Human Development Center

Greetings! I am entering my 21st year as an educator. As a special education teacher, instructional facilitator, and administrator, I have dedicated my career to supporting and advocating for equitable and inclusive opportunities for students with disabilities. I am excited to be a LEND scholar and I have several goals for my LEND training experience, including:

1. Learning how to connect with policymakers in order to advocate for changes in our educational system to remove barriers that limit the ability of students in ALL disability categories of receiving an equitable, free, and appropriate education in an inclusive environment.
2. Broadening my perspective of the “lived experience” of families of individuals with disabilities.
3. Design a capstone project that can be implemented within HDC to support inclusive education.

It is my desire to use the skills and knowledge I gain as a LEND scholar to drive systems change within our educational system to support achievement of students with disabilities.

Kelly Anders is a fourth-year Audiology Extern at the LSU Health Science Center Audiology Clinic. She completed her undergraduate studies at La Salle University in Philadelphia, PA where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders. Currently, she is pursuing her Doctorate of Audiology (Au.D.) degree at LSU Health Sciences Center in New Orleans and completing her final year serving as the first LSUHSC Audiology extern. As an extern, Kelly gains hands-on experience working with diverse patient populations across the lifespan performing comprehensive diagnostic evaluations and executing patient centered management plans. Kelly envisions herself as an audiology ambassador continuously promoting awareness and understanding of hearing health within the community. Outside of the clinic, she is a long-time volunteer with the Periwinkle Foundation, Special Olympics PA, and Habitat for Humanity.

As a Louisiana LEND Scholar, Kelly hopes to gain new perspective, knowledge, and resources that allow her to not only advocate for her patients but promote patient self-advocacy. She is confident that LEND will offer her the skill set needed to improve access to equitable healthcare services, understand the nuisances and implications of policies, and become both advocate and ally. Kelly is grateful for the opportunity to be a part of the LEND program and learn from her peers' experiences and perspectives.

My name is Brittany Brown. I have Immersed my learning and experience for the past 10 years to determine effective ways in which I could support those with disabilities and challenges. I
have done this because I believe that there is work to do in making the world around them more accessible as well as focusing on inclusion in which the community around them is better educated.

In the past, I have worked in a variety of fields dedicated to just that . My previous job experiences include being an ophthalmology technician, cognitive and sensory coach,
special education teacher, direct care professional, mobile dance studio owner and ABA technician. As a mobile dance studio owner, I have focused my business on providing inclusive dance classes within various communities. I obtained my Bachelors in Allied Health with a
Pre-Professional concentration in Occupational Therapy with a minor in psychology. Through my work as a Special Education teacher, I recognized how important it was to understand
behaviors. I graduated with my Masters in Education with an emphasis in High Incidence Disabilities. I am currently studying to sit for my BCaBA and will complete my hours to test for
the BCBA within the next 2-3 months.

My goals for LEND is to learn more about advocacy as well as continuing to grow in the area of empathy through the Family Mentoring Experience. In the future I hope to continue to be involved with advocacy for my clients who are transitioning
to adolescent and adulthood. I hope to assist with bridging the gap and advancing the supports and services for these individuals. I hope to also be a resource to not just my client and colleagues but to others who are not as involved in the field.

I am Alaina Chachere. I am a wife, mother of two exceptional children, caregiver, employee, stakeholder in the disability community, parent advocate, and forever learner. I am a Recognized Family Peer Support Specialist. I also serve as a committee member for the Regional Advisory Council (RAC) for the Acadiana Area Human Service District and the State Advisory Committee (SAC) for the Office for Citizens with Developmental Disabilities (OCDD). I have a true zest for learning, especially when it is something that I am truly passionate about.

My son Jacques was born prematurely and was diagnosed around age five as having Autism level 3 with language impairment and, more specifically, a genetic disorder called Lessel-Kreienkamp syndrome (LESKRES). As I educated myself on his diagnosis, so many dots were connected. I am forever grateful for the neurologist who dug deeper and heard my parental concerns. There are so many challenges we have faced as a family navigating our son’s complex needs.

It was not until my son’s initial Autism diagnosis, and many months of grieving, that I realized there was an entire disability world, and my family was now a part of it. I have had the privilege of participating in Partners in Policymaking and being a 2024 graduate, making lifelong connections and growing exponentially as an individual, as well.

Presently, I am overjoyed to be a current LEND scholar and hope that my lived experience gives a unique perspective. I am so grateful to have a seat at the table in a room filled with like-minded, passion sharing individuals. I look forward to the opportunity to continue training to become an effective disability policy change agent. I am also happy to end this bio sharing that most days I confidently know, “why me?”

My name is Mary Katherine Hadden, and I go by Katie. I am in my third year as a Doctor of Audiology student at LSU Health Sciences Center. My journey into audiology began with my own experiences with a communication and learning disorder and was further fueled by my roles as a newborn hearing screener, student clinician, and Student Academy of Audiology (SAA) president. My passion lies in supporting individuals with disabilities and their families, a commitment deeply rooted in my experiences as a big sister to my younger sibling, who has a neurodevelopmental disability. My little sister, who is autistic and nonspeaking, requires assistance with daily tasks that may seem easy to others. However, these labels do not define her. She is beautiful and bright; the best shopping partner and her presence has strongly shaped me into the person I am today.

I am absolutely thrilled to be a part of the LA LEND program, as it represents an exciting opportunity to actively contribute and grow as a leader and professional. Through this program, I am to enhance the well-being of individuals and families with neurodevelopmental disabilities, fostering connections within the community and paving the way for their growth. Being a part of the LEND community is an honor that will not only develop my leadership skills but also deepen my empathy towards my patients, helping me prioritize their needs and make positive societal contributions. I eagerly anticipate the insights and experiences this journey will bring, which will undoubtedly support my future professional success.

Hi there! I am a second-year graduate student at LSU Health Sciences Center – New Orleans in the Speech-Language Pathology program. I earned my bachelor’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology from UL Lafayette with a minor in Ballet in December 2022. As a native of the greater New Orleans area, it’s so nice to be back home to resume my professional education studies and have the opportunity to participate in Louisiana’s LEND Program. As I embark on this new journey with the LEND program, I consider it a privilege to develop skills and broaden my knowledge of how to better support and advocate for people with disabilities.

As a lifelong learner, I plan to continue to work with individuals with disabilities across the lifespan to enhance their abilities to communicate functionally. Participating in the LEND program will enrich the future clinician I am to become post-graduation by aiding in my knowledge and awareness of inclusive practices. Additionally, it will allow me to gain expertise in policy and advocacy efforts that impact the disability community. As members of society, I believe we each have a responsibility to love, support, and learn from one another.

Lusekero Mwangwewo is an/the Assistant Coordinator of the Genetics Department of the LSUHSC School of Medicine. Early in her program, she encountered fewer students with recognized disabilities. Frequently, this meant that the students had disabilities that were not readily apparent, something that she perceives as a challenge. Still, she learned to modify lesson plans and classroom activities, often in collaboration with parents and special education professionals.

Lusekero hopes to deepen her understanding of neurodevelopmental disabilities, develop leadership skills to advocate for these individuals, and create more inclusive learning environments. She hopes that the LEND program will help her become a strong advocate for inclusive practices, evidence-based policies, and disability awareness within the community.

Radhika, a student at the School of Dentistry, works as a private tutor for grade-school students. Some of her most memorable students are those with learning and developmental disabilities such as Autism and dyslexia. Her main goal as a LEND scholar is to gain an exceptional understanding of the lives of such people. In the future, as a dental professional, she will contribute knowledge on how to provide better dental care to patients with neurodevelopmental disabilities.

Jesica is unapologetically Autistic. Their special interests are classical flute, animals, and disability advocacy. Jes received a late autism diagnosis that made life make sense in retrospect. This late identification positively impacted her life in numerous ways. Jes was finally able to find community with others who “get it” and could help her to articulate her lived experiences through shared language. Jesica’s autistic lived experience along with her other disabilities helped focus her academic interests and drove her to participate in advocacy.

Jes obtained her B.S. in Dietetics and Nutrition in 2005 and her M.S. in Speech-Language Pathology in 2019 from Lamar University. She is now a Ph.D. student in the Communication Sciences Department pursuing a minor in Sociocultural Anthropology a Louisiana State University. As an autistic academic, Jes noticed the lack of autistic voices represented in autism research and has, unfortunately, experienced how unwelcoming these spaces can be toward autistic people when they do try to make their voices heard. Jes hopes to help change this by combining qualitative, participatory, and visual methodologies in autism research to examine how communicative environments affect social participation and inclusion, communication access, and quality of life for autistic people across the lifespan. They advocate for social inclusion, communication access, and improved quality of life through social models of disability and relationship-centered care.

Graham Waller is a blind self-advocate. In the past, he completed Louisiana Partners in Policymaking, a six-month yearly offering from the Developmental Disabilities Council that offers participants the opportunity to learn to advocate primarily in the local and state levels. Through LEND, Graham hopes to gain skills that will help me advocate for others as well as himself.  He wants to be more aware of other people’s differences as well as disabilities.

Carter is a highly-specialized medical alert service dog, dedicated to supporting his handler, Jes, with precision and care. With his keen senses and deep bond with his handler, Carter is always on alert, ready to respond to medical needs. In addition to his vital work, Carter has a warm and gentle nature, bringing comfort and companionship wherever he goes.

Outside of his work duties, Carter enjoys spending time outdoors, especially during long walks, swimming, or play sessions. His playful yet focused demeanor makes him a cherished partner in both work and life, always ready to serve and protect with loyalty and love.