Q: How long have you been an Ukeru trainer?

A: I have been training Ukeru for my school district since 2021.

Q: What population do you work with? What inspired you to get into this field? 

A: I work with a variety of students with identified disabilities as well as their special education teams. Our self contained programs vary from cross-categorical, life skills, and emotional/behavioral. I always loved working with students with significant disabilities. Celebrating small milestones always energized me when I was a special education teacher. 

Q: What part of Ukeru do you enjoy teaching the most and why?  

A: I find a lot of meaning in showing the PET scans, reviewing studies in trauma, and teaching about the brain. I find that my participants seem really engaged and that it changes their perspective on development and behavior.  

Q: What would you say to someone who is unsure about using Ukeru? 

A: For years I worked with students who would become aggressive. We worked hard to protect ourselves, the students, and the peers, but we had limited tools to truly keep everyone safe. We used to keep gardening knee pads in my classroom years ago to keep students safe who would head bang.  I really appreciate the body shields and other mats. It allows us to support a student who is working through a crisis, while staying safe ourselves and also keeping others as safe as possible. 

Q: What advice or tip would you give to a new Ukeru trainer? 

A: Be patient. It takes time to shift mindsets. Once our teams are around aggressive students and they train in and use Ukeru, the benefits are quickly apparent. Teams that use it have been extremely positive about Ukeru.

Q: How has Ukeru impacted your life? 

A: First, I personally have felt significantly safer in crisis. I also am finding a lot of meaning in my work as teams develop a more trauma informed mindset and are approaching students with escalating behaviors with more empathy.

Q: What is your favorite quote or a motto that you like to live by? 

A: “Some see disabilities, Special Education teachers see possibilities”- Unknown 

     “He who is willing is who will.”

Q: What three words would you use to describe Ukeru?

A: Safe, collaboration, trauma-informed