Professional History
This showcases my employment and education experiences over the years. As I continue in my path, specific certifications will be listed here.
Employment
Consultation Training Associate: Anderson Center for Autism/ New York
May 2023 to Current
Another venture to be with my good friends at Anderson Center for Autism. Started out as some talks about the consultation team back in January during a resource fair to this route is certainly exciting. I always have a way with consultations and using my various experiences to help empower people. I look forward to help New York providers with my insights.
May 2023 to Current
Another venture to be with my good friends at Anderson Center for Autism. Started out as some talks about the consultation team back in January during a resource fair to this route is certainly exciting. I always have a way with consultations and using my various experiences to help empower people. I look forward to help New York providers with my insights.
Teaching Assistant: FOCUS Center for Autism/Canton, Connecticut
January 2023 to Current
My current job after Driving with Autism is going back to my roots and working for a private autism school this time around. It was much needed, and it has been a amazing experience so far. FOCUS knows how to handle curriculum for social skills and mental health, and they have active job coaching for their transition program, which I am part of.
Certified with the Connecticut Public Passenger Endorsement "A"/ Activity Vehicles Use as of April 2023.
ECHO Autism Team Member: Anderson Center for Autism
August 2022 to Current
I always knew about the Anderson Center for Autism for years due to Connecticut autism events and I always wanted to be part of them. When I was offered being a team member for their ECHO Autism program, there was no way I was going to let that go. The program helps promote the best autism practices and to support schools and providers with their individuals through monthly online meetings. I look forward for the next steps with them.
August 2022 to Current
I always knew about the Anderson Center for Autism for years due to Connecticut autism events and I always wanted to be part of them. When I was offered being a team member for their ECHO Autism program, there was no way I was going to let that go. The program helps promote the best autism practices and to support schools and providers with their individuals through monthly online meetings. I look forward for the next steps with them.
Consultant: Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
April 2022 to Current
I spoke with CHOP back in 2021 about their research as they were the main people behind research on autism and driving. I kept in contact with them and was given the chance to accept a consultant role for their latest research. It took a while to get my first assignments, but it was worth it, and it gives me a perspective to how research is conducted. While I wished I was able to talk about it more during my Driving with Autism days, this is more of what I prefer.
April 2022 to Current
I spoke with CHOP back in 2021 about their research as they were the main people behind research on autism and driving. I kept in contact with them and was given the chance to accept a consultant role for their latest research. It took a while to get my first assignments, but it was worth it, and it gives me a perspective to how research is conducted. While I wished I was able to talk about it more during my Driving with Autism days, this is more of what I prefer.
Founder: Driving with Autism, West Hartford, CT
December 2021 to November 2022
After my time collaborating with The Next Street, I wanted to start my own program and with Planning Across the Spectrum, I created Driving with Autism. it was intended to be an online driver readiness webinar series serving to help autistic individuals and their families navigate driving. I learned many business and social skills throughout the almost year I operated the program. While aspects of it on the business side could have gone better, it proved that the need was there for driving resources, despite families not being ready for it. Overall, I learned many lessons from this experience.
December 2021 to November 2022
After my time collaborating with The Next Street, I wanted to start my own program and with Planning Across the Spectrum, I created Driving with Autism. it was intended to be an online driver readiness webinar series serving to help autistic individuals and their families navigate driving. I learned many business and social skills throughout the almost year I operated the program. While aspects of it on the business side could have gone better, it proved that the need was there for driving resources, despite families not being ready for it. Overall, I learned many lessons from this experience.
Peer Mentor: Autism Services & Resources Connecticut, Wallingford, CT
September 2019 to October 2020
I always wanted to work for them, and I was able to get my wish by becoming a peer mentor for their young adult groups. I set up social outings in the community and facilitated social interaction with a fellow mentor.
September 2019 to October 2020
I always wanted to work for them, and I was able to get my wish by becoming a peer mentor for their young adult groups. I set up social outings in the community and facilitated social interaction with a fellow mentor.
Event Facilitator/Autism Transition Coordinator/Director of Community Outreach: Planning Across the Spectrum, West Hartford, CT
February 2019 to November 2022
This autistic owned financial firm was my introduction to increase my networking skills and learning how to facilitate events and workshops with organizations to represent the firm. It was also them that introduced my love for public speaking and to actively seek out those opportunities. My role there evolved overtime with their collaboration with The Next Street driving schools to do an autism program and to becoming a director of community outreach. With all the changes to the very end, my time there was impactful to my life.
February 2019 to November 2022
This autistic owned financial firm was my introduction to increase my networking skills and learning how to facilitate events and workshops with organizations to represent the firm. It was also them that introduced my love for public speaking and to actively seek out those opportunities. My role there evolved overtime with their collaboration with The Next Street driving schools to do an autism program and to becoming a director of community outreach. With all the changes to the very end, my time there was impactful to my life.
Job Coach/Paraprofessional: Plainville Community Schools, Plainville, CT
September 2018 to July 2020
This was my first major job at the public school system as a job coach/paraprofessional. I learned job coaching skills in their transition program for two years, along with being exposed to team collaboration for students. I worked with my supervisor, a transition coordinator who taught me several special education basics like data collection, fading from jobsite, levels of prompting, and knowing how to support student's needs to create rapport. I also learned on how to use the environment for not scripted independent moments for students at the jobsite. I will never forget my time there.
September 2018 to July 2020
This was my first major job at the public school system as a job coach/paraprofessional. I learned job coaching skills in their transition program for two years, along with being exposed to team collaboration for students. I worked with my supervisor, a transition coordinator who taught me several special education basics like data collection, fading from jobsite, levels of prompting, and knowing how to support student's needs to create rapport. I also learned on how to use the environment for not scripted independent moments for students at the jobsite. I will never forget my time there.
Program Clinician: Autism Families Connecticut, Newington, CT
Mar 2018 -Oct 2020
My first job interacting with the autism population. I was part of their Lego, track, and teen/young adult programs facilitating the activities and social interactions. I learned the basics of doing one-to-one assignments, behavioral plan, and interacting professionally.
Mar 2018 -Oct 2020
My first job interacting with the autism population. I was part of their Lego, track, and teen/young adult programs facilitating the activities and social interactions. I learned the basics of doing one-to-one assignments, behavioral plan, and interacting professionally.
Education
Manchester Community College
Associate of Science in Disability Specialist
2013-2018
The place where my path started. I wanted to do something to break stereotypes and make a life out of it, despite not knowing how I fit in with the disability field. With a supportive community however, I made it work and by the end of 2018, I was already making a difference with my degree and networking.
Charter Oak State College
Bachelor of Science in Psychology
2020 to Current
I am over at Charter Oak to obtain my BA in psychology, which will set myself up for multiple opportunities in the autism/special education field. My main goal afterwards is to look at the certificates offered by IBCCES and trainings offered by AANE in Massachusetts.
Organization Membership
Current and past organizations where I was either a board member or regular member over the years.
Let's collaborative for your next event! |
Autism and Driving Resource Database |