The CACTI Blog

Illustration of a saguaro cactus accompanied by the text: CACTI Blog, Sonoran Center's Community Advisory Council & Trainee Infoshare

The University of Arizona Sonoran Center recognizes the need for diverse stories, images, and viewpoints to raise public awareness and increase understanding in Arizona of people with developmental and other disabilities, including their strengths, talents, and challenges. Thus, the CACTI (Community Advisory Council & Trainee Infoshare) Blog features the voices of our interdisciplinary trainees and Community Advisory Council (CAC) members as they highlight diverse images of people with disabilities and provide community information and advocacy on disability issues.

If you have any questions about the CACTI Blog, please reach out to communications coordinator Drew Milne at drewmilne@arizona.edu.

Kiley McNeil, a young person with long blonde hair, wearing a black top, in front of a grey background

The CACTI Blog: Let's Speak Up About Sexual Violence

June 17, 2024

With Dr. Tomasa's most recent project on sexual violence in the disability community, I was able to see the behind-the-scenes progress on her research manuscript. As I continue working with Dr. Tomasa to explore ways to help develop the trauma-informed care curriculum, I am committed to embracing the uncomfortable conversations.

Cosette Tsai, a person with long brown hair, smiling, outside, wearing a floral top with blue and yellow graduation cords

The CACTI Blog: The Missing Piece of Representation in Intersectional Experiences of Disability

May 28, 2024

There is limited representation of the diverse intersectional experiences of the disability community. I became involved with DISCAPAZ: Disability Experiences in the Borderlands, a research group that focuses on sharing stories of individuals with disabilities in borderland communities.

Amber Chase, a young woman with blonde hair, sitting in a car with a slight smile

The CACTI Blog: Growing into Life—My Experience Interning with Adults with IDD in an Intensive Outpatient Facility

May 13, 2024

I was lucky enough to be selected as an intern for a local facility that serves the neurodevelopmentally disabled community — an experience I will absolutely never forget.

Samantha Zwillinger, a young woman with long brown hair, wearing a brown long sleeve top, standing outside among trees with yellow leaves, smiling

The CACTI Blog: ACEing Autism - My Experience Connecting Kids Through Tennis

April 18, 2024

ACEing Autism allowed me to combine my passion for tennis with my passion for working with children, specifically children with autism. Being able to interact with children with autism has given me a foundation for similar experiences I might face as a speech pathologist.

Sylvia Badger, a young woman with braided hair, wearing a blue top, with a slight smile

The CACTI Blog: Swim Camp for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

April 10, 2024

When I joined the Sonoran Center undergraduate certificate program, I knew I wanted to find something that I connected with. The Sonoran Center is partnering with Campus Recreation and the Autism Society of Southern Arizona to launch a pilot swim camp for adolescents with autism.

Freya Abraham, a young person with long brown hair, outside, smiling, wearing a pink-orange top

The CACTI Blog: Increasing Accessibility to Health Research for the Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Community

March 19, 2024

While earning my undergraduate certificate in Developmental Disabilities with the University of Arizona Sonoran Center for Excellence in Disabilities, I learned that the disability community is often left out of opportunities to be involved in innovative research.

Jocelyn Watson, a young woman standing outside wearing a white dress and graduation cords, smiling

The CACTI Blog: My Experience Creating Accessible Materials for Individuals with I/DD

March 18, 2024

During my time as an undergraduate intern at the Sonoran Center, I had the pleasure of working closely with Dr. Lynne Tomasa. Lynne asked me if I was interested in writing a section for the workbook on topics I had been researching. I was ecstatic and could not believe I was presented the opportunity to do something like this as an intern.

Kai Glahn, a young person with long dark hair with brown highlights, wearing read headphones

The CACTI Blog: From Poses to Painting — Helping People Find Inner Calm Through the Translational Flow of Yoga and Art

Feb. 28, 2024

During the Spring semester of 2021, I was honored to work at ArtWorks. To bring something new to the incredible work that ArtWorks already does, I decided on yoga because I have found yoga to be healing both mentally and physically.

Aaliyah Washington, a young woman with long brown hair, wearing a light blue top, standing outside, in front of a tree, smiling

The CACTI Blog: Crafting Connections; Empowering Individuals with Disabilities Through Scrapbooking

Feb. 20, 2024

My experience with ArtWorks was enriching, as I joined their scrapbooking project that aimed to help individuals with developmental disabilities create a person-centered book about themselves. I strongly believe that such projects are critical in emphasizing the importance of person-centered planning and advocacy for individuals with disabilities.

Katie Kwiatkowski, a woman with long brown hair, wearing a tie-dye shirt, smiling and sitting in a car

The CACTI Blog: Policy Change is Crucial

Jan. 24, 2024

I was honored to be part of the Sonoran Center Disability Policy Fellowship. Joining the Sonoran Center was a way for me to discover how I can be active in changing policy for students with disabilities.