Team Leader Profiles and Fellow Profiles

Daniel Ekman
Daniel Ekman is a self-advocate who, in addition to his role at the NMDDC, is also the co-chair of the New Mexico Developmental Disabilities Supports Division’s (NMDDSD) Advisory Council on Quality (ACQ) and the NMDDC representative on the Behavioral Health Planning Council. He was previously a LEND Diversity Fellow for the New Mexico Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (NMLEND) and is their current Self-Advocate Faculty Member. He has served in numerous officer positions for the New Mexico Allies for Advocacy and is a member of the Jemez Vocational Rehabilitation Advisory Council. Other groups with which he has served include the New Mexico Autism Society, People First of New Mexico and New Mexico Young Disability Leaders. He holds a master’s degree in Special Education from the University of New Mexico and won the 2013 Outstanding Student with a Disability Award from the Southwest Conference on Disability. He previously won the 2011 Bob Thomas Achievement Award from The Arc of New Mexico and the Liz Thomson Award from Partners in Policymaking. He has conducted presentations and served on panels at numerous statewide, regional and national conferences. 
 

Lindsay Sloan 
Lindsay Sloan was born and raised in the northwest suburbs of Chicago, where she spent her childhood with her parents, her older brother Luke and a menagerie of animals.  She graduated from Colorado Christian University in 2009 with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a minor in Biblical Studies. Lindsay moved to Albuquerque in June, 2010, and quickly began volunteering with a cross-disability advocacy group for youth, helping to create a disability awareness curriculum geared toward kindergarten through 5th grade students. Her knowledge and drive to be a more effective advocate grew after graduating from Partners in Policymaking in 2012, where she focused on helping to align New Mexico state legislation regarding service animals with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Lindsay has worked at the DDC’s Center for Self-Advocacy Program since 2015, first as an Advocate Trainer, and now as the Outreach Coordinator.  “I have always had a heart and passion for social justice and for helping marginalized people find their voices. I feel very blessed that I can use that heart and passion to affect change within my own community.” 
 

Vashad Frink 
Vashad Frink is an employee at DDC and was a team leader for the Advocacy Leadership Academy. He was born in Hollywood, California and grew up in Eagle Rock, California (just west of Pasadena). He was born with autism and didn’t speak until he was six years old. The hardships he endured growing up in California and New Mexico, including severe physical and mental bullying, ultimately led him to drop out of school. But he persevered, went back to high school online and received his high school diploma. He became stronger and more optimistic, converting his challenges into ambition and action.
Vahsad’s  determination and persistence help him achieve whatever he sets out to accomplish. His goal is to become an  entrepreneur, own a business and advocate for those who can’t advocate for themselves. His many hobbies include a love of writing, singing, playing sports and sketching different characters and industrial designs. He has infinite talents and shows no signs of slowing down or settling just yet.