Josh is dedicated to advancing public policy and enhancing home and community options for individuals with autism and/or intellectual/developmental disabilities (I/DD). His commitment is evident in his leadership of a stipend program funded by the Arizona Independence Initiative enabling 10 individuals from diverse socio-economic backgrounds to live at First Place–Phoenix for two years, driving the gathering of data on the benefits of supportive housing environments.
As a member and now alumnus of the National Institutes of Health’s I-Corps entrepreneurship training program, Josh conducted research on the challenges faced by individuals with profound autism in hospital settings, highlighting the effects of inadequate staff training on their well-being. His work also includes collaborating with local alliances—with a focus on public policy—to improve access to effective and equitable healthcare for individuals with autism and/or I/DD.
A commitment to building and maintaining strategic relationships within the autism and/or I/DD community aligns with the First Place Global Leadership Institute’s mission to advance public policy initiatives that enhance access to diverse home, healthcare and community options.
Josh holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Arizona State University, where he contributed to research in social psychology with an emphasis on adult cognition and interpersonal relationships. His work drew from developmental, social and evolutionary psychology frameworks through his involvement in multiple research labs.