FULL ACCESS HIGH DESERT - Key Persons
Aura has worked within the field of Developmental Disabilities since 2003. First she entered the field as a direct support worker and then was hired as a Personal Agent in 2004. In 2008 she completed her BS in Liberal Studies and shortly thereafter went to work for Creative Supports in Medford. There she began specializing more with individuals on the Autism Spectrum and Asperger's Syndrome. In 2011, Aura returned to Full Access High Desert as a Personal Agent and then took on the role as Project Coordinator in 2014. Aura loves to get outdoors with her two kids, enjoys skiing, hiking and sewing when the weather outside is too gloomy.
Beth Rixe was a client with Full Access during her adult years. She was a joyful young woman whose disability took her life too soon. Beth was loved, loving, involved, active and independent. This was a result of the love and support of her family and also the services of Full Access.
Cassandra was born in the Snoqualmie Valley in Washington State and moved to Bend, OR in 2001. She considers herself an Oregonian by nature. In 2016 Cassandra and her husband moved their family to Madras, OR to provide the family with opportunities and a means to slow down and enjoy small town life. She has worked as a Branch Manager for a local I/DD Provider Agency, and as a Program manager for Supported Living Homes. Prior to joining Full Access, she was a Services Coordinator at a CDDP. Cassandra has always been passionate about supporting others around her and has held this reputation amongst peers even at a young age. In high school she was voted "Most likely to save the world" so it is not a surprise to family and friends that she continues to choose a path of advocacy. Cassandra has four children and two grandbabies. She has 10 pets and too many house plants. In her spare time, Cassandra enjoys traveling, reading, fishing, and being out in nature with her family.
Diane joined Full Access High Desert in September 2016 as Office Support staff. She has lived in Bend since 2000, via California, Arizona and Texas. Diane studied Elementary Education in college. Her Bend background has mainly been as an accounting assistance and customer service. Diane desired to be part of a human advocacy team which led her to Full Access High Desert. Diane and her husband enjoy the Oregon Coast and are college sports enthusiasts. However, her number one passion is being a grandmother…to six beautiful grandchildren.
Job Titles:
- Finance / Admin Team Manager
Francie began working for Full Access in Eugene in March of 2002. She made the move over to Bend to work for Full Access High Desert in January 2016. Francie loves the Bend area and enjoys the 4 seasons that the area has and says that she does not miss the Eugene grey clouds and rain. Francie attended college in Eugene and has worked in the accounting field "forever". Francie has a wonderful family with 2 daughters, 2 dogs, 2 sisters, 2 brothers, 2 nephews, multiple nieces, and 1 precious granddaughter. She also has an amazing core group of lifelong friends that enjoy traveling, the outdoors, and all that Central Oregon has to offer.
Heather Hopkins-Slechta, one of the original staff hired by Full Access in 2002, is the Executive Director of the new Support Service Brokerage, Full Access High Desert. After 13 great years with Full Access, she is looking forward to the opportunity for the growth of services focusing on the High Desert region. As a member of the ‘sandwich generation' it is very important to Heather, both personally and professionally, tthat services are available to support individuals to stay in their own homes or their family homes. She is a strong proponent of self directed services and advocates these services continue to abide by the original philosophy that created the brokerage system. Heather received her degree in psychology from the University of Oregon and has been working in social services since 1992. She has participated on several state and local advisory committees, as well as planning committees for state wide conferences, related to services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. After spending several years in the Willamette Valley, Heather moved her three generation household to Bend in 2013. She and her family very much enjoy the area and the outdoor recreation the Central Oregon and the High Desert has to offer.
Job Titles:
- Personal Agent / Community Engagement
John was born in Miami, Florida and earned his degree from Florida State University in 1996. John has lived in Bend since 2000, most recently working with homeless families. He is one of the founding members of Project Connect in Central Oregon. John came on board with Full Access High Desert in 2012. When not at work, John enjoys riding his bike or generally playing in the mountains around Bend. He is a father of two and also enjoys finding interesting things to cook with his kids.
Job Titles:
- Quality Assurance Specialist / ONA Assessor
After receiving her Bachelor's in Psychology from The Evergreen State College in Olympia, WA, Jordan had the opportunity to work as a behavioral therapist for youth on the autism spectrum and started mental health case management with clients a the county jail. Jordan recently moved to central Oregon to immerse herself in the outdoor lifestyle Bend has to offer. Jordan's passion is to work with individuals in the community who need support and resources and she joined the Full Access High Desert team in 2018 in order to continue this work within the central Oregon community. Jordan enjoys being a part of team with similar values and loves working closely with clients to make progress. When she is not working, Jordan enjoys playing hockey and doing anything outside. Central Oregon is proving to be a great move, being able to snowshoe, hike, and climb mountains are beautiful and thrilling experiences she feels lucky to have.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Joy moved to Central Oregon in 2013 after retiring from small business ownership in Colorado. It was a multi-generational move that included her husband, her mother, and her daughter. The biggest draw for the family was the reputation of I/DD services in the area and the quality of life that was available for her daughter, Monica. Being introduced to Full Access has been an enriching experience for everyone in the family. Joy has many years of service to non-profits in Colorado and comes to the board with a desire to help individuals with I/DD to live life to the fullest. She also actively participates with the fund raising committee for Full Access High Desert. When not at all these meetings, she and her husband, Rick, travel extensively and hike every trail they can find with their two Portuguese Water Dogs.
Judy has lived in Oregon for over 25 years. She and her husband now live in Lakeview and love the small town atmosphere and surrounding geography. Judy has worked with individuals with Developmental Disabilities for over 30 years and began in the early 70's in the State Hospitals. She is a mother to six children and has twelve grandchildren. She looks forward to delivering services to individuals and their families in the Lake County area.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Job Titles:
- ONA Assessment Specialist
Katie has lived in Bend since she was a year old. This equals a long time! After years of working in music stores ("make your own music" stores) she worked in a titanium foundry making parts for aircraft, the medical industry, and even the space shuttle! In 2005, Katie took 6 months off to travel around New Zealand and Australia, fulfilling a long-planned dream. She later attended the University of Oregon and graduated in 2008 with her B.S. in Psychology. In 2010, Katie was accepted into Portland State University's Masters of Social Work program. She also started working for Telecare as a Personal Service Coordinator, helping those with severe and persistent mental illness find their path to more independent living. Shortly after graduating with her MSW, Katie joined Full Access High Desert. She enjoys being with her "fur baby", Sydney Superdog, camping, fishing, letterboxing, music, movies and reading.
Lisa has worked for Full Access High Desert since 2009. She grew up in Portland and attended Western Business College in downtown Portland. In 2004, she ventured out of the Portland area to start fresh in Bend. Lisa loves living in Bend. She loves the weather and how it's stormy one minute and then sunny the next…that's Bend for you! She is very close to her family and spends a lot of time with them. In her spare time she enjoys baking, watching reality TV, playing on the computer and playing cards. Lisa also likes to travel to the beach as much as possible. She enjoys being a part of the Full Access High Desert team.
Mary is from the Southern Coast of Oregon. She graduated from Oregon State University with a BS in Anthropology and later obtained a MSW from Portland State University. Mary left Oregon in 1998 and lived in most of the Western states before moving back to Oregon to live in Bend in 2008. Mary and her husband, Michael have two sweet energetic children and a rambunctious dog. She enjoys reading, spending time outside and with family and friends. Mary has worked in social services for 13 years and hopes to have a long career supporting others as they help themselves.
Mia moved to Central Oregon after graduating from Eastern Oregon University with a Bachelor's in Anthropology Sociology. After moving to Madras and working for Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs doing Child Protective Services, she applied for and started working at Full Access High Desert in 2004. While working at Full Access High Desert she got her Master's in Social Work in 2010 from Portland State University. She has also done practicum work in mental health treatment both inpatient and outpatient, and positive behavioral support plans. As a professional in the field, Mia's commitment is to maintain the person centered philosophy and unique service delivery that Full Access High Desert has always provided. When she is not working Mia enjoys spending time with her dynamic and brilliant children, walking, anything related to playing in water, and creating beauty in a variety of mediums. Her favorite part of both life and work is hearing the stories of others, and learning deeply from the people around her.
Morgan was born in Southern Oregon and had the opportunity to grow up in; Nevada, Alaska, and Colorado through her father's career in the Air Force. Growing up surrounded by individuals with diverse walks of life gave Morgan a sense of understanding into the obstacles that individuals may face day-to-day and how each person you meet has their own unique path in life they have lived. After graduating from Oregon State in June of 2020, and earning her Bachelor of Science degree in Public Health, Morgan moved to Bend to pursue opportunities to be able to work with individuals with disabilities and provide support in any way that they may need. Prior to joining the Full Access team, Morgan worked at a non-profit agency working with the I/DD community working in direct care through Attendant Care, Job Coaching, Job Development, and then eventually as the Business Manager of the agency. Morgan is excited to be able to start this next chapter of her life with the Full Access team and be able to work alongside individuals with similar interests by providing support to the community here in Central Oregon. When she isn't working, Morgan is exploring the outdoors, hiking, or practicing photography.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Nick was born in Bend and grew up in the Sisters area. He loves outdoor activities like swimming, downhill skiing, camping and hiking. He also likes computers and anything to do with electronics. Nick is on the Planning Committee for Sisters Starry Nights. He helps with stage set up and loads in the sound equipment for the venue. He is also a volunteer for the Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire Department. Nick is currently a Full Access client and is the newest member of the FAB Board of Directors. He has, "lots of fun making kids and adults live their lives to the fullest that they can be."
Tami was born and raised in Springfield, Oregon. Tami has worked at the State Capital as a Legislative Aid, in the medical field as a Chiropractic Assistant, and, helped her husband run their Trucking Company. Tami attended college in Eugene, OR and received her degree in Criminal Justice. Tami and her husband moved to Central Oregon in 2006 and she worked as a Parole & Probation Officer for Deschutes County for 10 years. Tami came to work for FAHD in March 2019, so she could continue to serve and support the community she lives in. Tami and her husband have one amazing son and 4 beautiful grandchildren they enjoy spending time with. Tami and her husband enjoy the outdoors riding horses, 4 wheeling and traveling.
Zabrina and her family moved from Southern California to Bend in 2001. She attended Oregon State University Cascades Campus for her undergraduate degree in Human Services. From there she obtained a graduate degree in psychology. Zabrina previously worked in the mental health field before joining Full Access High Desert in 2014. Zabrina enjoys spending time with her family and takes pleasure in raising her niece and nephew. She loves Bend: "It's the most dog friendly place I have ever been to!" Zabrina takes delight in nurturing her black lab Juneau and two rescue kittens, Dante and Jasmine. In her spare time, Zabrina likes to take part in community events such as the art walk and historical haunt, reading, and watching Korean dramas with subtitles. Zabrina is excited to be a part of the Full Access High Desert team and looks forward to the genuinely rewarding experience that serving individuals provides.