Q: How long have you been an Ukeru trainer?
A: 1 Year
Q: What population do you work with? What inspired you to get into this field?
A: I work with students ages 5-22 across a variety of settings. My primary area of focus is training and staff development for staff that support students with significant emotional behavior disturbances and Autism. I stumbled into Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) when I was looking for a masters program. My undergrad in special education taught me what to teach. My masters and additional work in behavior analysis taught me how to teach.
Q: What part of Ukeru do you enjoy teaching the most and why?
A: I really enjoy showing the comparative slides of the brain scans of the 11 year olds. This is one of the moments in the training where I see it click for participants. The information about generational trauma is also really engaging.
Q: What would you say to someone who is unsure about using Ukeru?
A: Ukeru empowers staff to meet students where they are and encourage them to move towards a more happy and safe life. The blocking techniques provide a dignified way to maintain safety for both staff and students.
Q: What advice or tip would you give to a new Ukeru trainer?
A: Honor what your participants already know and take their experiences into consideration, when moving through the content. Be prepared for naysayers. Trauma-informed interventions may be a major mindset shift for some and that shift will likely not happen in an 8-hour training. Revisit those staff. Follow-up to see how the program is working for them and problem solve pain points.
Q: How has Ukeru impacted your life?
A: Our staff love Ukeru! They are able to be much more proactive and decrease use of physical intervention, while maintaining a therapeutic relationship with the students.
Q: What is your favorite quote or a motto that you like to live by?
A: “Say yes when you can and no when you have to.”- Greg Hanley
Q: What three words would you use to describe Ukeru?
A: Value-based, Approachable, Comprehensive
