United Nations Ambassador
Award winning public speaker, author, advocate, consultant, licensed master life coach, and mental health professional specializing in mindfulness based s*xuality with intellectual, developmental and trauma disabilities. Shana Boutté, MA, CAS, IMC, MLC
Award winning public speaker, author, advocate, consultant, licensed master life coach, and mental health professional
specializing in mindfulness based s*xuality with intellectual, developmental and trauma disabilities. BIO
Shāna Boutté is a mindful-based transpersonal mental health professional with more than 20 years of experience in a career focusing on those with intellectual, developmental, and trauma disabilities and specializing in s*xualtiy with autism. She received her Master of Arts, Clinical Mental Health Counseling Mindfulness Based Transpersonal Counseling Psychology from Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado, graduating with a 3.9 GPA, and she received her Bachelor of Arts, Humanities and Human Sciences at the University of Houston Clear Lake. She is a Cornell University Certified Americans with Disabilities Act Instructor, held a position as a Certified Autism Specialist for many years and completed her Dialectical Behavior Therapy Facilitator Training. She is a Certified Reiki Master and is also Courting Reiki Certified through HealCreateThrive in Boulder, CO. She completed her Protecting Human Research Participants certification. Other accomplishments include Interactive Metronome Certified, and she is a Certified Media, Film, High Fashion Make Up Artist through Award Studios in Los Angeles, CA. She has honors for life’s work and dedication to human rights causes, animal rights projects, environmental protection and tireless work with people with disabilities. She is a key note speaker at the United Nations "Empowering Women and Girls to Thrive Summit" and is a recipient of the National Presidential Humanitarian Lifetime Achievement Award and of the National Presidential Humanitarian Gold Award from President Joseph Biden, has two Presidential Medals of Humanitarian Honor, has the National Humanitarian Gold Award from Americorps , and is in the Marquis Who’s Who Publications Board for 2025 and is being inducted into the Top 100 Register. During undergrad, she received the University President’s Award for Community Service at Southwest Texas State University. She also received two City of Houston Proclamations, both prior to age 30. Coming from a nonverbal background, Shāna was diagnosed with 12 disabilities by age 24 and received an autism diagnosis at age 26. She has since been diagnosed with more than 13 disabilities. Due to being disabled, Shāna and her parents were told from the time she was in special education classes during kindergarten into resource classes during grade 12 she would never finish high school and was not college material. During her undergrad education, professors told her, "Get out of my class and go to trade school." Once Shāna graduated with her BA in Humanities and Human Sciences, she tried 14 consecutive years to attend graduate school for psychology, and wanted to focus on autism, a field she studied consistently years prior to her diagnosis. She was denied access to a master’s program every year because of being autistic. The dean of the program from the school where she received her bachelor’s degree told her, "Oh, it's great you want to focus on autism!". When Shāna explained she has autism, the dean then told her, "We don't deal with people with autism in our program", rendering Shāna hopeless in achieving her dream of attaining a master’s degree in psychology. She completed her master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling Mindfulness Based Transpersonal Counseling Psychology from Naropa University, graduating with a 3.9 grade point average and speaking at her cohort's graduation ceremony. She has been a public speaker for disability community since the age of 17, is a key-note speaker who presents at state, national, and international conferences, including the United Nations for Empowering Women and Girls to Thrive Summit. She is a published writer, and has appeared on television, radio, and in magazines both as a model and for her work with disabled populations. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND TRAINING More than 30 years Disability Public Speaking and 25 years personal development experience include: Developmental Disabilities Coach, Presentations, Social Skills Coach, Employee Training, In Home Training, Transitioning Skills Coach, Independent Living Skills Coach, Interview/Employment Coach, Disability Advocacy and Consulting, Personal Assistant, MUA/Modeling Skills for Gender Identity, Client Screenings, Community Relations, Family Support, Document Management, Project and Team Management, Press Office Management, Writing and Presenting, Promotions/Special Events, Press Releases, Media Relations, Customer Service. EDUCATION/AWARDS/ORGANIZATIONS
MA, Clinical Mental Health Counseling Mindfulness Based Transpersonal Counseling Psychology — Naropa University BA, Humanities and Human Sciences — University of Houston Clear Lake, Houston, Texas
Cornell University Certified Americans with Disabilities Act Instructor
Dialectical Behavior Therapy Facilitator Training — Noeticus Couseling and Training Center, Denver, CO
Licensed Life Coach — Elite Coach Seminary
Master Life Coach — Elite Coach Seminary
Licensed Weight Loss Coach — Elite Coach Seminary
Reiki Level 1 Through Master Level 2 Certified — HealCreateThrive, Boulder, CO
Courting Reiki Certified — HealCreateThrive, Boulder, CO
Trauma-Informed Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga (TIAVY) trained -- Jen Peters, Denver, CO
Protecting Human Research Participants — National Institute of Health Office of Extramural Research
Interactive Metronome Certified
Certified Media, Film, High Fashion Make Up Artist – Award Studios, Los Angeles, CA
Firefly Autism Internal Review Board
Colorado Goth Society Lead Mental Health Professional/Administrator
Colorado Goat Walkabouts Boardmember
American Counseling Association member
Autism Society of America member
Tesoro Cultural Center member
National Presidential Humanitarian Lifetime Achievement Award – President Joseph Biden
National Presidential Humanitarian Lifetime Medal of Humanitarian Honor – President Joseph Biden
Americorps National Humanitarian Gold Award
National Presidential Humanitarian Gold Achievement Award – President Joseph Biden
National Presidential Humanitarian Gold Humanitarian Medal of Honor – President Joseph Biden
Marquis Who’s Who Publications Board (2025)
Top 100 Registry (2024)
University President’s Award for Community Service — Southwest Texas State University
City of Houston Proclamations — Shāna Boutté Williams Day, May 20, 2000 and August 3, 2001
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE MA, Clinical Mental Health Counseling Mindfulness Based Transpersonal Counseling Psychology -- Naropa University, Boulder, CO
In Home/On Line Training for Social Skills and Independent Living Hands-on approach utilizing ABA techniques for individuals and small groups. Teach social and independent living skills, transitioning skills. Coaching for other neurological and psychological deficits including learning disabilities and vaccine damage. Specializing in s*xuality with disabilities. Expand awareness through marketing and promotions. Public Speaking
Promote awareness and understanding of developmental deficits through presentations on such topics as s*xuality with autism, bullying and abuse, MTHFR, and females on the spectrum. Advocacy/Consulting
Nationally educate school personnel, employers, family members and peers in understanding client needs, as well as educate clients of educators, employers, family, and peers needs from client, securing education and employment positions. Help clients attain and maintain government assistance. Personal Assistant for private school pre-kindergarten through grade 12. For college, all levels of higher education. Also includes work place and job skills training. Belk Model, June 2019-March 2020 Internship Direct client contact for in-home services for social skills and living skills. Direct Client contact on-site work assistance day program. Assist clients with appropriate behaviors in all settings for daily life. Trauma informed care. Community relations. Coaching, support and modeling of behavior through a trauma lens. Develop and maintain safe spaces for clients. Non-direct hours include daily reports, studying and knowing each client file and history, meeting literary deadlines, reading and viewing voluntary relevant articles, individual supervision, extensive trainings for working with behaviorally challenged clients, group presentations. Q***r Asterisk, January-May 2019 Practicum Founder and group leader of neurodiversity and s*xuality. Lead meditation for groups. Co-facilitate groups in q***r conversation and support q***r art group and q***r writing group. Direct contact with clients including s*x workers, non-binary population, gender exploration, gender preference, gender transition, safety around gender and supporting those who present differently in public than in a protected setting. Coaching for life skills, independent living skills and invisible disabilities. Create community networks and support within the q***r community, developing safe spaces. Initiative, Stafford, Texas 2007-2009 National Facilitator (2008-2009) Assistance, advocacy, and education through presentations. Nationally advocating for and assisting with Autism Spectrum Disorders and other developmental disabilities. Educate professionals in the fields of psychology and s*xuality. Support families and individuals affected by disabilities and vaccine damage. Expand disability awareness through public speaking, marketing, and promotions. Social Skills, Transitioning Skills and Independent Living Skills Coach (2007-2008) Hands-on approach for individuals and small groups. Social skills, independent living skills and coaching in groups up to six people, as well as individual sessions for people with neurological and psychological deficits. Administrative Assistant (2007)
In-Home ABA Training, Woodlands, Texas (2005-2006) Autism Internship Provide services for severely impaired non-verbal individuals. Skills taught include body language, eye contact, recognizing facial expressions, social awareness, auditory processing speed and accuracy, visual processing speed and accuracy, cognitive processing speed and accuracy, developing perspective taking, repetition developing fine motor planning skills, recognizing verbal cues. PUBLISHED WORKS Agosta, S. Snow Soldiers: A Russian Adoption Story. Introduction. 2004 Neurodivergent People and the Path to Employment, Shema Kolainu -- Hear Our Voices. 2020 Dr. L**h Koscielak, untitled upcoming college textbook, Approaches to Treating Autism. 2018 Garrett, E. The Princess Behind the Teardrops. Surviving A Violent R**e. 2005 Les Avenues Magazine, Fall Fashion Preview (Cover Article, art by Karl Lagerfeld). 2001
PUBLIC SPEAKING United Nations -- Empowering Women and Girls to Thrive Summit “How to Protect People with Disabilities from Partnership Abuse”, six appearances on the nationally televised show "Dr. Delagraentiss Presents", Texas State Autism Conference, Naropa University Cohort Graduation Address (Key Note), Sam Houston State University, Council for Exceptional Children at Sam Houston State University, Denver Academy, Driscoll Children's Hospital (Key Note), ESC 2 (Key Note), Houston Chapter of the Autism Society of American (Key Note), Focus Initiative (Key Note), various junior high and high schools greater Syracuse area, ASPPIE of Houston (Key Note), Houston Chapter of the ASA (Key Note), Anime Matsuri Autism Panel, North West Chapter of the ASA (Key Note), North American conference for homeopathic neurological developmental resolutions (Key Note), Naropa University (multiple presentations), Firefly Autism, sole mental health professional on the panel of the internationally broadcast forum regarding the exploitation and s*xual abuse of women and trans individuals in the music industry hosted by international DJ Lea Luna, autism fundraising presentations to various motorcycle clubs, multiple appearances on Twitch show Vinyl Resting Place, various modeling boot camps and self-improvement workshops. Topics include "Surviving, Then Thriving, with Autism and Learning Disabilities", "Preparing for Higher Education with Disabilities", “Introduction to Autism and MTHFR”, "Females with Autism" and "Bullying, Abuse, Sexual Abuse and Sexuality with Autism". PROFESSIONAL PUBLIC SPEAKING TV Vu, Field Correspondent, Jeri Duplantis and Todd Duplantis Texas Live, Field Correspondent, Mike Pierce The Next Big Thing Host/Development, JCP TV Six guest appearances on "Dr. Delagraentiss Presents"
COMMERCIAL Dr. Panzer, Houston Dry Eye Clinic, KTRK-TV
INDUSTRIAL Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion Spokesmodel/Lead, Jerry Vann Autism Awareness Videos Supporting Role FOCUS Initiative Visible Changes Hair Show, Premiere Model/Speaker, Van Angelita Designs collection Lead Angel Jagger Branch Videos (Military/Police), Lead, Layne Maier Branch Videos (Military/Police), Support, Layne Maier
VOICEOVER Series of Intros/Outros, Lead, KACC Series of Remotes, Supporting Role, KACC News Newsee/Lead, KACC Local Music Show, Supporting Role, KACC Periodic music announcements, Featured Guest, KRBE
TRAINING & TEACHING Vocal Performance, Dr. Robert Sharon Vocal Performance, Sue Cruse Vocal Performance, Debbie Stauffer Vocal Performance, Jeanette Chase, San Jacinto College Acting and Auditioning, Karen Gorme Television & Radio, Kathy Forsythe/Bill Lewis, Alvin Community College Theatre & Dance Movement, Dr. Jan Siddons, University of Houston Clear Lake Commercial Workshop, Karen Gorme Development to Distribution, Tom Vaughn, SWAMP, Rice University Low Budget Filmmaking, Andy Anderson, Mark Mahlo, Doug Bruce, Gary Watson, Jim Canan, Robert J. Castaldo, SWAMP, Rice University Jumpstarting Your Career, Morrie Warshawski, SWAMP, Rice University Gear for Short-Handed Video Production, Bill Howze, SWAMP, Rice University Emcee, Model/Media Coach, Choreographer of Runway Shows
VIA CHARACTER STRENGTHS | Self-Regulation | Spirituality | Honesty | Love | Leadership
Contact Shāna
www.shanaboutte.com
IG www.instagram.com/shanaboutte
