Sonoran Center Hosted On-Site Meeting with Commissioner of Administration on Community Living's Administration on Disabilities

Dec. 14, 2022
Commissioner Recap

Pictured in person, from left: Nery Birdsell, Commissioner Jill Jacobs, Tanya Suydam, Christie Kelly, Paula Seanez, Wendy Parent-Johnson, Elizabeth Jeffrey-Franco. Pictured on Zoom screen: upper-left, Mellie Santora; upper-right, Treva Roanhorse; lower-left, Anya Carillo; lower-right, Jim Warne

On November 29, 2022, the University of Arizona Sonoran Center for Excellence in Disabilities proudly hosted Commissioner Jill Jacobs of the Administration on Community Living (ACL)'s Administration on Disabilities in Tucson, Arizona for an extended meeting session.

The day kicked off with a virtual student work-based learning observation at one of Sonoran Center’s Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS)* partner employers, Hilton el Conquistador.

Beckah Taylor, Hilton el Conquistador’s Director of Activities and a site coordinator for Sonoran Center’s Pre-ETS project, presented Commissioner Jacobs with the mutual benefits both she and the employees reap by working with the Sonoran Center to provide work-based learning opportunities to youth with disabilities. Hilton el Conquistador employee Stephen (a participant of the project) shared insights into his positive experience as a youth with disabilities in the program.

The rest of the meeting was filled with productive and insightful sessions, including focused discussions with the Baboquivari Unified School District of the Tohono O’odham Nation and the Navajo Nation Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services Tribal Vocational Rehabilitation.

“We are grateful to have had this opportunity to meet with Commissioner Jacobs, alongside our partners, to share challenges and successes experienced by Tribal members with disabilities and learn about additional resources and emerging possibilities that may be of benefit to Native communities in Arizona,” spoke Wendy Parent-Johnson of the meeting.  

Recurring themes such as acknowledging ‘the cliff’ youth with disabilities face after graduation and the notion of maintaining cultural relevance with Native youth shaped the conversation and led to further discussion between Commissioner Jacobs and the larger group.

Overall, it was a fruitful day of open communication, knowledge-sharing, and brainstorming. The Sonoran Center looks forward to continuing a strong relationship with Commissioner Jacobs in the months to come.

 

Meeting attendees included (in alphabetical order):

  • Nery Birdsell, Baboquivari Unified School District Transition Specialist
  • Anya Carillo, Sonoran Center Youth Engagement Coordinator
  • Jacy Farkas, Sonoran Center Assistant Director
  • Elizabeth Jeffrey-Franco, Sonoran Center Communications Director
  • Jill Jacobs, ACL's Administration on Disabilities Commissioner
  • Christie Kelly, Sonoran Center Native Center for Disabilities Program Manager
  • Sarah Loreto, Sonoran Center Pre-ETS Vocational Specialist
  • Erica McFadden, ACL’s Office of Independent Living Programs Director
  • Wendy Parent-Johnson, Sonoran Center Executive Director
  • Treva Roanhorse, Tribal Elder and Sonoran Center Advisor
  • Mellie Santora, DiverseAbility Visionary Founder
  • Paula Seanez, Navajo Nation Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services, Tribal Vocational Rehabilitation Director
  • Tanya Suydam, Baboquivari Unified School District Principal
  • Stephen, Hilton el Conquistador Employee/ Participant in Sonoran Center’s Pre-ETS Project
  • Beckah Taylor, Hilton el Conquistador Director of Activities and Adventure
  • Jim Warne, Sonoran Center Native Affiliate

 

 

Funding was made possible in part by the Arizona Department of Economic Security - Vocational Rehabilitation Services and partnering schools and businesses. The views expressed do not necessarily reflect the official policies of these organizations and entities