Please welcome our fall 2015 MSSW intern, Nidia Heston as she joins the ASCT team! Nidia is going to school at UTA and will complete her internship from August to early December. We are thrilled to have her join us and her knowledge of navigation and supports for families will be a tremendous asset!
Nidia is a native Austinite and still lives in Austin with her husband, son and dog Mr. B. She is currently enrolled at University of Texas at Arlington in their Masters Social Work Program and hopes to complete that degree in summer 2017. Her Bachelors of Applied Arts and Sciences included major in child development and minor in human services from St. Edwards in 2013. She also currently holds Family Partner Certification with an endorsements in special education and juvenile justice through Via Hope.
Her personal experience with people and families with disabilities includes a brother who is severely impacted by medical and intellectual disabilities, a parent who has Multiple Sclerosis and raising a soon who has been diagnosed with Autism, ADHD, and mood disorder. Professionally, Nidia has worked as an Early Childhood Intervention service coordinator, enrollment coordinator at a labor and delivery hospital, children’s hospital and specialty clinic, teacher in early childhood development center, site director at an after school program, assisted parents find quality childcare, and assisted early education centers and homes provide quality child care services. For the last seven years, Nidia worked as a Certified Parent Partner for the local mental health agency supporting parents in the child and family services division. Currently, she is an AISD substitute and full-time student.
She and her family have greatly benefited from the Autism Society of Central Texas support and family events since its inception. She is excited to have the opportunity to serve in the capacity as MSSW intern and is looking forward to learning directly from the organization and its families.
She can be reached via email at Nidia@austinautismsociety.org or by calling 512-479-4199. Welcome to the team, Nidia!