Andrea Bonner is a service navigator and independent facilitator with NeuroNav. What led her to this line of work was her honest, warm care for other people, which is noticeable not just through her work but even in casual conversation. Her genuine warmth and care for others, evident in both her personal and professional life, naturally led her to a career where she could nurture and support people.
Andrea is the type of person who listens without judgment and thinks carefully before responding. She studied Sociology in college and worked as a teacher and ABA therapist before joining NeuroNav full-time and has received her master's in ABA from National University. If you ask her to explain why she chose this career trajectory, the answer to her is simple: She saw people who deserved help, so she helped them. This simplicity is striking– and refreshing. I come from a background of caregivers and teachers. My grandmother was a foster mother for over 10 children. Some of the children she cared for were neurodivergent, and I saw the compassion and care she provided to them. Seeing her compassion and care for others was inspiring, and these principles of compassion and caring for others were instilled in me as a child. Witnessing her compassion and care for others was a truly inspiring experience. These fundamental principles of compassion and empathy towards others were deeply ingrained in me during my formative years. Observing her actions and interactions with those around her taught me the importance of kindness, understanding, and selflessness. Her unwavering dedication to helping others, regardless of their circumstances, instilled in me a strong sense of social responsibility and a desire to make a positive impact on the world. Her direct and empathetic perspective inspires those she works with to do better for no reason other than her genuine belief in them.
We sat down with Andrea Bonner to ask her a few questions about her work and to clarify the Self-Determination Program. The following is a transcript of that interview, edited for clarity.
Tell us about your background and what led you to NeuroNav.
I have worked in many different industries, but I have always wanted to work with children and families in some way or capacity. So, I was working as an ABA behavioral therapist. I worked in the school system. That helped me understand what individuals with disabilities were facing, specifically what barriers they were facing once they got out of high school. I saw a lot of concern among the families. Many of them weren’t sure how to help their adult child. It was, honestly, very concerning to me. There were no resources to help them navigate that. And that saddened me. I've had the opportunity to work in various fields throughout my career, but my true passion has always been centered around making a positive impact in the lives of children and families. My journey towards this goal led me to work as an ABA behavioral therapist within the school system. This experience was incredibly enlightening as it provided me with firsthand insights into the unique challenges and barriers that individuals with disabilities face, particularly as they transition out of high school.
Witnessing the struggles of these young adults and the deep concern among their families was truly disheartening. Many parents felt lost and uncertain about how to best support their adult children, and the lack of available resources to guide them through this process was alarming. It was evident that there was a significant gap in support services for these families, and this realization fueled my desire to find a way to make a difference.
“I realized he can talk. It’s just that no one has taken the time to get to know him. I realized that he was capable of communication, but no one had invested the time and effort to truly understand him and connect with him on a personal level.”
I worked with a client who had autism and was struggling to connect with others. When I began working with him, the expectations placed on him were disheartening, and observing his educational environment, I could see that some people had given up on him. There was an attitude of defeatism, where many thought, “he can’t.”
But I felt like I just wanted to get to know my client. The staff had told me, “He’s nonverbal and typically stays to himself.” But then I got to know him, and I realized that he can communicate; it’s just that no one has taken the time to understand him. He has interests. He was interested in gaming; he liked Mario.
When I first started working with this particular client, who had autism, he was facing significant challenges in connecting with others. The expectations placed upon him were incredibly low, and it was disheartening to see that some of the staff within his educational environment had seemingly given up on him. There was a pervasive sense of defeatism, a prevailing belief that "he can't."
However, I was determined to approach my client with an open mind and a genuine desire to understand him as an individual. Despite being told that he was nonverbal and generally kept to himself, I made a conscious effort to get to know him beyond these labels. As I spent time with him, I discovered that he was, in fact, capable of verbal communication; it was simply that no one had invested the time and effort to truly understand him. He had interests and passions, just like anyone else. He was particularly interested in gaming and was a fan of Mario.
In the end, I saw someone who wasn’t engaging, and then after a year of just being listened to, he started saying good morning to people. And that change came from just showing compassion and just getting to know him. That inspired me.
And I also have a fantastic team around me. They saw what I was trying to do. Having a fantastic team that could help build and grow with someone like that was the turning point. First, I have always loved working with people. Then, I also love to see that change when it seems like there’s no hope, but there is. I live for that. I realized I wanted to work with individuals with disabilities. I was inspired by working with someone who was initially disengaged. After a year of simply being listened to, he began to acknowledge others, demonstrating the power of compassion and understanding. The turning point was having a fantastic team around me who could help build and grow. They saw my vision and supported my goals. I've always loved working with people and seeing positive change occur, even in seemingly hopeless situations. This passion led me to work with individuals with disabilities. I was particularly inspired by one individual who was initially disengaged but began to acknowledge others after a year of simply being listened to. This experience showed me the incredible power of compassion and understanding.
My incredible team's support was also instrumental in this experience. They recognized my goals and collaborated to support this individual's growth.
These experiences solidified my passion for working with people and witnessing positive change where it seems impossible. I realized my calling was to work with individuals with disabilities, driven by a love for human connection and a desire to foster transformation.
"NeuroNav can allow people to live more freely.”
In this role as an independent facilitator, you have to have that same mentality: Always have hope, don’t give up, and really care about these clients. I’m a big problem solver. Maybe I can’t always help with everything, but you weren't aware of a lot of opportunities here. As an independent facilitator, it's crucial to maintain hope, perseverance, and genuine care for clients. My problem-solving skills allow me to identify opportunities that Clients may not realize, even if I can't address every issue. One of the reasons I was attracted to NeuroNav was the organization's commitment to allocating funds and resources based on individual preferences. NeuroNav empowers people to live more freely. There’s a significant amount of bureaucracy within the regional center system. Despite the barriers our clients face, self-determination allows them the freedom to pursue their true desires in life. I don’t want to hinder these situations; instead, I aim to be a supportive advocate. So, when I discovered this job opportunity, I thought it aligned perfectly with my professional background and my passion for problem-solving and helping others. The role of an independent facilitator requires hope, perseverance, genuine care for clients, and strong problem-solving skills. Even if I can't solve every problem, I can identify opportunities that clients may not be aware of. NeuroNav's commitment to allocating resources based on individual preferences and empowering people to live more freely attracted me to the organization. While the regional center system is bureaucratic, self-determination allows clients the freedom to pursue their true desires. I aim to be a supportive advocate, not a hindrance. This job opportunity aligns perfectly with my professional background and my passion for problem-solving and helping others.
How do you view your role as an independent facilitator? What is your personal mission statement, so to speak?
I view my role as an independent facilitator really as putting the pieces together for people’s programs and ensuring that they have a smooth process.
I see the challenges. I’ve had my own challenges, and I’ve seen how the systems work. Sometimes, you think something will help you, but it doesn’t, and it just makes everything more complex. And I’m the type of person who wants to be as helpful as possible. So, I want to lead with compassion, hope, and care. To be an independent facilitator, you need those characteristics. I've faced challenges myself and witnessed how systems can fail to provide the assistance they promise, only adding to the complexity. My nature is to help and lead with compassion, hope, and care - essential qualities for an independent facilitator. As an independent facilitator, my role is to orchestrate the elements of people's programs to ensure a seamless process.
I understand the challenges involved, having experienced them firsthand and observing the shortcomings of existing systems. These systems can sometimes create additional complexities instead of providing the promised support. My goal is to be genuinely helpful and to lead with compassion, hope, and care – qualities that I believe are essential for an independent facilitator.
Can you share a success story you’ve had as an Independent Facilitator?
Through person-centered planning, we realized that one of my clients had a passion for art, and he loves digital art– that’s what makes him the happiest. So we worked with the regional center to get him resources for making digital art, and at first, we really had some pushback. It took a few months. Initially, the regional center pushed back on our request to get digital art resources for my client. It took a few months, but through person-centered planning, we were able to secure the resources he needed to pursue his passion for digital art, which is what makes him happiest. My client's passion for digital art was discovered through person-centered planning. We worked with the regional center to get him the resources to make digital art, as this is what makes him happy. Initially, the regional center resisted our request, and it took a few months, but through person-centered planning, we were able to secure the resources he needed to pursue his passion.
“He has friends. He didn’t have that before.”
When we first met him, he was at a day program he didn’t like, and he wasn’t engaged. But now he’s gotten into digital art, and he even sells his art. He does art galleries around the city. He has friends. He didn’t have that before.
What is one thing you wish more people knew about the Self Determination Program and NeuroNav?
I just wish more people knew it existed. The Self Determination Program is so needed, but there are so many complexities in the system.
If you’re navigating self-determination, an independent facilitator is a must-have.
It requires a lot of work to get into these programs. There's just so much– It’s so much for anybody, but especially if you’re a working mom or dad. The independent facilitator is really there to help take off the burden and allow it to be a smoother process.
As independent facilitators, we have a lot of experience working in self-determination, so we can offer our knowledge. We understand what needs to be done so that it can be done more quickly. It can be a lengthy program.
I feel like everyone at NeuroNav understands the mission. My colleagues are absolutely amazing. It’s great to be surrounded by a team of people who want to see a change and who want to help. Being in that environment and working with individuals like that, you’re inclined to be a better person and a better independent facilitator. The lengthy self-determination program can be expedited with the help of experienced independent facilitators, who can offer their knowledge and understanding of the process. The Self-Determination Program is a crucial resource that, unfortunately, remains underutilized due to the complexities inherent in the system. Many individuals who could benefit from the program are unaware of its existence.
For those navigating the intricacies of self-determination, securing the services of an independent facilitator is of paramount importance. The process of entering these programs is labor-intensive and demanding, particularly for working parents. An independent facilitator can alleviate this burden considerably, streamlining the process and making it more manageable.
Independent facilitators possess extensive experience in self-determination and can leverage this knowledge to expedite the process. They are well-versed in the requirements and can guide individuals through the program more efficiently. Without such guidance, the program can be protracted and unnecessarily time-consuming.
The team at NeuroNav displays a deep understanding and commitment to the mission. The collaborative environment fosters a shared desire to effect change and provide assistance. Working alongside like-minded individuals enhances personal and professional development, leading to improved facilitation.
At NeuroNav, I'm surrounded by an amazing team that is dedicated to making a difference. This environment inspires me to be a better person and a better independent facilitator. Everyone at NeuroNav understands and supports the mission.
Is there anything we didn’t ask you about that you would like to add?
I just want to express my gratitude for the opportunity to do this type of work, as it allows me to help others. Sometimes, I’ve tried to assist but it didn’t feel like I was truly making a meaningful impact. However, this work feels genuinely impactful; I feel like I’m making a difference in someone’s life overall. I am incredibly thankful for the opportunity to engage in this work; it grants me the ability to support and uplift others. There have been instances where I've attempted to offer assistance, but I didn't feel as though my efforts were truly making a substantial difference. However, this particular work feels profoundly impactful; I have a distinct sense that I'm positively influencing someone's life in a significant and holistic way.
“I’ve had some bad experiences and, I think… I don’t want that to happen to other people. I want to treat people like humans, with dignity and compassion. I want to treat people with dignity and compassion and like human beings because I don't want others to suffer through the same bad experiences that I have.”
Seeing the stories and seeing what some people are going through… I just feel so saddened by it sometimes. I can’t express some of the things I’ve seen and what people have had to go through. So, I’m just grateful to have the opportunity to help my clients get to where they need to be.
I’ve had some bad experiences and, I think… I don’t want that to happen to other people. I want to treat people like humans with dignity and compassion.
I’ve worked in schools where there were no systems in place and no structure in place to really help people thrive. NeuroNav is the solution to a lot of struggles that I’ve seen in the disability space, like limited resources. So, I’m grateful that NeuroNav has the expertise, and I’ve been able to help people actually live their goals and dreams.
It makes me so happy to see my clients do what they’re passionate about. Not everybody has that blessing, to have passions, so if you do, then you should have the chance to pursue them.
NeuroNav and Self Determination Program FAQs
At the end of the interview, we asked Andrea to share some common FAQs that she gets from program participants. Those questions and answers are shared below.
How does the Financial Management Service work? What is their role in the SDP?
The financial management service group is the group that pays out all the vendors, and they pay all of the employees in self-determination. So basically, they’re the HR of self-determination. They are the ones who, if you want to privately hire someone or find somebody and have them support your child or support you if you’re a self-advocate, you would go through the financial management service. And they would process all the paperwork for that person to become a W-2 employee, and they can provide care. That’s what makes self-determination so unique and great, and I don't think many services allow that. The Financial Management Service (FMS) plays a crucial role in the self-determination program. They are responsible for managing all financial transactions, including processing payroll for both vendors and employees within the program. Essentially, they function as the HR department for self-determination, ensuring that all financial matters are handled efficiently and accurately.
One of the unique aspects of self-determination is the ability for individuals to privately hire support staff for themselves or their children. The FMS facilitates this process by handling all the necessary paperwork to onboard these individuals as W-2 employees, ensuring they are legally able to provide care. This level of flexibility and control over support services is a key benefit of the self-determination program and sets it apart from other service models.
Overall, the FMS is an integral component of the self-determination program, providing essential financial management services that enable individuals to have greater autonomy and control over their support services.
Will the Self Determination Program pay for me, as a parent or caregiver, to be an employee and get funding to take care of my child?
If your child is over 18, then you can be “employed” as their personal assistant in the state of California and thus receive funding for your caretaking work.
How are we getting all of this paid for?
It’s funded through the regional center. So, the regional center will look at the unmet needs of the client and they determine a budget based on the unmet needs. Then, that budget transfers over to a spending plan. The regional center determines a budget based on the client’s unmet needs. This budget is then transferred to a spending plan, and the funds are provided through the regional center.
What else can I use Self Determination Program funding for?
Some cool things that I’ve seen the SDP pay for include:
- Swimming lessons
- Art classes
- A nice camera for photography
- Computers/ gaming computers
- Gear for streaming
- Funds to start a business
- Day programs
- Respite care
- Transportation
- And much more.
Of course, there are limitations, but if there is a direct connection to your IPP goals, it’s possible to get funding. How Self Determination works is very goal-oriented. So for example, you can say, I want a career in IT. I want to own my art gallery. I want to be a photographer. Then, the program is more open to paying for those needs.
Sometimes, things like day programs aren’t an excellent fit for everyone because everyone has their own passions. SDP is more personalized in that way. I have a client right now in voice acting classes. The SDP also helped him get into meetings and conversations with other voice actors. And he’s so happy. Dream big! You never know!
