A MOTHER & SON SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCE
From left, Pranav and Priya Gupta participated in the Sonoran UCEDD Transition AHEAD Roundtable, a program that focused on personalized transition action plans for young adults with disabilities.
Earlier this year, the Sonoran UCEDD launched a pilot of the Transition AHEAD Roundtable program.
The program is for young adults with disabilities to create a personalized transition action plan for greater independence. Sonoran UCEDD staff and partnering organizations focus on five key areas: Employment, Healthcare, Education & Training, Relationships and Community, and Independent Living.
One of the families who participated in the virtual day-long experience was Priya and Pranav Gupta who spent some time to share their experience.
Question: Why were you interested in participating in the Transition AHEAD Roundtable?
Priya: He is going to college next year and we wanted to know what paths were open for him, and if there's some help available. It's also to figure out what he would like to do.
Q: What did you like most about the experience?
Pranav: I liked seeing what jobs I could do and seeing what some of those jobs are like. I'm really interested in politics because I like how politicians can help people and make good change in the country.
Priya: We liked everything about it because there were so many people from different organizations who came together and each told us they were here to help. So I felt really good that there were people who were there to guide him.
Q: What about the experience was the most beneficial?
Priya: Because of Lorie Sandaine (Transition Specialist), Pranav is going to participate in the Summer Work Program and work in a position that she helped create with the Arc of Arizona. So it will give him an insight into the political process as to how it works. This is what came from the experience and it was the best.
Pranav: I'm really looking forward to seeing how it all works and stuff.
Q: What was the overall takeaway from your experience?
Priya: It was an eye opener for us. Before Pranav got this job with the Arc, I didn't know what it was and that there was a private organization like this that does things for the disability community...and can help with policies. I just didn't know there were so many organizations in Tucson for parents to reach out to for help and it would be so helpful for other parents to have that roundtable experience.
The Transition AHEAD Roundtable is building on the first year by further expanding to other diverse communities across the state, building a telehealth model for increased access and exploring sustainability as a service. Today, the Sonoran UCEDD is working with four families within the Gila River Indian Community.
For more information about the Transition AHEAD Roundtable, please contact ucedd@arizona.edu