Meet Katrina. This video game obsessed self-advocate is the coordinator of the Self Advocacy Action committee at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities Institute on Community Integration. She recently finished a class and she’s looking forward to getting more involved with research work in the future. We’re so fortune to have her as a member of the Network!

What's your story?  Tell us a little bit about yourself.

Katrina shares that she lives with Cerebral Palsy and uses a power wheelchair for primary community mobility. She works at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities Institute on Community Integration. She lives independently in an apartment and utilizes Home and Community Based Services to do so.

Katrina is the coordinator of the Self Advocacy Action committee at ICI. She explains that the purpose of that committee is to make sure that all of the policy and research products produced at the institute are “vetted” by individuals who live with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. “We meet once per month and focus on a specific product. All are welcome at our meetings,” she tells us.

How are you involved with self-determination? Why did you join the SD Network?

Katrina explains that their mission as a committee is to improve self-determination (and the knowledge base around it) for people living with I/DD and other disabilities. She joined this network to become more connected to similar efforts and to learn about best practices around self-determination.

Tell us some good news - what's the most exciting thing happening for you (or in Wisconsin) in terms of self-determination?

Katrina is just now finishing a class that is focused on lived experience partnerships for research outcomes in Cerebral Palsy. “I am excited to hopefully become more involved in that work in the future,” she says.

What tip or resource would you like to share with people who want to be more self-determined?

Katrina encourages people who want to be more self-determined to educate themselves about the choices available and the topic that they care about. Knowing what options are available is really important in self-determination.

What are some of your hobbies?

In her spare time, Katrina loves going to Target and playing video games. She also loves helping people. “One time I got to help someone pick out a video game at Target. It was a really great day,” she exclaims!

***We love hearing the views and opinions of Network members. We need to mention that the views and opinions expressed on this site are those of the person who is sharing them. They do not necessarily reflect InControl Wisconsin or any of our supporters and funders.

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