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AUCD Experts

Vaibavi Gopal, Master of Management Studies

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Contact Information:
401-456-8072
Leadership:
Discipline Coordinators:
Project/Program/Clinic Contacts:
Family Support Specialist
Discipline(s):
Family Member/Community Member
Self Advocacy
Person Centered Thinking
AUCD Council Membership:
No Council Membership
Vita/Bio:

Vaibavi Gopal

[email protected]

I am a special needs mom, with a wonderful child with Autism and Intellectual disability. I am currently passionate about spreading the word about concepts like Person Centered Thinking, Supported-Decision Making and Self-Determination. I am actively trying to learn all there is in the field of support and services for children and adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and hope to keep at it. My hope is to one day contribute to the endeavor of helping fellow citizens with I/DD and families achieve a fulfilling life.

 

I have navigated systems in India and the US (two different states) to find support for us personally. I can appreciate the difference in culture and the nuances of navigating the system.  I am myself from a different culture and an immigrant and had to learn to do this personally after we landed here. We have done this twice since we moved states. I have volunteered in a few events related to the special needs community in RI and the US. I have presented to my local school committee on Person centered thinking for IEP team.  I have also presented to a group of Indian parents with Special needs kids, on ‘Understanding systems of supports for school age children’ and regularly counsel parents who reach out to me for assistance. I am also familiar with how to use strategies to navigate the AAC journey through personal experience and counsel some families on this on a regular basis.

Experience

2022 – Present

Family Support specialist, Sherlock center

 

2021 August –

Member, Sherlock Sentinels Advisory Committee

2018- – now

Member, Local special Education Advisory committee

 

 

Education

1996-2000

Master of Management Studies, BITS, Pilani India

It was an accelerated course that covered basic STEM courses and an MBA in Internet Marketing.

2019-20

RI lend, CNDC

I was part of the RI LEND cohort for the year 2019-2020.

 

2020 Spring

RIC

Audited a course on SPED 566: Autism and Positive Behavior Supports

 

Fall 2021

Person centered facilitator training, Sherlock Center

 

Fall 2021- June 2022

Sherlock Center Trainee

 

Ongoing

I also routinely sign up and attend many training opportunities that I can access online. Some of them include the STAR RAFT Project, by David Wetherow, Autism Explained Online summit, RIPIN training programs, Sherlock Center’s Community of Practice in Autism in Rhode Island etc.

 

Skills

  • Parent of a child with Intellectual disability
  • Advocate of my child and all children who need support.
  • Strong proponent of Person centered thinking and Self Determination.
  • Passionate about understanding and improving systems of support.
  • Understand how different communications work, from personal experience. Attended online training on AAC device use and use it at home.
  • Empathy and strong belief in the rights for ALL individuals
 

Activities

 

March 2022- PRESENT

Buddy match, We Embrace

 

SEP 2021- MAY 2023

DID A PROJECT ON ‘UNDERSTANDING THE TECHNOLOGY SPACE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILTIES IN RI’ AS PART OF SHERLOCK TRAINING

 

JUNE 2021 –

Mentor and volunteer at Desi Parents Network (A group by and for People of south asian origin who have loved ones with varying diablities)

 

August 2021 –

Volunteer, Camp Wannagoagain, Autism Project

 

SUMMER 2020

My team created a Parent Preparedness Passport for Crisis and Tips sheet for emergencies. These were both intended for parents. (Done as part of our LEND project)

 

 

Currently working on

 

I am currently working on different ways to take Person centered Thinking concepts to all in our state that might be interested in learning about it. This might include self-advocates, parents, care givers, DSPs, teachers, specialists and anyone else who might be interested in learning about it. I am also working on rewriting the Person-Centered Thinking Guide. I am working with Mary Madden on these.

 

 

REFERENCES

 

Pamela Donor, RIPIN                                                                                     [email protected]

 

Sue Jewel, Autism Project                                                                           [email protected]   

 

Shannon Dowd Eagle, Sherlock Center                                                  [email protected]

 

Minerva Ortiz, CNDC                                                                                      [email protected]

 

Nicole Bucka, MTSS specialist                                                 [email protected]

 

Mary Madden, Sherlock Center                                                                [email protected]

 

Andrew McQuaide                                                                                            [email protected]

 

 

Service:
I work with my community informally in advising them on IEPs and other daily challenges people might face. I also am working on the Person thinking Guide.