| Title |
Administrative Assistant |
| Favorite Quote |
“And now that you don’t have to be perfect, you can be good.” –John Steinbeck, East of Eden |
| My “Why” |
I have lifelong family connections to the IDD community. My brother was diagnosed with IDD at a young age, and I grew up watching our parents advocate for his support needs. My own support needs became clearer as I got older, and my experience advocating for my brother helped me advocate for myself. Now, I have the language to own my identity as a self-advocate. This identity plays a large role in my relationships and career goals. I work hard to be the neurodiversity-affirming, IDD-inclusive counselor my brother and I needed as young people. |
| About Me |
I recently earned my Master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling and Drama Therapy. Drama therapists use theatre practices like roleplay, improv games, script writing, and performance in a therapy setting. My interest in drama therapy started in high school, which led me to study theatre and psychology in college. I interned at arts camps and summer school programs serving young people with disabilities, trauma, high support needs, and neurodiverse youth. As a drama therapist, I want to help people experience agency, freedom, and joy through play. In my free time, I enjoy cooking and baking, playing board games, and watching TV with my cats, Bandit and Matilda. |
| How I Can Help |
I answer phone calls and emails to help our clients reach the right people. If you have questions about The Arc Oregon’s programs and services, I can connect you to someone with answers. I support our advocacy work by scheduling meetings with lawmakers and writing posts for social media. I also help plan events like the Self-Advocacy Convention and the Youth IDD/Mental Health Summit. |
| Languages Spoken |
English | Parle un peu de français | Hablo un poco de español |
| Supervisor |
Missy Bartolome |
