The Employment and Community Services teams at Easterseals Midwest recently welcomed two professionals through the Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative (YLAI) Fellowship Program.
Made possible through partnerships with IREX and Global Ties KC, the fellowship connected Easterseals Midwest staff with international leaders who brought specialized knowledge, fresh perspectives, and practical resources to support the people we serve.
For four weeks, Easterseals Midwest hosted Dr. Bettina Capucho, a clinical psychologist and founder of Terapia Con Betty. During her fellowship, Dr. Capucho worked alongside staff to identify ways to better measure progress for adults receiving services.
She developed an Adaptive Functionality Assessment Scale that gives teams a more consistent way to evaluate communication, independence, social interaction, emotional regulation, and cognitive skills over time. The tool helps staff move beyond observation by tracking measurable progress and identifying opportunities for growth.
Dr. Capucho also created resources to support staff development, including recommendations for emotional regulation training, practical communication strategies, and easy-to-use assessment tools that can strengthen documentation and decision-making across programs.
We also welcomed Nataly Napanga, a neuropsychologist and founder of Splendia. Napanga specializes in dementia and cognitive decline research and service delivery. She led Dementia Training for Employment and Community Services leaders, helping staff recognize early signs of cognitive decline and better understand how changes in thinking can affect daily life and independence.
In addition, Napanga developed a Cognitive Activities Tool Book, a new resource that provides practical activities staff can use across multiple service lines to support cognitive health and engagement. View the Cognitive Activities Tool Book here.
The fellowship gave teams practical resources they can begin using today to improve services, strengthen documentation, and support informed care.
"The expertise Bettina and Nataly shared will continue to benefit our organization long after their fellowship has ended," said Abbie Whitney, Employment and Community Services Director in Kansas City. "Their collaboration provided valuable resources, training, and tools that will strengthen our work across programs."
As the fellowship concluded, both professionals left a lasting impact on Easterseals Midwest. Their knowledge, leadership, and commitment to service have equipped our teams with practical resources that will continue to benefit the individuals and families we support.
