Since the age of six, I have been immersed in the world of educating children with special needs. At 13, I knew that I wanted to be a special education professional and by 15 years old I was an ABA teacher. As a result of the tremendously rewarding and successful experiences I have had working with and for my siblings, I have discovered that I have an instinctive and intuitive ability to communicate, teach, identify and solve educational problems to enact change. I have been commended for my ability to work beautifully with kids, teachers, parents, and other professionals.
I have continued to challenge myself personally and professionally in the special education process, experiencing every aspect of the special education spectrum, including the home, legal and school environments. In my undergraduate years at the George Washington Universtiy, at a master’s level at Lehigh Univeristy and beyond I have had the pleasure of working with all exceptionalities recognized under IDEA and others, including; Autism Spectrum Disorders, ADHD, Down Sydrome, Angelman’s Syndrome, Prader -Willis Syndrome, Dyslexia, Anxiety, Depression, ODD, Mental Retardation and Traumatic Brain Injury.
I believe in learning a child’s strengths first and using them to accommodate their weaknesses. I believe in the power of education and know what can occur without an appropriate school plan. Education affects more than the future- it affects a child in the present, often most noticeably in their confidence, self esteem and social skills. I believe it is the job of the adult- teacher, mentor, and parent, to learn what a child is communicating behaviorally and teach the skills necessary to communicate the behavior in a more positive way. I am an advocate for positive interventions, praise and peer relationships. I will continue to support families as they navigate the special education process, finding a way to assist in their child’s social, academic and behavioral growth.
I am the co-founder of Siblings R.O.P.E (Reaching Out to Prepare and Equip) a sibling support group for children with siblings who have autism. I speak at seminars throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey. I am also an active member in the Bucks County Autism Support Coalition.
