My Experience includes but is not limited to:
• Parent advocate and spokesperson for disabled children offering a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and 14 years of dedicated service to the advancement of Human Services and improvement within the field of Education.
• Serves as an advocate and educational resource to families with special needs children. Offering a heart for people and a passion for helping people reach their full potential. Easily approachable individual offering hope, inspiration, emotional attentiveness, encouragement, emphathy, empowerment, and a genuine concern and respect for the family system, culture, heritage, and history.
• Serves as a leader of parent education classes and parent support groups focused on building skills, competencies, and personal development. Six years as Women’s Ministry Leader, Ministry Group Leader, Conference Spokesperson, and Marital Counselor. Bi-lingual in French with a working knowledge of American Sign Language. Additional experience as:
•Assistant Director of Admission
•Coordinator of AHANA Recruitment
•Assistant Director of a Multicultural Center. EXPERIENCE
BEGINNINGS FOR PARENTS OF CHILDREN WHO ARE DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING 2007-present
PARENT EDUCATOR/TRAINING COORDINATOR
Educate parents in the area of hearing loss. Support parents through the grieving process and provide information on communication modalities and educational placement decisions. Serve as resource for families, health professionals, early intervention specialists, preschool and school aged settings from birth to 21years of age. Provide consultation to educational institutions. Advocate for parents during the IEP process. Develop and conduct workshops and in-service training for parents and professionals on topics of interest as they relate to hearing loss and familial issues. NORTH CAROLINA DEAFBLIND PROJECT/PERKINS SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND 2002-present
Raleigh, North Carolina/Watertown, Massachusetts
FAMILY SPECIALIST
Support the State Deaf Blind Project. Provide technical assistance to families of special needs children by advocating for individualized services to meet specific needs of each child. Enlist community support and serve as a social service resource and an educational resource to parents. Train parents on Special Education processes and ways to negotiate and navigate the school to obtain specific educational services. Assist in developing workshops and conferences taught at the Center. Lead small groups using a “hands on” approach to educate and support. Lead workshops at conferences directed to sibling groups and parent groups. Manage a caseload of clients, provide child specific consultation, acquire information on issues of concern,and provided appropriate referrals to community agencies. Serve as a community resource and as a consultation to specific family issues. Serve on various advisory teams. Participate on parent panels, sharing information and personal experiences as a mother of a special needs child. FAMILIES FIRST, INC., Cambridge, Massachusetts2000-2005
WORKSHOP FACILITATOR
Worked closely with women in homeless shelters, single or young mothers, and parents from various socio-economic levels. Gained trust of parents through interactive skills, personal sharing, empathy, compassion, humor, and inspiration. Respected cultural differences, taking into account different values in regard to child rearing. Provided appropriate tools to accomodate different styles of learning. Developed specific curriculum and used the most suitable presentation style according to the particular audience. Assessed parental issues and concerns through interactive sharing. Provided private consultation after conclusion of the workshops. Guided the group process by breaking down
the audience into small groups, motivating participation and involvement, and providing groups with tools to problem solve real life or hypothetical situations. Provided literature, resource information, and biographies.
•Taught over 100 workshops on various topics related to parenting. Workshops included: Finding Joy in Parenting, Parenting in Uncertain Times, Single Parenting, Things Kids Do That Drive Us Nuts, Self-Esteem, Quality Parenting, Positive Approaches to Discipline, Positive Parenting, and Nurturing Yourself and Your Child.
•Advanced to Senior Workshop Facilitator. BOSTON CHURCH OF CHRIST, Roxbury, Massachusetts1992-1998
WOMEN’S MINISTRY LEADER
Conducted extensive Biblical teaching including personal and spiritual women’s discussion groups (one-on-one and group). Created quarterly workshops to develop spiritual growth. Analyzed ministry needs in conjunction with a team of ministers and developed inspirational program to meet the needs of the membership. Advised and supported families in matters of marital enrichment and child development including issues unique to children with special needs. Instrumental in developing an annual Women’s Conference, serving 1000 women.Trained, coached, and motivated group leaders on meeting the needs of their group. Served as a spokesperson on issues of spiritual growth and personal development to approximately 200 women attending a Women’s Conference.
•Increased membership in the Roxbury-International Ministry from 75 to 150 members within two years.
•Began as a Small Group Leader and advanced to Women’s Ministry Leader. EMERSON COLLEGE, Boston, Massachusetts1990-1992
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF ADMISSION / COORDINATOR OF AHANA RECRUITMENT
Promoted the college’s admission program through visitations to high schools, community colleges, and agencies nationwide. Interviewed and advised prospective students of the colleges admission policies, procedures, and programs. Coordinated recruitment for African-American, Hispanic, Asian, and Native-American (AHANA) students. Conducted Early Awareness workshops for students in grades 8 through 12 in Boston, Cleveland, New Haven, New York City, Maryland, and the entire New England area. Discussed with students the requirements needed for admission to Emerson College. UNITY HOUSE, New London, Connecticut1989-1990
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF MULTICULTURAL CENTER
Coordinated programming the center and associated student organizations. Developed and conducted student programs including Career Counseling, Student Leadership Training, and Sensitivity Workshops. Wrote and published the monthly Unity House newsletter. Served as counselor to students in regard to academic and personal matters. VOLUNTEER
EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF, Wilson, North Carolina 2005-Present
•Revamped an existing Parent Student Organization.
•Participant on the Parent Advisory Board
•Member of a Task Force Committee responsible for developing the National Agenda for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. MEMBERSHIPS
Triangle Church of Christ.
•Leader of the “Family Bible Study Group” with approximately 60 members. Position requires extensive planning and organizational skills.
•Conduct pre-marital, marital, and individual spiritual counseling. EDUCATION
CLARK UNIVERSITY, Worcester, Massachusetts. B.A., PSYCHOLOGY/SOCIOLOGY1985-1989
