In June 2023, Joshua Drywater, Sonoran Center Program Manager for Native Initiatives, attended the Louisiana Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) Summit. The summit was an educational workshop in New Orleans, Louisiana hosted by the Human Development Center at Louisiana State University.  

During the 2020-2021 school year, I had the experience of being a disability policy fellow with the Sonoran Center for Excellence in Disabilities. Throughout my research, the negative impact of COVID-19 on disability was prominent.

This March 15th virtual dialogue hosted by the White House—which included Sonoran Center's elder advisor Treva Roanhorse, administrative affiliate Jim Warne, and Native youth leader Anya Carillo as panelists—provided perspectives from Native individuals (including youth) on the values of community-driven solutions in supporting Native students with disabilities.

Among ongoing activities in northern Mexico, two notable international donations of RoughRider wheelchairs took place recently: one in the Busoga region of Uganda, and the other to the Pascua Yaqui Tribe in Southern Arizona.

In July, the Sonoran Center for Excellence in Disabilities was awarded a 12-month grant from the Arizona Developmental Disabilities Planning Council to support the Pregnancy and Parenting with a Disability project.

The Autism Society of Southern Arizona recognized the UArizona Sonoran Center for Excellence in Disabilities and the College of Engineering for creating a new internship program.

The year 2020 was a very big and overwhelming year for many reasons, but one of the great ones is that it was a major year for social justice. Due to the tragic death of George Floyd the country erupted in protest police brutality led by the Black Lives Matter movement.  Cities from every state held marches and sit-ins making their voices heard.

On July 15, the “Backpacks & Boosters” Community Health and Wellness Fair— open to all and designed with accessibility for the disability community in mind—offered free immunizations, school supplies and other resources from 9 a.m. to noon at the University of Arizona Health Sciences Innovation Building. 

My passion for disability comes from my own lived experience. From a young age, I was diagnosed with ADHD & placed on an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) throughout my K-12 career. With this came some challenges & hurdles, including having to repeat grades & not meeting my grade milestones. 

Sonoran Center staff and affiliated faculty had a busy month showcasing their impactful work at disability conferences across the country.