CDD Diversity Leadership Fellow Makes an Impact on a Local Community (TX UCEDD)

May 31, 2016

Dianey Leal is a Master's Student at Bush School of Government and Public Service, Texas A&M University and AUCD Diversity Leadership Fellow. During her first semester as an AUCD Diversity Leadership Fellow, Dianey complied scholarly papers on seclusion and the effects it has on students with disabilities for publication through the Center on Disability and Development (CDD). She was under the supervision of Dr. Laura Stough and Dr. Meagan Sumbera. She also worked with a team of graduate students under the supervision of Dr. Dalun Zhang to identify and summarize legislation and court cases concerning supported decision-making pertaining to individuals with disabilities. With the help of Dr. Laura Stough, she created a pamphlet for a nonprofit organization to raise awareness on the prevalence of hearing loss to make it possible for individuals with hearing loss to continue being part of community activities.

Dianey also created a handout on People First Language and co-presented a PowerPoint presentation at the Bush School on the importance of using People First Language as a respectful way to communicate, acknowledge, and report on disabilities.

This summer, Dianey will interning with the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA) in Washington, D.C. where she will be working on projects related to accreditation and diversity in higher education. She will also be working with AUCD Public Policy staff to further develop her skills as a diversity leadership fellow. Thank you Dianey for all of your hard work! We hope you enjoy working in D.C. this summer and we are looking forward to your return to Texas A&M University in the fall!