In the past, I have stayed mostly in my comfort zone and worked hard to avoid situations that made me uncomfortable, like talking with strangers and flying. However, since beginning my LEND training, I have made a commitment to step out of my comfort zone and try new things. So, I went out on a limb and decided to attend the annual AUCD conference in Washington, D.C. in November. I had the opportunity to attend many presentations and discussions surrounding a variety of disability issues. One of the main reasons I wanted to go to this conference was to meet people from around the country who were doing work related to inclusive childcare for children with disabilities, as this is one of my primary research interests. The conference was all that I had hoped for and more! Right away I met other AUCD members and trainees who were interested in the issue and I was able to collect a wide variety of resources to aid in my research. I was also able to network with other LEND trainees and faculty throughout the conference and hear about how their programs were supporting people with disabilities and share what we do in the Illinois LEND program with them. This exchange of information was at the center of many of the meetings I attended, and I was inspired by the interdisciplinary collaborations that lead to very productive discussions.
I also really enjoyed the Family Discipline events because it allowed me to connect with other people with similar lived experiences. My experience as a parent of a child with multiple disabilities has been very isolating, so I truly appreciated being able to have conversations with other parents who understood my situation. I left these meetings feeling motivated to pursue my research, advocacy, and policy goals to help improve disability services in Illinois.
This experience taught me that doing things that are out of your comfort zone can lead to amazing things! So, I encourage my fellow LEND trainees to attend a conference and do things that may be a bit uncomfortable in pursuit of your interests, values, life goals!
Stacee Leatherman
