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Whether it’s yoga classes, running clubs, or rock climbing groups, group activities are a great way to get active, stay healthy, and even make new friends. This summer, a program at ArtWorks called HealthMatters provided a safe, accessible space for people with developmental disabilities to learn about staying healthy and to apply what they learn in a supportive environment.

The Sonoran Center’s Summer Work Program just wrapped up its fourth year. 2025 saw the program continue to expand, with 200 student participants and 60 employer partners.

People with disabilities deserve to have the same opportunities to grow their families and receive compassionate healthcare. However, many individuals with IDD face barriers when it comes to understanding information about pregnancy, parenting, or recovering from trauma. This internship has shown me how powerful accessible information can be.

On June 23 & 24, 2025, the Sonoran Center joined dozens of organizations from Arizona and beyond for the Northern Arizona University’s Institute for Human Development (IHD) Evidence For Success Disability Conference. Taking place in Phoenix, AZ, the IHD Evidence for Success Conference is an annual event that brings together advocates, students, professionals, and educators to share innovations and best practices in the disability field.

Adding the certificate in developmental disabilities program to my bachelors degree really allowed me to combine my two interests of family science and disability. As a part of the certificate program, we each participate in 2 units of disability-directed research. I used this opportunity to explore the different HCBS waivers in relationship to people with autism spectrum disorder across the United States.

On June 5 to June 8, 2025, the AADMD “One Voice” conference was held in Phoenix, Arizona. AADMD (the American Academy of Developmental Medicine and Dentistry) is a non-profit organization of interdisciplinary health professionals, including primary care physicians, medical specialists, dentists, nurses and other clinicians, committed to improving the quality of healthcare for people with intellectual / developmental disabilities (IDD).

From June 11 through June 14, 2025, the APSE (Association of People Supporting Employment First) Employment First, Employment for All conference took place in Washington, DC. Employment First professionals, including people with disabilities, service providers, universities, and rehabilitation counselors from across the United States gathered to advance Employment First’s mission of competitive, integrated employment for all. 

For medical services, like speech therapy, culturally and linguistically responsive services are necessary. The importance of inclusive speech therapy was highlighted for me when I attended the Bilingual Aphasia Talk, led Manuel Marte. In my experience as an Intern at Desert Lily Bilingual Speech Therapy Clinic in Southern Arizona, I’ve seen firsthand how language intersects with disability.

People with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (IDD) have the same risks for cancer as the general population. However, they may experience worse cancer-related results. I was part of a research team led by Dr. Julie Armin, a professor at the department of Family and Community Medicine at the University of Arizona. Our team wanted to understand how state policies affect cancer experiences for those with IDD.

Francine is a 23-year-old woman who likes taekwondo and going to the gym. She has a great sense of humor and loves to make people smile. Like many people her age, she is considering the possibility of having children in the future. Francine also has Down Syndrome. The Sonoran Center’s Celina Urquidez and Jocelyn Watson sat down with Francine and her mother, Maria, to talk about how Francine is approaching one of life’s biggest decisions.