A.S.I. Team

What inspired you to be in this field?

Elizabeth has always been passionate about serving people with disabilities. As a self-advocate, she advocates for equal rights and opportunities for others. Her goal is to inform the community about the importance of the inclusion of people with diverse abilities.

What do you like about working at A.S.I. Advocates Searching for Independence?

Elizabeth is a Self-Advocate coordinator and trainer at Advocates Searching for Independence LLC. She is passionate about working at ASI because she assists young adults with disabilities discover their full potential. She shares ASI’s mission: Open doors to opportunities for people with disabilities.

Could you describe your educational background? (Credentials, Licenses, and Certifications)

• B.S. Rehabilitative Services – 2007
• M.S. Rehabilitation Counseling – 2014
• CRC Certified Rehabilitation Counselor – 2014
• Texas Partner in Policymaking – 2021

What has impacted you through the A.S.I. training?

Elizabeth has been most impacted by the young adults she serves through ASI! Her definition of success is when a person with a disability realizes all the potential they have. She enjoys sharing her own Self- Advocacy experience with the clients she serves.

Could you describe your educational background? (Credentials, Licenses, and Certifications)

I graduated from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley in 2020 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Rehabilitation Services with a Concentration in Deaf Studies.

What inspired you to be in this field?

I was inspired to pursue an occupation in which I could be hands-on, working with others in a manner that allowed me to be a support for all individuals in my community to thrive in their passions and skills.

What do you like about working at A.S.I. Advocates Searching for Independence?

I get to learn and appreciate new topics that our participants share with us, get to know them personally and develop trust with one another to understand what we aim to complete by the end of our sessions together.

What has impacted you through the A.S.I. training?

Working alongside A.S.I. has allowed me to develop my professionalism, constantly reminding me of my role in a beautiful group of individuals, encouraging and advocating for participants and their families to make their goals a reality.

Describe your education background. (Credentials, Licenses, and Certifications)

Graduated with Bachelors degree in rehabilitation at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley and currently pursuing a masters degree in clinical rehabilitation counseling.

What inspired you to be in this field?

Going back to my youth I have always enjoyed helping people, and I knew I wanted to pursue a career where I may be able to contribute and have a hand in making a difference in the lives of others. Rehabilitation is a helping profession, and I learned early on how historically individuals with disabilities have been one of if not the most underserved population in the country. This inspired me to want to join the cause of the rehabilitation movement.

What do you like about working at A.S.I. Advocates Searching for Independence?

What I love about ASI is the dedication the organization has to inspiring students with disabilities to want to become more independent as well as the emphasis in highlighting the abilities, skills and strengths that each student possesses. I love that ASI helps every student in learning to take a further step toward their own future as well as showing them how to advocate for themselves and others.

What has impacted you through the A.S.I. training?

Having the wonderful opportunity of being a part of the training at ASI has had a very positive impact on my life. Being able to see the growth students have from day 1 of the training up until the last day is truly remarkable. Witnessing how they progress and learn about the knowledge and skills required to advocate for their independence makes it a wonderful experience. Watching the students open up and share more about themselves, gain more confidence, as well as the development of their desire to become more independent makes the training at ASI truly special.

Describe your education background. (Credentials, Licenses, and Certifications)

I obtained my associates in Psychology in 2018, then switched my major to Exercise Science as a freshman at the university. I graduated with my bachelor’s in Exercise Science and a minor in psychology. I am currently pursuing higher education in the field of Occupational Therapy.

What inspired you to be in this field?

One of my inspirations was my nephew, who was diagnosed with autism. I started to get involved with the community, where I had the opportunity to meet various individuals and their families. The more involved I got; I realized my passion was growing for this community.

What do you like about working at A.S.I. Advocates Searching for Independence?

I enjoy meeting all the students we do the training for and showing them how to advocate for not only themselves but their peers. It is also rewarding to see their growth in such a short period.

What has impacted you through the A.S.I. training?

Describe your education background. (Credentials, Licenses, and Certifications)

I am currently in my last semester of my bachelor’s degree in Rehabilitation Services. I will be graduating with the distinction of Magna Cum Lade in December 2022. I graduated from the Texas State Technical College (TSTC) with an associate degree in biology in the Spring of 2017, with a 4.00 GPA and with a TSTC with a General Education Certificate Fall of 2017.

Currently, I am certified in with the following certifications under CPR Certification and Satori to Managing Aggression which is a form of redirection to disruptive and aggressive behavior.

What inspired you to be in this field?

What inspired me to get into the rehabilitation field was both a close and troubling experience that I had with a family member. My family member lost her eyesight on both of her eyes due to a medical error when she was receiving treatment. Seeing my cousin learn to adapt to her lifestyle with acquired and profound disability was a very inspiring and impactful experience. My cousin is very hardworking and determined to not let her disability dictate and take over her life. She had greatly inspired me to become an advocate and educator for other individuals with disabilities.

What do you like about working at A.S.I. Advocates Searching for Independence?

What I love about working at A.S.I. is that I get to be part of a great team where I get to be part of the shared experience with the young adults that we work with.

What has impacted you through the A.S.I. training?

The culture of A.S.I has impacted me the most. Since the first day that I joined A.S.I. There was always a sense of family and unity in this connectivity that surrounds the organization. I believe that this supportive culture translates to the services that A.S.I. provides.

Please add any awards, recognitions, or something you would like to highlight.

Throughout my educational career I have earned the distinction of being placed on both the President’s and Dean’s List multiple times in both the associate and bachelor level.

Describe your education background. (Credentials, Licenses, and Certifications)

I am a doctoral student at the University of Texas – Rio Grande Valley. My areas of interest are young adults with intellectual disabilities, Pre-Employment Transitional Services (Pre-ETS), job retention, and substance use disorders. I am a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor – Intern (LCDC-I).

What inspired you to be in this field?

My inspiration came from firsthand experiences and observations. I wanted to be a part of the change to improve the quality of life of people with disabilities through inclusion and equity.

What do you like about working at A.S.I. Advocates Searching for Independence?

I love seeing the improvement and personal growth of the participants throughout the training. Being a part of that is a phenomenal experience. I would not change it for anything in the world.

What has impacted you through the A.S.I. training?

The support and unity of the A.S.I team are very impactful at a professional level. A.S.I has a perfect balance of independence and teamwork, allowing you to grow and learn additional skills from your peers.

Describe your education background. (Credentials, Licenses, and Certifications)

I obtained my Bachelor’s of Science in Psychology from the University of Texas at RGV. I am currently in my last semester in the Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling Master’s Program. I will be applying and testing for the LPC license in November.

What inspired you to be in this field?

My inspiration to be in the counseling field is helping children heal and flourish from childhood trauma or issues. As the oldest of four siblings and cousins, I had the maternal instinct to protect and advocate for my younger family members. This is what drove me to want to do more for children and allow myself to be a support for them. The greatest impact I have had was on the younger generation, and that is how I know that this is the population I want to work with.

What do you like about working at A.S.I. Advocates Searching for Independence?

A.S.I. is the only program that I have ever known to be such a welcoming and empowering environment. I enjoy working with wonderful individuals who each have their own strengths and abilities that make the team work.

What has impacted you through the A.S.I. training?

The impact that this program has on young adults with disabilities gives me hope for everyone. I enjoy the work because I can see the impact and advocacy that is provided to young adults with disabilities.

Describe your education background. (Credentials, Licenses, and Certifications)

My name is Leslee Dominguez, I am a UTRGV student graduating this December with a Bachelor of Science in Rehabilitation Services and I am currently an intern at Advocates Searching for Independence (A.S.I).

What inspired you to be in this field?

What inspired me to be in this field began when one of my family members who was diagnosed with a disability at a very young age. I noticed and identified that around my community there was a lack of awareness and resources. There are also many attitudinal barriers that individuals with disabilities faced here in my region. Over time I started seeing how many organizations were being developed to help advocate for people with disabilities, and many resources to educate their family members and the community. Seeing this inspired me to want to be a part of that change and the disability community. I want to advocate for the needs of others so that they receive equal access.

What do you like about working at A.S.I. Advocates Searching for Independence?

What I enjoy about working at A.S.I is that we get to help young adults with disabilities learn to self- advocate for themselves, to speak up when they need to, and to know their rights. I was also immediately welcomed to the A.S. I team from the start and have been able to gain much experience by interacting and communicating with the individuals with disabilities and phenomenal community advocates.

What has impacted you through the A.S.I. training?

What has impacted me through the A.S.I training is meeting the incredible individuals with disabilities across the Rio Grande Valley. Each individual has their own personalities, goals, hopes, and dreams and getting the time to learn those details about each person is what pushes me to want to thrive in helping others achieve their goals.

Please add any awards, recognitions, or something you would like to highlight

Through my study I earned the President’s List status in Spring 2022 due to my hard work and dedication as a UTRGV student. I also received a similar President’s List status award in Spring 2021 as well as the Dean’s List status in Fall 2021.I achieved these recognitions because of my commitment to learn and to become as knowledgeable as I can be so that I can best serve my community.