Diversity Fellow Project, Artha Gillis
Broadening the Training Experience: Cultivating Champions in Public Policy for People with Disabilities
Project Narrative
1. Please describe your activities during your Fellowship experience. Describe your final capstone project(s).
The purpose of the organization is to provide equal and accessible education to all communities. It does so through various programs targeted toward the training of teachers, guiding of students and education of parents. The program I worked with was "Parent College." This program was intended to help parents become prepared advocates for their students’ education and future.
Monthly sessions would take place at the three central locations. The parents had the choice of attending different courses that best suited them. In order to increase attendance and ensure comfort of parents, free child care and food were provided. My role was to assist in the execution of these events and take part in the brainstorming ways to advance the academic knowledge of the community.
My time working with Partnership for Los Angeles Schools influenced for the creation of my capstone project presentation. The purpose of my project is to inform parents and students about higher education and the different avenues that are available for students. The main goal of this presentation is to demonstrate that college is a possibility for all students and describes the resources available to everyone according to their specific needs. One of the primary purposes of the presentation is setting college as a goal on the student’s IEP.
2. What did you gain from being a Diversity Fellow?
As an AUCD Diversity Fellow at the UCLA Tarjan Center, I achieved my goal of enhancing my training in developmental disabilities. I am a more confident and capable clinician and care provider as a result of this experience, and I look forward to providing informed care to children and adolescents with developmental disabilities. Currently, I am finalizing a review article on developmental disabilities in the juvenile justice system, and I plan to continue to publish on this and related topics in my career as a juvenile forensic psychiatrist with the aim of informing and impacting mental health care within the juvenile justice system. I enjoyed interacting and working with other AUCD Diversity fellows. Their expertise and perspective enriched my experience during the fellowship.
3. What recommendations do you have for other fellows?
For the best experience, I recommend that other fellows seek opportunities to interact with other AUCD Diversity Fellows, locally and/or nationally.