UArizona Sonoran Center for Excellence in Disabilities

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UArizona Sonoran Center for Excellence in Disabilities

Expanding possibilities and enhancing independence through education, research and service. http://www.aucd.org

Over the past 16 years the University of Arizona Sonoran Center for Excellence in Disabilities, part of the Department of Family and Community Medicine in the College of Medicine – Tucson, has been hard at work to make its vision a reality – to ensure individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities have the supports they need to fully participate in the vibrant life of our community.

To accomplish this goal, the Sonoran Center has focused on capacity building, infrastructure development, and fostering leadership to establish itself as a recognized leader in disability within Arizona and across the nation. University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD) like the Sonoran Center exist in every state to serve as a resource for people in the areas of education, research and service relative to the needs of people with developmental disabilities. Authorized by the Developmental Disabilities and Bill of Rights Act of 2000 and funded by the Administration on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, there are 67 UCEDDs in the United States and its territories. To learn more about the network of UCEDDs, see the Association of University Centers on Disabilities' website.

09/04/2026

Join us on September 14th for a Circle of Indigenous Empowerment Webinar! This virtual workshop will be presented by Kaleb Brown and Clifford Ah-In-Nist Sipes.

In this webinar, Kaleb and Clifford will discuss how culture, identity, disability, and community shape the stuttering experience. Participants will hear their perspectives on navigating the workplace, school, relationships, and everyday life while gaining practical strategies for self-advocacy, building confidence, and embracing their authentic voices.

This webinar will be held on zoom from 11am-12pm MST.
Register today at: bit.ly/CIEVoicesOfStrength

09/01/2026

For this week's Staff Spotlight we are recognizing Aja Haymore, our new Communications & Marketing Program Manager at The Sonoran Center! Aja started her role this summer and has already been working hard to share information about the center and build connections. She helps the Sonoran Center reach audiences in an accessible manner though campaigns, newsletters, events and much more!

Read the full Staff Spotlight article featuring Aja Haymore here: bit.ly/StaffSpotlightAjaHaymore

08/31/2026

This week's Motivational Monday is brought to you by April Peters! April is the Administrative Operations Manager for the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the University of Arizona. She greatly values the work her department does with underserved and under-resourced communities in Arizona, and hopes the Sonoran Center continues to build upon their incredible work.

08/28/2026

Congratulations to our two Sonoran Center staff for receiving their 40 Under 40 award from the Southern Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce last week!

We are incredibly proud of Celina Urquidez (Senior Coordinator, Education and Training) and Gabe Martinez (Project Assistant, Peer Mentor) for making a lasting impact through leadership, service and their commitment to Southern Arizona.

Thank you Celina and Gabe for representing the Sonoran Center so well and inspiring our community everyday. We can’t wait to continue supporting you in your future endeavors.

08/27/2026

Check out our newest CACTI Blog in which Guadalupe Gutierrez shares about her experience with the AdvoCat program. She reflects on the importance of listening to the people we support, recognizing their strengths, and giving them opportunities to make their own choices.

Read the full article at: bit.ly/CACTIGuadalupeGutierrez

08/26/2026

Join our team! The Sonoran Center for Excellence in Disabilities at the University of Arizona is looking for a Project Coordinator for Transition Services to improve outcomes for youth and young adults with disabilities. If you live in Phoenix or Northern Arizona and are interested in learning more about the position, please visit view the job description here: https://bit.ly/OpenRoleProjectCoordinator

08/21/2026

Join us on August 24th for a Circle of Indigenous Empowerment Webinar! This virtual workshop will be presented by Memory Dawn Long Chase, BA and Agnes Attakai, MPA.

In this Part 2 we will recap the key concepts of Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (C-PTSD) from Part 1 with a focus on the neurobiological impacts of complex trauma, cover intergenerational growth, and cover evidence-based, actionable wellness strategies. This presentation will help participants learn how to empower survivors and practitioners to build sustainable, daily self-care routines that promote post-traumatic growth and a deeper sense of safety.

This webinar will be held on zoom from 10am-12pm MST.
Register today at: bit.ly/CIEBeyondSurvivalPart2

07/29/2026

Check out the newest CACTI Blog in which Sara Valderrama shares about her experience with the DISCAPAZ project and how it deepened her understanding of diverse populations and communities, strengthened her ability to support children and teens with disabilities from border regions, and further developed her skills as a culturally-responsive school psychologist.

Read the full article at: bit.ly/CACTISaraValderrama

07/27/2026

"Neurodiversity is about the purposeful acceptance and inclusion of neurodivergent people - accepting that our brains can be just as diverse as what we look like or where we come from." - Drew Milne. Thank you Drew, Content Coordinator, for sharing this insightful quote with us about the meaning of Neurodiversity during this Disability Pride Month.

Read the full article about Neurodiversity in Action by Drew Milne here: https://bit.ly/NeurodiversityInAction

07/17/2026

Join us on July 29th for a Circle of Indigenous Empowerment Webinar! This virtual workshop will be presented by Memory Dawn Long Chase, BA and Agnes Attakai, MPA. This presentation will help participants learn how trauma affects the brain and body while sharing practical, trauma-informed self-care strategies to support healing, resilience, and a greater sense of safety.

This webinar will be held on zoom from 10am-12pm MST.
Register today at: bit.ly/CIEBeyondSurvival

Address

1521 E Helen Street
Tucson, AZ
85721

Telephone

(520) 626-0442

Website

http://sonorancenter.arizona.edu/

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