The AZLEND training program will give experience with children in the field of autism and other neurodevelopmental disabilities. I worked as a Tribal Child Protective Services Investigator on the Tohono O'odham Nation in rural southwest Arizona. Many times, there were unfortunate cases of neglect with children with special health care needs and disabilities. In these cases, many of the families did not know how to appropriately care for their children, from basic understanding of their child's condition to understanding the extensive medical needs of their children. It is imperative to create tools for parents of special health care needs that are culturally competent, easy to access and contain necessary levels of health literacy for reaching these rural areas. The AZLEND program will give me a more comprehensive understanding of neurodevelopmental disabilities affecting children.
