News

The Black Father Crew is a national network dedicated to supporting Black fathers raising children with disabilities. The group is facilitated by Dr. Brandy James. We sat down with Dr. James to discuss how the Black Father Crew came to be, its mission, its future, and what drives Dr. James and the rest of the Black Father Crew to continue their important work.

During the summer of 2025, the HealthMatters program at ArtWorks helped people with intellectual disabilities get active, learn healthy habits, and have fun with their peers at the same time. Now, HealthMatters is moving beyond the U of A campus and into the community, starting at Canyon Del Oro High School in Tucson, AZ. 

During Black History Month, our aim is to continue to uplift, empower, strengthen and encourage the Black and Disability community! In this article, we are recognizing Black and Disabled Creators who have used their platform to do just that.

Art has been an important way for people to express themselves and heal throughout history. On the University of Arizona campus, there is a program called ArtWorks that shows how art can help our health and bring people together. I was lucky to do my internship at ArtWorks while I was a trainee in the Sonoran Center’s certificate program.

My time with ArtWorks gave me more than practical experience. It gave me a sense of purpose and a clearer understanding of the kind of professional I want to become. It showed me why accessible health education matters.

On November 15, 2025, the 25th annual SANDS Walk for Down Syndrome took place at the Tucson Convention Center. In the 2025 SANDS Walk, Sonoran Center program aides Gabe Martinez and Pavleena Madhivanan, and Administrative Assistant Lupita Loftus represented the Sonoran Center.

My life looks nothing like how I thought it would ten, five, or even two years ago, but I am so happy it doesn’t. I have discovered how to be confident in who I am and learned the importance of community, and this was developed through my advocacy work with the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA).

As part of National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) 2025, representatives from the Sonoran Center facilitated a workshop with Roche Tissue Diagnostics (RTD) about universal design and inclusive hiring practices.

November is Native American Heritage Month in the United States! This is an important time to honor and support the Native communities that have called this country home for generations. This resource list aims to celebrate the rich culture and resilience of Indigenous Americans by highlighting resources and literature by Indigenous and writers and organizations.