Improving Student Services: A Study of Disabilities Resource Offices at JesuitInstitutions

Colleges and universities are seeing an increasing number of students with requests for accessible education assistance. Many offices dedicated to serving these students have some difficulty doing so due to not having enough staff, resources, or time. The purpose of this project was to compare the disabilities resource office websites of seven comparable Jesuit universities and colleges to provide recommendations for areas of improvement. Content analyses were conducted on the websites of each of the schools. Each website was looked at systematically to find as much information as possible. After data was input on a spreadsheet, memos about overall impressions were written, and the data were analyzed by comparing the schools in categories of interest. Results indicated that some of the most important factors were the number of staff members each school had and the outside resources that offices provided on their websites. Santa Clara University had the fewest staff members (two) and no outside resources linked. Other universities such as Seattle University had a list of information on disabilities, local doctors and clinics, employment help, as well as more staff members with specialized roles. The findings from this research can be used to make recommendations for disability resource offices, along with including a campus accessibility map, a program similar to University of Denver’s Learning Effectiveness Program, and Landmark College’s policies and academic paths

Identification and characterization of novel ciliogenic machinery

Cilia are microtubule-based structures that project from almost every cell in the vertebrate body. In humans, there are two types of cilia, motile, which generate fluid flow across tissues of the ventricles, airway, and oviduct, as well as in propulsion in single cells, and primary, which are responsible for transducing many signaling pathways. Primary and motile cilia are dependent on a bidirectional trafficking process called intraflagellar transport (IFT) in order to bring material into the cilium, which governs their growth, maintenance, and signaling. IFT is mediated by two distinct protein complexes called IFT-A and IFT-B, which function in anterograde and retrograde transport, respectively. In motile cilia, an organization of multiple large protein complexes within the axoneme allow for wave-like motion to be produced. Instrumental to this motility are axonemal dynein arms, large motor protein complexes that slide along microtubule doublets in a coordinated manner to generate bending. Here, I describe two studies regarding ciliogenesis in multiciliated cells, a highly-specialized cell type decorated with dozens of motile cilia. First, I identify ANKRD55 as an IFT-B interactor. I demonstrate that this protein traffics through multiciliated cell axonemes and results in severe developmental defects in its absence. In addition, I describe early insights into the potential role this gene plays in cilia-related human disease. Together, these data suggest that ANKRD55 is a novel member of IFT-B. Second, I characterize the processes that underlie the cytoplasmic assembly of axonemal dynein arms, wherein various chaperones and cytoplasmic factors work in unison to fold and complex dynein arm subunits prior to ciliary transport. Using various imaging methods, I show that the factors responsible for dynein arm assembly localize to non-membrane bound cytoplasmic phase- separations in multiciliated cells, which we term DynAPs (Dynein Assembly Particles). I then demonstrate that machinery involved in phase separation of stress granules is required for formation of DynAPs and recruitment of dynein to axonemes.Molecular Bioscience

A FOUR-SESSION WORKSHOP FOR PARENTS OF CHILDREN WITH AUTISM: UNDERSTANDING AND MANAGING CHALLENGING BEHAVIORS, AND SUPPORTING THE DEVELOPMENT OF CHILDREN WITH ASD

Research studies continue to show that being a parent of a child with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) presents unique challenges for many families including understanding ASD deficits and behaviors, and identifying effective ways to manage these behaviors. Because ASD interventions generally take a behaviorally-based approach, parents tend to lack an understanding of child development, positive child guidance practices, ways to build strong parent-child relationships, and methods to engage in enrichment activities that will support their child’s overall development. The purpose of the current project was to create a parent workshop to help parents of children with ASD: 1) understand the underlying factors related to the challenging behaviors of children with ASD, 2) teach parents how to combine ABA with “positive child guidance” strategies to assist them in managing their child’s ASD behaviors, and 3) enhance parents’ knowledge of child development, ways to build strong parent-child relationships, and methods to engage with their child in enrichment activities. Pre-post workshop assessment scores showed an increase in participants’ knowledge and confidence in these three project goals. Future trainings should include other caregivers and professionals working with children with ASD to empower them with the skills needed to effectively manage challenging behaviors and at the same time support children’s overall development

Social workers\u27 perceptions of the utilization of Spanish-speaking interpreters in child welfare services

This study examined social workers\u27 perceptions of the use of interpreters in child welfare services. Specifically, this study focused on monolingual (English) speaking social workers and their perceptions of the use of interpreters in child welfare services

Chronic kidney disease prevention in the Hispanic/Latino community: SF Mission District

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a growing medical condition that affects many Americans; however, the largest minority group living in the US, Hispanic/Latinos, are suffering the most complications associated with the disease. Multiple research has concluded that due to barriers such as poverty, limited education, and limited English proficiency, it has prevented many Hispanic/Latinos from knowing their disease status. My internship at the Community Health Resource Center was to create a CKD campaign in Spanish that targets the Hispanic/Latino community living in San Francisco\u27s Mission District. As well, the Campaign\u27s goal was to tackle the challenges that prevent Hispanic/Latinos in the Mission District from understanding their kidney health. The Campaign gathered pertinent health information from the National Kidney Foundation, the American Heart Association, the CDC, the American Diabetes Association, and various evidence-based research to create lectures in Spanish. As mentioned by multiple studies, when individuals are presented with educational material that is easy to understand and in a preferred language, they become more receptive to learning, asking questions, and being proactive in managing their health. Although the Campaign had some challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it continued via a virtual route using Zoom. Results concluded that there is still a huge need for free culturally and linguistically appropriate educational workshops and health screenings. When communities are presented with free workshops, such as a CKD campaign, they attend and are willing to learn

Senior Recital

List of performers and performances

FORMER FOSTER YOUTH PERSPECTIVES ON STRENGTHS AND NEEDED SERVICES OF THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM

This study examined former foster youth’s perceptions of the skills and services they received while they were in the foster care system. More specifically the efficacy of these services, and what services and skills they believed would have been helpful to assist them in their transition into independent living. A qualitative design was used, and semi-structured face-to-face and telephone interviews were conducted with ten former foster youth who aged out of foster care at age eighteen through twenty-one. Two males and eight females from diverse backgrounds participated in this study. Participants were recruited through availability and snowball sampling at community agencies, college campuses, and the community. This study found that participants experienced a difficult time transitioning from foster care to independent living, felt unprepared after leaving foster care, needing additional services, and expressed wanting to have received more in depth financial management skills. This study recommends providing additional independent living skills, social support, and participation in the Independent Living Program as part of foster youth’s case plan when preparing to transition out of foster care into independent living

Assessing agency program evaluation methods in a municipality

The purpose of this study is to examine the state development of program evaluation methods among agencies, which provide services to children, youth, and families in a municipality. This information will be used to provide city council members who oversee community resources and government funding with information about the quality of agency program evaluation methods in the pool of agencies