Being a Chairwoman of the Hia-Ced District and former Health and Human Services Executive Director of the Tohono O'odham Nation, I have experience both professionally and personally the adverse affects of substance abuse on in-utero fetuses in my tribe, FAS being a huge problem. I also experienced the lack of systems to address the needs of this vulnerable and remote, Native American population.
The AZLEND program interested me due to the fact that I would like to be a team member of an integrative approach to treating children, everyone working together for the best of the child. My son is diagnosed speech delayed and obsessive-compulsive disorder, which initially presented as autism-like. I think that I will be able to bring a fresh perspective, due to my experience of being a mother who has been through the process. I also feel that it is a great opportunity for me to increase my knowledge in additional areas from my other AZLEND fellows.
I am very interested in participating in The University of Arizona LEND program as it provides an interdisciplinary training approach which helps those with disabilities reach their full potential. The program focuses and teaches about the importance of communication and gaining more knowledge about other specialties. I am also interested because the AZLEND program has high quality training and I want to learn which programs will better my child physically, mentally and emotionally as well as other students with disabilities.
My goal as an AZLEND trainee is to acquire a more focused approach in my public health career. I see AZLEND as providing a means of weaving together my educational and life experiences. My most life-changing experience has been as a parent of an 8 year old living with an Autism Spectrum Disorder. His diagnosis has changed the focus of my career. I see myself as part of a collaboration, a public health coalition, working to strengthen the community's capacity for assisting individuals and families living with autism.
I feel that the AZLEND program is a great opportunity to increase my knowledge and skills as an advocate for my five children and one foster nephew all with developmental disabilities and other special needs. The AZLEND program will give me the opportunity to enhance my knowledge as a leader for helping integrate interdisciplinary services within the community.
