My Story

I hold two degrees, Psychology and Social Work from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and a Master of Social Service (same as a Master of Social Work) degree from Bryn Mawr College. 

My work history includes hospitals, inpatient psychiatry, outpatient therapy, juvenile court, and in-home behavior therapy settings.  Early in my career, I became a Certified Substance Abuse Counselor. I was a “Substance Abuse Program Director” at a locked residential treatment center for adolescents. 

I became a mother and our family moved overseas for my husband’s work.  My son, now 18 and about to graduate from high school, was diagnosed with autism at the age of 4 years.  He also has dyslexia, dysgraphia, executive functioning issues, working memory issues, auditory and visual processing problems, anxiety and depression.

My daughter, who graduated from UCLA in 2020 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, was diagnosed with dyslexia and dysgraphia when she was in second grade.  She also has anxiety and depression. I have advocated for my kids to receive needed services in international, private, public, and Christian schools.  My son even went to a specialized school, in Switzerland, where another American mom and I advocated to start a parent support group. The head of the school said nobody would be interested, but we had a packed house from the start!  Parents took off work to join us! I have lived in 4 countries and 4 states with my children. 

My son graduated from Trinity Prep in 2019. He is taking classes at Central Piedmont Community College and is working at Fresh Market. 

I have had to fight to level the playing field for my children, in some way, in each place.

During a particularly difficult time in my son’s education, I took my all my negativity, anger, frustration and isolation and tried to use that energy to help others.  I joined forces with Georgann Mire, an education consultant, advocate and amazing human being, to start the Greater Baton Rouge Learning Disabilities Coalition (www.ldhelp.org).  I was also honored to serve on the Board of Directors for Louisiana Key Academy (a school for children with dyslexia, using evidence based teaching techniques in cooperation with the Yale Center for Dyslexia and Creativity).  I moved to the Charlotte, NC area in June of 2016.  To say that my son had a hard time in public school that year would be one of the great understatements in history.  With all of his diagnoses, history of treatment and special help at school, the public school refused to evaluate him for special education services through an IEP.  Three times!  He was suicidal, and began scratching big open sores all over his arms.  He failed several classes, having just been inducted into the National Honor Society the year before.  The school’s plan was to move him up to the next grade. 

I added the following to my personal experience:  “Hiring a special education attorney, filing a State Complaint” and “Suing a school board and district.”

I have learned and grown from each of my jobs, from my children, and from the schools they have attended.  I know how to find resources for families and build teams of support around children who are vulnerable and in danger of falling through the cracks (more like gigantic canyons) in our education system.  I am familiar with federal (IDEA, ADA) and state laws, policies and procedures for kids receiving, or being denied, section 504 or IEP accommodations. 

I am honored have relationships with the top Special Education Attorneys, fellow Advocates.

I am very happy to listen to your story about your child’s education challenges, and to talk with you about how my services could help.