Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) have distinct sensory needs that are often overlooked in urban design. While high-rise playgrounds address population density, they may create “play deserts” that limit opportunities for sensory regulation. This study asks how the absence of natural elements in a high-rise play space, specifically an eighth-floor playground at my internship site, a fully individualized “short-term integrated day treatment program,” per the website, impacts sensory regulation and perceptions of safety for children with ASD. Although cities like Los Angeles appear to provide sufficient green space through satellite-based measures, these representations fail to capture lived sensory experience. An elevated playground may register as open space, yet lacks the ecological and sensory richness of ground-level environments. Using ethnographic methods, including participant observation and sensory field notes collected in both classroom and playground settings, this study draws on critical disability studies, the social model of disability, and a neurodiversity-affirming framework. Preliminary findings suggest that meaningful access to green space is not defined by proximity, but by sensory quality and ecological engagement. This research highlights a gap between urban planning metrics and lived experience, emphasizing that accessibility must account for sensory and developmental needs, not just the presence of space.

Asian Americans are the fastest-growing U.S. immigrant community, yet their experiences with immigration enforcement remain underrepresented in public discourse. Amid intensifying enforcement and limited data, this project addresses timely gaps in how Asian communities, specifically Chinese and Vietnamese immigrants, are represented in immigration research and policy. Working with Asian Americans Advancing Justice SoCal, this project historically anchors recent patterns of Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention, removal, and enforcement. Analyzing Executive Office for Immigration Review court records and the Berkeley Law Deportation Data Project produces three key findings. First, it disaggregates enforcement trends by country of citizenship, jurisdiction, and detaining authority to reveal targeting patterns in Southern California. Second, it situates contemporary enforcement within the historical “crimmigration” framework, showing how racialized jurisprudence supports enforcement disparities. Third, triangulated data from the Asian Resource Hub and the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse maps enforcement disparities onto broader structural inequities and legal disinvestment, which constrain community capacity for self-advocacy. Findings are presented in a community-facing brief and interactive StoryMap. By grounding quantitative trends in lived experiences and sociolegal history, project findings strengthen evidence supporting impact litigation, legislative advocacy, and equitable legal services.

This project examines disparities in access to parent-mediated interventions for children with autism spectrum disorder, drawing from research and applied experience within the UCLA Parent and Friendship Program. Parent-implemented interventions improve social communication and behavioral outcomes, yet they remain costly, time-intensive, and inaccessible for many low-income families and communities of color. This research explores structural barriers, including financial limitations, limited service availability, and cultural gaps in care, that restrict equitable participation. Using scholarly literature and program-based observations, this project highlights both the effectiveness of caregiver involvement and the inequities that limit its reach. The findings emphasize the need for increased public funding, culturally responsive programming, and expanded access to ensure that effective autism interventions are available to all families. This work contributes to broader discussions of health equity and advocates for policy changes that support inclusive care.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that impacts social communication and interactions. Autistic children often have difficulties with social interactions and building social relationships. This literature review examines social networks in autistic children, focusing on the characteristics of social network systems in elementary-school-aged children. Common findings show that autistic children commonly have lower reciprocity of friendships, social network centrality, and peer acceptance. However, the successful implementation of school-based social skills intervention has been shown to significantly increase social network outcomes in autistic children, particularly regarding social network centrality. Current and future research focuses on how to successfully implement evidence-based practices in school environments to best support autistic students.

Despite being the single racial group with the largest economic disparities, Asian communities generally underutilize public benefits; This is due to both direct barriers (i.e. language and cultural barriers), and insidious poverty and immigration policymaking that construct a racialized threshold of “deservedness” for welfare recipients. Lack of access to public benefits leads to immigrant communities’ lower health and economic outcomes. Between Trump’s first administration, Biden’s administration, and Trump’s second term, rulemaking for public benefits eligibility and the public charge rule have changed drastically. California’s left-leaning policymaking provides further incongruence with conservative federal directives. My research aims to answer the following question: What challenges do Asian immigrant-serving practitioners face in delivering social services to their communities, and in what ways do they mediate the relationship between immigrant communities and the public benefits system amidst misinformation and politically volatile time periods? I conducted 10 interviews with LA-based providers that revealed 4 themes: organizational strategy, provider constraints, client barriers, and longer-term consequences of government mistrust. My research identifies how current policymaking creates deep fear and disillusionment for immigrant communities and those who support them, and how the localized relationships between providers and clients are integral in upholding the the social safety net.

Traditional healthcare models often overlook how Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) prevent low-income populations from accessing preventive care. This study evaluates how student-led, community-integrated models bypass these barriers to promote healthcare access.We conducted a mixed-methods study using surveys (n=106) and semi-structured interviews at four student-run health fairs in Los Angeles and Tecate, Mexico. Data included demographics, SDOH barriers, and post-event behavioral intent. Key findings include that 55.8% of participants face significant socioeconomic barriers, led by income (14.7%), transportation (13.7%), and work-schedule constraints (11.8%). The ‘all-in-one’ service model was identified by 53.8% of participants as the fair’s most valuable feature. Post-event intent was high: 85.1% planned to diffuse health info to social networks, 74% intended to seek follow-up care, 70.3% aimed to improve nutrition, and 62.2% planned to increase physical activity. Qualitatively, Spanish-language accessibility and a welcoming demeanor were cited as primary drivers of medical trust. Outreach results suggest non-traditional engagement via churches (43.4%) and family networks (22.6%) is critical for reaching Latino populations. Student-led initiatives effectively drive preventive health intent. By utilizing community-specific outreach and culturally competent, time-efficient processes, these clinics provide a scalable model for reducing Latino health disparities.