 cups white rice, 6 eggs, 1 bag frozen vegetables, minced garlic, 3 tbsp soy sauce, 2 tbsp oyster sauce, splash of sesame oil, oil (for frying)
A dirt road and a blue sky, the camera angle rises up in the video and the words "Hope is contagious" are in the center of the screen.
Book cover: Skills to pay the bills, Mastering soft skills for workplace success
Engage, Investigate, Create, Excel; UTSA 2025 Undergraduate Research and Creative Inquiry Showcase
Student led IEP continuum 7 steps going left to right 1. IEP takes place without student 2. Student present with minimal participation and prep 3. Student present with some participation 4. Student present and actively participates 5. Student present and takes responsibility for one part of the process 6. Student present and takes responsibility for most of the process 7. Student leads and directs all aspects of the process "Student participation throughout the IEP process should be individualized and based on the age, needs, and abilities of the student." -OSSE Secondary transition website. Visual adapred from Thoma and Wehman, 2010.
Flyer: Enhancing Transition Planning with Taxonomy 2.0: Part 2. Date: April 23, 2025 at 2:00 PM Eastern. Presenters: Staci Carr, PhD. Catherine Martin, PhD., Erin Saxon. Centerontransition.org
A girl with long dark hair tosses a bean back at a board with a hole in it and the board says "UTSA" with a roadrunner on it.
Elements of self determination poster: Choice making, decision making, problem solving, goal setting and attainment, self-regulation, self-advocacy, Internal locus of control, self-efficacy, and self-awareness. Click the link above this photo to visit the website to learn more.
2 stickers in a computer. One is a rainbow in shades of blue that says "you are where you need to be" and the other says "stay weird" but the weird is upside down.
Pictures of 8 people with down syndrome wearing a cap and gown. In the middle it says "Ruby's rainbow scholarship application now open" and the logo for ruby's rainbow.
A medium white and brindle dog lays back to back with a large black and white husky dog in the sun
Book title page which says "On Knowing, essays for the left hand, expanded edition. Jerome S. Bruner. 1979"
Black and white large dog with pointy ears standing up with a purple unicorn stuffed animal resting on his head
Dog wrapped up in a pink blanket with just his snout sticking out.
White and brown dog stares at a fireplace that is lit behind glass
Little girl laying on the floor looking around an open book while a dog lays next to her looking at the book, too.
Many grey tree branches with a bright red robin bird in the middle with it's mouth open