Welcome to the Sonoran UCEDD

Announcements

Moving Forward Together

Webinar Series Addresses Social Life After Traumatic Brain Injury
By Drew Milne

 Image shows a Zoom screen with five individuals arranged in five square panels. From left (top row), Austin Duncan, Calvin Cook, Michele Kauffman. From left (bottom row), the ASL Interpreter and Mateo Treetop.

For people who have survived Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI), their challenges don’t end when they leave the hospital. Rather, they are taking the first steps on a long journey of learning how to live their lives with TBI.

Alone, this situation can often seem insurmountable, but the more support and care they receive from people in their lives (family, friends, and even strangers) the easier it becomes.

This was the focus of a June virtual webinar series called “Moving Forward: Navigating a Social Life with TBI”  by Austin Duncan.

Visit the Moving Forward Together page.

Where I Belong

How a new ArtWorks’ project helps people with IDD tell their stories and find their community

From left, Marissa Robles is helping Brad Biddlecome with a drawing.
From left, University of Arizona Art Student Marissa Robles helps ArtWorks Artist Brad Biddlecome on a drawing. Robles is assisting ArtWorks Director Dr. Yumi Shirai on a new project called Exploring and Identifying Communities Where I Belong: Arts-Based, Person-Centered Book Making Workshop. Apply for AmeriCorps.  

By Drew Milne

When providing care to people with disabilities, building trust, and a connection is crucial to giving people the support they need to thrive.

Together with the Sonoran Center, AmeriCorps and Tucson Parks and Recreation, ArtWorks is helping people with intellectual and developmental disabilities express themselves in a way that bridges gaps with their caregivers.

The project is called Exploring and Identifying Communities Where I Belong: Arts-Based, Person-Centered Book Making Workshop. It is led by ArtWorks Director Dr. Yumi Shirai and UArizona art student Marissa Robles.

Visit the Where I Belong page.

Congratulations Class of 2022!

The Sonoran Center for Excellence in Disabilities congratulates the graduating members of the 2021-2022 cohort of trainees and wishes them all the best for the future. 

Graphic that reads: Congratulations Class of 2022! Underneath the words are portraits of students who graduated from the Sonoran Center.

Visit the Congratulations Class of 2022! page.

Home is Where the Care Is

How the Sonoran Center Medical Home Project is Helping People with I/DD Feel at Home in Healthcare

By Drew Milne

Home is more than a place where someone lives. Home can be somewhere — or even someone — that lets us feel relaxed, accepted, and at ease.

Visit the Home is Where the Care Is page.

Sonoran Center Leads National Transition to Employment Trainings

Dr. Wendy Parent Johnson - A smiling white woman with medium length light brown hair. Sonoran Center for Excellence in Disabilities Executive Director Wendy Parent-Johnson is a featured speaker in a national webcast series focused on Transition to Employment. 

Visit the Sonoran Center Leads National Transition to Employment Trainings page.

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