Carolyn, her husband, her two kids, and their dog sitting on an outdoor sofa

My Story

My life has been immersed in the world of neurodiversity for as long as I can remember. My sibling Mikey, just 20 months younger than I, was born with Down syndrome which inevitably set my life and career path in motion. Our unbreakable bond has been the foundation for each step that I have taken.

I began as a playmate and teacher to my brother. His world was my world and I shared in all aspects of his life both through volunteering and eventually in pursuant to my educational career.

I became a special education teacher at the same school Mikey attended eager to give back to the same community that had such a positive impact on our family. When I realized I wanted to have a broader impact, I moved beyond the classroom so I sought out my advanced degree.

As a vocational rehabilitation counselor working in the community, I could apply concepts taught in the classroom that would have practical life impacts. It was through those experiences where I continued to encounter the same challenge: barriers to living and working in the community due to challenging behavior.

So again, I went back to school and became a Board Certified Behavior Analyst to better understand the impact of behavior all around us. It is here where I could support individuals to reach their own autonomy.

Then everything changed.

Our son was born with a sensorineural hearing loss at birth and later given a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder. I suddenly could see from a lens that I could not have before.