Sangha Unity Network (SUN) has been incorporated as a non-profit corporation to provide opportunities for building connections between individuals who are labeled and marginalized and their communities. Identified opportunities may include projects and initiatives that provide a bridge to enhance productive citizenship via community inclusion. Community Inclusion is a very simple idea. To be included is to be accepted and to be able to participate fully within our families, our communities and our society. Those who are excluded, whether because of disability, poverty, gender, race or lack of education, do not have the opportunity for full participation in the economic and social benefits of society. Social inclusion values difference while at the same time celebrating those things we have in common.
Michelle Schwartz
Michelle began her career as a licensed Speech-Language Pathologist and focused her skills on developing functional communication systems for individuals who use non-traditional communication methods. Her expertise is in supporting individuals who experience autism, developmental and intellectual disabilities, and those with neurogenic disorders. Michelle has been integral in supporting individuals to transition to the community from institutions and hospital settings by facilitating person centered plans, securing service providers and assisting families within the transition process. Michelle believes that all individuals who experience disability have a right pursue their hopes, dreams and visions, to communicate and be heard and to be contributing and valued members of their communities. michelleschwartz..sun@gmail.com
Michelle began her career as a licensed Speech-Language Pathologist and focused her skills on developing functional communication systems for individuals who use non-traditional communication methods. Her expertise is in supporting individuals who experience autism, developmental and intellectual disabilities, and those with neurogenic disorders. Michelle has been integral in supporting individuals to transition to the community from institutions and hospital settings by facilitating person centered plans, securing service providers and assisting families within the transition process. Michelle believes that all individuals who experience disability have a right pursue their hopes, dreams and visions, to communicate and be heard and to be contributing and valued members of their communities. michelleschwartz..sun@gmail.com
SUN partners with others to grow opportunities for people to have a voice that is heard, live real lives in real communities and cultivate their assets and gifts.
Sun collaborators
Katie Chandler
Katie joined Sangha Unity Network, SUN after leading the Developmental Disability Program at the Georgia Advocacy Office, Georgia’s protection and advocacy agency. Katie is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with her background in advocacy for those individuals who are marginalized. Katie focuses deeply on who people are, where people are coming from, and what is needed to help get them where they want to be. She teaches Social Role Valorization and uses these principles to enhance her work of supporting people with disabilities to acquire and maintain valued social roles. Katie has spent her career supporting children and adults with developmental disabilities to be integrated and included in their communities. katiechandler.sun@gmail.com
Katie joined Sangha Unity Network, SUN after leading the Developmental Disability Program at the Georgia Advocacy Office, Georgia’s protection and advocacy agency. Katie is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with her background in advocacy for those individuals who are marginalized. Katie focuses deeply on who people are, where people are coming from, and what is needed to help get them where they want to be. She teaches Social Role Valorization and uses these principles to enhance her work of supporting people with disabilities to acquire and maintain valued social roles. Katie has spent her career supporting children and adults with developmental disabilities to be integrated and included in their communities. katiechandler.sun@gmail.com
Caitlin Childs
Caitlin is a Community Organizer and Freelance Consultant based in Atlanta, GA. She has been active in social justice movements for nearly 20 years and has dedicated most of the past decade to working in disability communities. She was the founding Director of the Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities’ Real Communities Initiative, which was awarded the 2016 Full Community Inclusion award by the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. Caitlin is deeply committed to relationship building as the foundation of community building and social change work. She is passionate about interdependence, intersectionality and building movements that cross identity lines and support communities to create their own solutions to their problems, particularly in the South. caitlinchilds.sun@gmail.com
Caitlin is a Community Organizer and Freelance Consultant based in Atlanta, GA. She has been active in social justice movements for nearly 20 years and has dedicated most of the past decade to working in disability communities. She was the founding Director of the Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities’ Real Communities Initiative, which was awarded the 2016 Full Community Inclusion award by the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. Caitlin is deeply committed to relationship building as the foundation of community building and social change work. She is passionate about interdependence, intersectionality and building movements that cross identity lines and support communities to create their own solutions to their problems, particularly in the South. caitlinchilds.sun@gmail.com