Employment First Around the State: Four Corners Special Education Day

On September 1, a team from Encircle Families, led by Trudy Billy, Director of Outreach and Tribal Programs, brought families, youth, professionals, and community partners together at the Navajo Nation Museum in Window Rock for the Four Corners Special Education Day. 

The conference began in 2024 through a partnership of organizations from across the Four Corners region, demonstrating the importance of collaboration across organizations and communities to support children with disabilities and their families. The first event was held in Window Rock, followed by a 2025 gathering at San Juan College in Farmington, before returning to Window Rock this year.  

The event highlighted an important part of Employment First: preparing youth with disabilities for meaningful employment and greater independence. The Sonoran Center and AZOEF Team, including Kandis Spencer, Regional Employment Systems Specialist, shared how community work sites, such as the Navajo Nation Museum, provide students with disabilities opportunities to gain real-world experience and prepare for employment after high school. Kandis also highlighted the need for more employment opportunities and community-based work sites in tribal communities and on reservations, so youth have more opportunities to work and build their futures within their communities. The conversation also explored self-employment as another pathway for youth with disabilities.  

The Four Corners Special Education Day demonstrates the power of regional partnerships and local solutions—bringing families, organizations, schools, employers, and tribal communities together to expand pathways to meaningful employment for youth with disabilities. 

To learn more about Encircle Families and the resources and support they provide to families, visit Encircle Families.