Expert Guidance

I am committed to providing the training, guidance, and hands-on support necessary for school districts to meet the diverse - and at times challenging - needs of every student. I am proud to have partnered with special and general education staff and administrators in school districts across Texas for almost 25 years. Contact me to learn more!

My Services

Program Support

I provide customized solutions to help create educational opportunities in which all students can excel. Whether it's designing a plan to meet the needs of an individual student, providing training and coaching to teachers, or developing district-wide programs, I am an extremely results-oriented professional. Through collaboration with staff and administrators, I define areas of need, make recommendations, and assist in the implementation, coordination, and analysis of solutions to ensure student and staff success.

Contact me today to discover how I can help!

Social Skills Groups

I am committed to improving the social and emotional well-being of students with disabilities. Developing and facilitating social skills groups is a passion and a joy! I have led community-based groups for almost 30 years - both privately and through public schools - and have co-authored two books on teaching social skills to students with autism. Let me help you support your students in this crucial area!

Training

I am proud to provide training to school districts and parents and family member alike. I train and assist teachers, staff members, and administrators working with students with disabilities on a variety of topics. I support parents and families by facilitating parent support group sessions and through In-Home, Community, and Parent Training programs. I am excited to help you provide comprehensive training!

Speaking Engagements

I am available to speak at conferences, parent support groups, community organizations, and staff development workshops. Contact me to learn how I can meet your need for an engaging, informative speaker!

Publication

This highly practical book guides teachers and other practitioners in developing and implementing comprehensive social skills programs for individuals with classic autism. This program was developed specifically for students with classic features of autism, who tend to learn best by participating in activities they find interesting, engaging, and part of their daily lives. As a result, the social skills are embedded in motivating lessons in real-life social situations, involving such things as learning to do something nice for others, working on a classroom project, or waiting in a cafeteria line. To make this well-crafted functional social skills curriculum even more relevant, it includes a comprehensive, yet easy-to-use assessment tool tied to IEP development using evidence-based practices.

Education and Experience

University of Houston

Master of Education in Educational Psychology/Special Education
conferred August 1998

Rice University

Bachelor of Arts in English and History
conferred May 1993

Certifications

Texas Generic Special Education, grades PK-12
Texas Elementary Self-Contained, grades 1-8
IBCCES Certified Autism Specialist #CAS179744

Private Consultant

Provide training and on-site technical assistance to districts and shared service arrangements across Texas
Collaborate with special and general education staff, campus leadership, and district-level administration
Listen to stakeholder concerns, define areas of need, make recommendations, assist in implementation and coordination of solutions, analyze outcomes, and modify the approach as needed to ensure student and staff success
Uphold confidentiality and legal guidelines at all times
Train and provide instructional coaching to special and general education staff and administrators to support their work with students receiving services under a variety of qualifying conditions
Develop measurable and observable education and behavior plans emphasizing a cohesive approach aligned to the general education curriculum and positive, preventative, evidence-based interventions
Organize structured learning environments that are conducive to the educational, behavioral, and social growth of students
Plan and present trainings in individual, campus, district, regional, state, and international forums
Employ web-based Special Education data management and Medicaid billing programs
Serve on districts’ Autism assessment teams

Instructor, Texas Tech University

Taught "Moderate to Profound Disabilities" course for senior Education majors
Mentored students desiring to teach Special Education

Special Education Teacher

Self-Contained Class for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders
Self-Contained Special Education Class for Students with Intellectual Disabilities
Content Mastery

Special Projects

Community-Based Social Skills Group Developer and Facilitator, 1995-present
"The Importance of Teaching Social Skills in Natural Settings", Autism Notebook Magazine, Feb.-Mar. 2018 issue
In-Home, Community, and Parent Trainer, 1997-present
In-Home, Community, and Parent Training Needs Evaluator, 2003-2012
Autism Supplement Data Collection system, developed 2008
Site Supervisor, Special Education Practicum for student pursuing a Master’s Degree in Special Education/Low Incident Disabilities at Texas A&M University, February - June 2006
Private Tutor for Students with Special Needs, 1999-2002

Workshops/Speaking Engagements

World Autism Organization International Congress
School districts across Texas
Texas State Autism Conference
Texas Council of Administrators of Special Education
Region 17 Summer Autism Conference
Parent Support groups

Professional Memberships

Council for Exceptional Children