(310) 863-7977
info@gophoenix.org
Santiago is a young man on the autism spectrum who was also the first participant at South Central Los Angeles Regional Center (SCLARC) to begin the Self-Determination Program (SDP) after it rolled out to all individuals served by Regional Centers in July 2021. He shares with the team his personal experience of always feeling like the traditional Regional Center services and system didn’t meet his needs, as well as the life-changing opportunities presented to him by SDP and having his voice and opinion matter. Santiago is a graduate of the February 2022 cohort of Disability Voices United’s Emerging Leaders Program and he hopes to eventually become a Service Coordinator at a Regional Center. He is currently working towards that goal with employment supports via Self-Determination, volunteering as a coach of a Challenger Little League team, and reaching out to other self-advocates through this project.
In collaboration with the Harbor Regional Center (HRC) Local Advisory Committee, Phoenix Facilitation is pleased to offer FREE coaching services to participants and families interested in Self-Determination.
Our team of bilingual staff can work with you in English, Spanish, Korean, and/or Mandarin, and can assist you with determining if Self-Determination is the right choice for you and your loved one. We can help connect you to an Independent Facilitator to complete a Person-Centered Plan, provide additional information about, and training on, the process, liaison with the Regional Center, explore services and supports that might assist you and your family, and more!
If you would like to participate in coaching and/or learn more, please contact your Service Coordinator or email selfdetermination@harborrc.org. You can also reach Phoenix’s team directly by emailing hrc@gophoenix.org and/or calling or texting 310.863.7977.
Helen is the parent of a young man who receives Self-Determination services from Regional Center of the East Bay (RCEB). She is not only his advocate who has had to explore the various resources and portions of the program, including communication with the Self-Determination Ombudsperson, but also a trained Independent Facilitator via Charting the Life Course. In this role, Helen has worked with numerous Regional Centers, including Westside Regional Center and North Los Angeles County Regional Center. Since summer 2021, Helen has also led a successful coaching program through the Local Advisory Committee at South Central Los Angeles Regional Center (SCLARC). Helen speaks Mandarin and is able to provide language of choice services to the Chinese community
Alex received a Master’s Degree in Social Work from the California State University, Dominguez Hills and also holds an Associate Clinical Social Work (ACSW) License. He presently works at a psychiatric hospital as a clinical social worker, specifically in Developmental Delayed Units (DDMI), where he works with children, adolescents, and adults with development disabilities, Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and mental health issues. Alex is trained in emotional interviewing and nonviolent crisis interventions to assist patients who undergo behavioral outbursts. As a psychiatric social worker, he has experience working with dual diagnoses and providing individual and group counseling utilizing Cognitive and Dialectal Behavioral modalities.
As a bilingual, Spanish-speaking, social worker, and having been raised in South Central Los Angeles, Alex has first-hand experience witnessing the socioeconomic disparity of marginalized and under-resourced communities and the challenges that families with similar backgrounds face. His passion lies in assisting families to feel supported and guiding them in accessing services through the Regional Center or generic resources. As a former Regional Center Service Coordinator, Alex is familiar with multiple community resources and has created partnerships with community members. He continues to assist as many families as he can and hopes to empower them to self-advocate in the process.
Abraham is a Bilingual (Spanish-Speaking) Advocate at Phoenix Facilitation, LLC. Abraham was raised with a cousin that has an intellectual disability. He learned early on the values of service, sacrifice, and devotion. Abraham’s background includes advocacy for children in the dependency system, special education, and social work, including Regional Center Service Coordination and Person-Centered Thinking Training. He is a proud graduate from the University of Southern California with a Master’s Degree in Teaching. Abraham takes pride in his beliefs, he has courage in his convictions, and remains loyal in his pursuit to help people.
