Charlene Salazar (Active‐Broker)Hi my name is Charlene Salazar. My interest and influence to become aBroker is primarily personal due to history in my family, and my brotherwho has a disability. I grew up very passionate about learning differentsorts of disabilities and becoming familiar with the services my brothercould access that promote independence. My mother also works in thefield. My mother has been working in the field for many years, making adifference in these individuals lives which is inspiring. When growing upI was always very protective with my brother, due to the fact thatsociety did not understand what having a disability was. Having adisability and dealing with mainstream society can be extremely hardand challenging. A lot of people aren’t aware and educated in this area.As a Broker, I will be more involved in the community and help thosewho don’t have a voice and understanding of community resourcesavailable to them. I want to make a change in society and educatepeople more in what self‐direction program