This year’s virtual Youth Disability Summit, themed Reclaiming Traditional & Creation Stories of Indigenous Youth with Disabilities, highlighted voices of American Indian youth with disabilities and focused on aspects of American Indian life, history, culture and heritage that can help youth address today's challenges.

Wendy Parent-Johnson, Ph.D., grew up in Buffalo, NY, and from middle school through college, she lived in the place she calls home, Richmond, Virginia. She is the Director of the University of Arizona Sonoran Center for Excellence in Disabilities, a role she has held since November 2018.

Jacy Farkas, MA, ABD, assistant director and director of training for the Sonoran Center for Excellence in Disabilities was awarded a Catalyst Seed Grant through UArizona Health Science's Vertically Integrated Projects for her project, DISCAPAZ: Disability Experiences in the Borderlands.

Challenges are meant to be overcome. To me, as an educator, Transition Specialist, and resident of the community that I serve, I take one best step at a time to tackle challenges and to work hard on any project with a clear vision in mind: our youth. 

For this month’s Sonoran Center Staff Spotlight, we are meeting with Dr. Lynne Tomasa. Dr. Tomasa is an assistant professor for the Department of Family and Community Medicine in the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson, as well as an affiliated faculty member for the Sonoran Center.

The Sonoran Center for Excellence in Disabilities has been invited to lead a team representing the state of Arizona in the SARTAC Technical Assistance Project, created by Self Advocates Becoming Empowered (SABE).

In the Spring of 2023, I had the privilege of working with Dr. Wendy Parent-Johnson on a literature review addressing mental health in people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). I had recently been admitted to the Counseling M.A. program at the University of Arizona, and as a future counselor, I wanted to learn more about the mental health issues faced by individuals with ASD.

On Friday, April 28, the Sonoran Center hosted its annual Trainee Symposium, showcasing the results of months of hard work and dedicated research by this year’s cohort of trainees.

Tessa is an 18 year old girl on the Autism spectrum, getting ready to graduate high school. She has a bubbly personality and moves through the world with a genuine curiosity, eagerness, and zest for life. Her bright smile spreads joy wherever she goes.

On March 28, ArtWorks hosted its first music therapy event for people with intellectual/developmental disabilities. During the event, participants learned about rhythm, sang and danced to popular songs, and had a fun and relaxing afternoon of music.