Ep. 8 Ida Winters and Elizabeth Morgan - Paths to Equity

In this episode, we hear from two of the authors of the article titled, "Paths to Equity: Parents in partnership with UCEDDs fostering Black family advocacy for children on the autism spectrum" which was published in the 2023 special issue on diversity, equity, and inclusion. We were so thrilled to discuss this important work with Ida and Dr. Morgan and also learn more about them as people and why they are invested in what they do. A full transcript of this interview is available here in English and here in Spanish.

Ida Winters is the mother of 3 wonderful young men who all live with special healthcare needs and one who received a late diagnosis of Autism. Ida is committed to being that person that she needed during her and her children’s journey to and through a diagnosis and being an avid advocate for change at home, in her community, and wherever she is needed. Ida strongly believes that the only way for change to truly happen is by educating and empowering the underserved, underprivileged, underrepresented, as well as the overlooked populations, and changing the narrative from “underserved to well served”!

Ida is the founder of Sankofa Midwest and currently works at the University of Wisconsin Madison – Waisman Center as an Outreach Associate, Wisconsin Care Integration Initiative (WiCII) Family Engagement Specialist, Ida also works with WI LEND as a Family Peer Mentor and LCS Co-facilitator. Ida is former AMCHP Family Leader. Ida is a LEND graduate and was named AUCD’s 2020-2021 Emerging Leader for Wisconsin. Ida is also part of the WI. LEND planning committee, community engagement, ECHO Autism and Anxiety, Accelerated Equity Learning Community (AELC)team with the National Maternal Child Health Workforce Development Center (WI.). Ida also currently works with Autism Society of Southeastern WI. ASSEW.

Ida is a member of the National Resource Center for Patient/Family-Centered Medical Home Health Equity Subcommittee (NRC-PFCMH). In the past Ida has worked as an Autism Family Navigator at the Next Step Clinic in Milwaukee, WI. providing developmental screenings, referrals, supports, and education to families, caregivers and professionals about child development and the importance of early identification. Ida was co-chair of Next Step Clinic’s Community Advisory Board and Co-chair of Milwaukee Coalition for Children’s Mental Health Community of Practice Community Health Worker Strategy. She also worked as a Family Advocate and Wellness Coach in Mental Health America of WI.’s Strong Family Healthy Home program and worked with the Autism Society of Southeastern WI. (ASSEW) as a group facilitator (Morning Coffee).

Elizabeth Holliday Morgan, Ph.D. is an Assistant Professor in Educational Leadership at University of California Sacramento (CSUS) and Program Coordinator for the CEDD at the MIND Institute. Her area of research focus includes Early Childhood and Early Intervention Services with a specific interest in under-represented populations. When she isn’t thinking about autism service equity, Elizabeth enjoys the theater and spending time with her family and their dog, Billie Jean.

 

To read more work written by Dr. Morgan:

• Morgan, E.H., Rodgers, R., & Tschida, J., (2022) “Addressing the intersectionality of race and disability to improve autism care”. Pediatrics, 149 (Supplement 4). https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2020-049437M
• Morgan, E.H. & Stahmer, A.C., (2021). “Narratives of single, Black mothers using cultural capital to access autism interventions in schools.” British Journal of the Sociology of Education. 42:1, 48-65. DOI: 10.1080/01425692.2020.1861927 S
• She can be found in social media: Twitter: @ProfMorganPhD. IG: Transformative_Mothering. LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ehmorgan  Website: https://www.csus.edu/faculty/m/e.morgan/  To find out more and attend a Sankofa meeting: https://health.ucdavis.edu/mindinstitute/events/event_pdf/sankofa-2022.pdf