About me

As a freshman in high-school, I had to choose a volunteer position to fulfill a curriculum requirement. I was unsure of what I wanted to do and tentatively chose to work at a program for people with developmental disabilities. I was hooked. I worked my way up in the same organization and was eventually responsible for recreation programs servicing approximately 75 people with various diagnoses. In my work, I have encountered people with Autism Spectrum Disorders, Cerebral Palsy, Down's Syndrome and rare genetic diseases. I have studied and used various therapeutic modalities including Applied Behavioral Analysis and DIR/Floortime.

I excel at engaging children in a way they find fun and am conscious of how my interventions are scaffolded to help children progress developmentally. Additionally, I am constantly finding teaching opportunities disguised as everyday occurrences. For example, in my current position as a nanny, I used a child's interest in animals to achieve progress in academic goals. I introduced him to a local animal shelter where he needs to sign in and read information on each animal. Additionally, when he interacts with the animals I point out how they are communicating with him non-verbally. This has translated to helping him look for nonverbal social cues in his interactions with his peers. I am flexible in my approach and believe that consistency is important. I am passionate about helping children and believe that every child has the ability to grow.

In addition to direct childcare, I also worked as a lifeguard in and taught a yoga-based movement class.