AUCD Network Narratives

Being in charge of a huge network with a large reach is a daunting task. You have to be extremely mindful of the different cultural ties of each individual and their communities, and you need to make sure that you’re serving while being respectful of different cultural rules and traditions. 

Kiriko Takahashi is the Interim Director of the Center on Disability Studies at the University of Hawai’i at Manoa with 20+ years of experience in working with people with disabilities. Originally from Japan, Kiriko came to the US to study the intersection of neurodevelopment and societal influence. She is also incredibly passionate about supporting individuals with disabilities.

Jeiri sits down with Kiriko to have a conversation about navigating and supporting a multicultural and diverse space. Kiriko shares her experiences in creating a mutually beneficial space in Hawai’i, covering projects in many different regions with many different cultures. She also shares her expert advice on reaching and connecting with people in isolated communities with different cultural identities and traditions. 

Kiriko offers insight into the delicate balance of rights and responsibilities in different cultures and what self-advocacy might look like in these situations. She discusses the importance of interdisciplinary training, interdisciplinary team development, and courses on multiculturalism and disability in order to create culturally relevant programs. 

If you’re interested in what a multicultural awareness and approach could look like in terms of relationship building, advocacy, and support, this conversation with Kiriko is for you. Listen to Kiriko’s experiences and her incredible advice as it pertains to being sensitive and respectful towards multicultural spaces in the face of advocacy and service delivery.

View all episodes and transcripts at http://www.aucd.org/podcast

This episode was funded by the Administration for Community Living through technical assistance contract # HHSP233201600066C. The contents do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Administration on Community Living, US Department of Health and Human Services, or the US Government.

Produced by Adode Media; a full-service podcast production agency.

Big changes don’t happen overnight. Instead, it takes little day-to-day actions to bring forth change in massive ways. Dr. Gail Chodron is on a mission to bring forth change by improving access to integrated systems for children with an autism spectrum disorder. She is the training director for the Wisconsin LEND and the coordinator of community training and technical assistance. She’s also a parent of a young autistic adult and has a passion for applied research and training as it relates to her mission. 

Today, Jeiri chats with Gail about what motivates her to incorporate equity, inclusion, and diversity into training curriculums. Gail also shares an important truth on why it isn’t the job of marginalized individuals to bring to light what others are excluding. However, she also discusses the importance of sharing lived experiences when it comes to advocacy and self-advocacy work.

Their discussion taps into the importance of interdisciplinary skills when it comes to fighting for change between the medical and social models. Gail shares the two changes that she believes are important when it comes to improving LEND programs, including bringing together a set of different disciplines.

If you’re a trailblazer and change-maker within your own space, this episode with Gail will inspire you with small but actionable steps that you can take in your own life to move the needle forward. Tune in to this important discussion about change, advocacy, and diversity.


View all episodes and transcripts at http://www.aucd.org/podcast


This episode was funded in part by the Administration for Community Living through technical assistance contract # HHSP233201600066C. The contents do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Administration on Community Living, US Department of Health and Human Services, or the US Government.

This podcast episode is provided in partial fulfillment of tasks outlined in a cooperative agreement (#UA5MC11068) between AUCD and the Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB). The contents do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of MCHB, the Health Resources Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, or the U.S. Government.

Produced by Adode Media; a full-service podcast production agency.

Being truly inclusive of ALL, including people living at the intersections of marginalized racial, ethnic, and other social identities and cultural factors is important to the AUCD Network. But it’s one thing to talk the talk, and another thing entirely to walk it.

Jeiri is joined by Jacy Farkas and Timotheus Gordon for a conversation all about finding multicultural opportunities and creating true diversity, equity, and inclusion within the AUCD Network. Jacy is an assistant director at the Sonoran Center for Excellence in Disabilities at the University of Arizona. She is also the chair of the AUCD Multicultural council. Timotheus is an African-American male autistic research associate at the University of Illinois at Chicago's Institute on Disability and Human Development. He is also one of the co-founders of the Chicagoland Disabled People of Color Coalition. 

They embark on a conversation all about paving the way for diversity, equity, and inclusion within their communities. Jacy opens up about what motivates her to push things forward across the AUCD network. She also shares her personal struggles when it comes to creating change. Timotheus shares his journey to becoming a disability advocate and the ways in which our community can pay it forward by creating opportunities for people of color with disabilities. 

From how building meaningful relationships can open up more opportunities, to advice for people of color within the AUCD network who aim for growth, Jacy and Timotheus share their best tips, resources, and stories so that you can do the same. Tune in, get inspired, and let’s pave the way for true and meaningful change.


View all episodes and transcripts at http://www.aucd.org/podcast


This episode was funded by the Administration for Community Living through technical assistance contract # HHSP233201600066C. The contents do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Administration on Community Living, US Department of Health and Human Services, or the US Government.

Produced by Adode Media; a full-service podcast production agency.

Stories are powerful. Especially the stories from leaders at the forefront of advocacy, impact, and change. This is why we invite you to tune in to our brand new show, AUCD Network Narratives. Hosted by Jeiri Flores, an advocacy specialist at the Strong Center for Developmental Disabilities and the co-chair for the Council on Leadership and Advocacy, AUCD Network Narratives feature guests from all over our network to tell us their stories. Each episode will take you on a journey through advocacy and the ways our guests are working to promote equity, diversity, and inclusion and reduce disparities for Black and brown disabled people. Tune in weekly for new inspirational stories and submit your story by visiting the AUCD website linked below.

View all episodes and transcripts at http://www.aucd.org/podcast

This episode was funded by the Administration for Community Living through technical assistance contract # HHSP233201600066C. The contents do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Administration on Community Living, US Department of Health and Human Services, or the US Government.

Produced by Adode Media; a full-service podcast production agency.