M.S.W. Administration in Social Work, Fordham University, 1990
B.A. Psychology, College of New Rochelle, 1983

Ms. Gabriela Freyre-Calish has extensive experience with the Latino population and young children with disabilities. Ms. Freyre-Calish has a graduate degree in social work. She has provided case management services for adults with disabilities, and to families with children with disabilities. Ms. Freyre-Calish has been associated with the CT UCEDD for the past 18 years. She began serving as the project coordinator of the Niños Especiales Outreach Training Project, which provided training in a culturally sensitive model of early intervention to families of Latino heritage. As the coordinator of several child find projects, she has conducted needs assessments and focus groups, facilitated strategic plans, developed training materials, implemented training, analyzed effectiveness of program through the use of evaluation measures, and written progress reports for funding source. She is responsible for assuring cultural competence in all Center activities and providing staff support to the Consumer Advisory Council chairs. She is a Field Instructor for MSW candidates for the Field Education Department at the UConn School of Social Work. She is bilingual and bicultural, and is the guardian of her sister who has severe disabilities and lives in Peru. She is the mother of twin boys, one of whom is visually impaired and has sensory and language processing challenges. Mrs. Freyre-Calish is very active in the coordination of services for her son who is in an inclusive classroom.