Melissa's "WHY"

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My deep dive into all things special education began when my oldest child– then 8 years old–was identified as autistic. When a pediatrician suggested we have her evaluated, I was confused. How could my bright, hyper-verbal child be autistic? That initial question began my professional and academic journey toward understanding her needs and the educational needs of all children with disabilities. My interactions with the school system were incongruent with my growing knowledge of best practices and special education rights, particularly the constant confluence of academic achievement with educational impact. 

Those discrepancies between my informal learning and the schools’ practices launched my academic and professional journey to become a special education teacher and certified autism specialist. Today, I continue to learn about emerging research and barriers to appropriate, evidence-based practices in special education. My primary academic interests are post-secondary success, the functions of student behavior, and the relationship between behavior and unmet academic and social needs.

We, as parents, know our children better than anyone. Unfortunately, children do not come with directions--especially children like ours. They do not come with expertise in special education either. It is my privilege to leverage my acquired multifaceted view and expertise to educate and empower other parents to efficiently and effectively advocate for their children.