"Who I am as a human really informs my practice as an educator...and my path to education." Cindy Parks is a neurodivergent learner, a scholar, researcher, parent, advanced stage breast care survivor, and community advocate for inclusion and executive function skills education. After many years of working in preschools and as an advocate for her children, she went back to school for an early childhood credential at the age of 35, which she finished up while battling advanced stage breast cancer. Soon after, she decided to extend her reach and influence by enrolling in the Master's/Ph.D. program for Learning & Mind Sciences at the University of California Davis. Cindy currently teaches a self-regulation class to adults with intellectual disabilities at UC Davis, does extensive research in the Collaborative Autism Research in Education (CARE) lab at UC Davis while working on her Master's degree and soon her dissertation, promotes the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles with educators in the area, and volunteers with the non-profit organization, Common Ground Society, which provides support to families who receive life changing diagnoses for their children--all while actively supporting her own children and family. In this episode we hear about what lies at the heart of Cindy's determination and motivation to balance so much, and her vision for connecting research, policy, and practice.

What Does 'Neurodivergent' Mean? 

What is Neurodiversity? Definition and Resources for Teachers, Counselors and Schools 

What Are Executive Functioning Skills and Why Do Students Need Them? 

An Introduction to Universal Design for Learning

Common Ground Society