CDS Welcomes New Coordinator, Andrea Perez

Please join me in welcoming Andrea Perez, who has accepted the position of Faculty Specialist, Coordinator of Community Connections at the Center for Disability Services. Andrea previously worked at CDS as a graduate student at Senior Day Services.  She was introduced to the field of behavior analysis while working with individuals diagnosed with IDD living in Miami, FL. After developing a passion for the field of ABA and working with vulnerable populations, she moved to Michigan to pursue her graduate studies at WMU with Dr. Jon Baker. She has since graduated with her M.A. and is a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst and will soon graduate with her doctorate. Andrea has provided services to a diverse population, including children and adults diagnosed with IDD, adults experiencing impairments associated with aging and adults with neurocognitive disorders. In addition, she has supervised and trained several undergraduate and aspiring BCBA graduate level students in best practice techniques when working with these populations. She has provided services in a variety of settings, including autism centers, adult day programs and nursing homes in Florida and Southwest Michigan. Andrea says that her goals are grounded in a sense of urgency to improve the quality of services and common approaches to working with the IDD and aging population.