K Barker Social Work Resume Updated 03-01-22
Author: barker.611
Leadership Development and Original Inquiry G.O.A.L.S
Since my last entry, the Dublin P.L.A.N group went back to in-person meetings and I started taking on a more active leadership role. I still mentored the students, but this year I led one or two activities instead of just participating. I even suggested and organized an “Art Day” towards the end of the semester, and the students loved it. I have more confidence in my place within the group .
Over the summer, Karen and I will be meeting to discuss how my role will continue to evolve. Our shared goal is for me to continue being a facilitator, taking on more responsibilities with event planning and helping create the actual program curriculum for the year. I will also take a course on developmental disorders and neurodiversity to make more informed decisions and be a better support for the students.
Original Inquiry- This summer, I will be attending a conference hosted by the Florida chapter of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. The main goal of this experience is walking away with a deeper connection to the world of children’s literature. I will be meeting and networking with not just writers but other professionals who are in some way connected to children’s literature, including translators, librarians, educators, and publishers. Forming such a diverse network will bring ideas for developing my talent and brand besides writing a book. And if I choose to publish a book, multiple connections means multiple avenues for promoting said book. Ultimately, I just want to find a community of like-minded individuals
Intro to Disability Studies-Universal Design
In the autumn semester of my second year, I took “Intro to Disability Studies.” I went into this course for professional as well as personal fulfillment. As a person with a disability, I wanted to learn more about the history of the Disability Rights movement, the history of individual communities within the broader Disability community, and the many perspectives on a single issue. My biggest takeaway from that course was that disability and disability rights isn’t just about people with disabilities. While the experiences of people with disabilities are the heart of this conversation, on the broader level, these concepts are meant to reshape every area of society. The concept of “Universal Design”,designing with accessibility already in mind instead of as an afterthought. We can even apply this to rethinking productivity and time.
“Buckeyes Learn The Spectrum” Inter-Professional Summit-ft. Haley Moss
On Saturday, April 16th, 2022, I attended my first Inter-Professional summit. The theme was what professionals can do to better understand, support, and empower an emerging population of individuals with autism spectrum disorder. As a social work student interested in working with individuals with autism and an autistic young adult myself, I was excited to expand my knowledge and maybe even meet other autistic self-advocates that I could connect with. The panel featured speakers from a variety of backgrounds, including two self-advocates, a mother who became a special education advocate due to the lack of understanding for her autistic son, and a dentist who developed a program for training other dentists on how to better serve clients with autism and non-speaking clients. Though there was a common desire to better understand and support the autism community, there was a wide variety of perspectives and opinions. I walked away from this summit with more consideration for the non-autistic, or neurotypical, perspective. Although society has made great strides in becoming more accepting of autism and disability, there is still so much we are still learning and so much we are un-learning. I walked away with more respect and empathy for those willing to admit their biases and grow. Our liberation is interconnected. I also had the privilege of meeting my hero, Haley Moss, an autistic self-advocate and the first openly autistic lawyer in Florida. Sitting next to her, hearing her talk about strength, pride, and “true autistic joy”, felt so rich and full.
Welcome to my Honors & Scholars e-Portfolio
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Year in Review
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G.O.A.L.S.
This first semester, my activities focused mainly on Original Inquiry and Service Engagement
In my English 1110 course, my instructor, Dr. Cathy Ryan, pushed us out of our comfort zone and challenged us to test the limits through the research poster project. We did research on our topic of choice and presented the findings of our research for our peers in a poster. This was my first official research project, and it was an experience. It was not just about finding information. We were taught how to search for information strategically. We were taught how to take bits and pieces of information and put them together to create a story, a “hidden narrative” as she called it. She introduced me to several research opportunities taking place on campus, including her own research that she was working on. Now, one of my goals for my time at the university is to take part in some kind of research project. In my Social Work 1130 course, many of the papers I had to write had some sort of research element, so I was able to take what I was learning in English and apply it there.
Because my major is Social Work, I would like to do research with some sort of non-profit organization or exploring a social issue. My 1130 instructor mentioned a project she was working on exploring the link between teacher-student dynamics in the classroom and student performance. That would be the kind of project I would be interested in taking part in.
This semester, I started volunteering with the project P.L.A.N program at Dublin County Schools. This program works with high school students on the autism spectrum to help them prepare for the transition to adulthood. This has been one of the most pleasant volunteer opportunities I have taken part in. I enjoy being in the mentor/friend role with the students, as well as getting practice in managing a group. I hope to continue volunteering with the group as long as I can. As I continue to figure out where I fit in the social work field, it is possible that I do my best work when I working directly with people, when I am in a mentorship or counseling role. With that in mind, I could see myself volunteering in a classroom setting or in a clinic.
Recently, I was told about the possibility of volunteering as a wellness ambassador, going around campus, and raising awareness on different health issues affecting students. I am going to put in an application for that.
Career
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Artifacts
This was the first paper I wrote in my Social Work 1130. We were supposed to reflect on our personal and professional goals, what brought us to the Social Work major, and how we hoped to change over the course of four years and throughout our professional lives. I enjoyed having a moment to reflect, and really understand what drew me to this profession and where I wanted to go from this point on. As I was drafting my paper, I surprised myself in some areas. I went in thinking I was going to write one thing and ended up writing something completely different. As I progress through my academic journey, this paper will be something to look back on and see how far I have come.
This poster was the result of my first research project in English 1110. Our instructor, Dr. Cathy Ryan, taught us so many new skills and pushed us to make this project the best it could be. The end goal of this project and this course was to give us the skills we would need for an actual research endeavor. Though it was not an easy road, I feel that the experiences I had in this course will be a valuable asset to any future academic or professional endeavor.
About Me
Hello all, my name is Kimáya Lanell Barker (May). I am a first-year student majoring in Social Work. Though I am undecided on my career path at the moment, my ultimate goal would be to have a career that combines social work and disability law. I am passionate about working towards long-lasting societal change and being an advocate for others, especially individuals with disabilities. In whatever I do, I hope to empower others and encourage them to do the very best for themselves and those around them. This first semester, I have put this passion into practice by volunteering with the Project P.L.A.N program in the Dublin County School System. The program works with high school students on the autism spectrum as they prepare to transition into adulthood. Through this opportunity, I have had the chance to be a positive example to other young people in my age range as well as gain practice with skills such as taking direction, organizing a group, and listening to others, all good skills for a social work career. I have also volunteered at a local women’s shelter in Indianapolis by hosting summer reading parties for the children there. I am passionate about creative writing and am currently working on a collection of poems to publish. My other hobbies are reading (mainly non-fiction), baking, collecting various objects, and playing tennis.