Special Education/Expert Profile

Expertise

How to navigate schools and other agencies. Special ED Law, ADHD/ADD, Executive Function, Bipolar Disorder, Autism, OCD, ODD, 504, Psycho-educational evaluation, neuropsychological evaluation, adoption, advocacy

Experience in the area

Since 2004, I have been in private practice as an Educational Therapist, Special Ed Parent Coach/Advocate and Consultant. Develop and lead workshops and retreats, live/ tele-phonic seminars • Individual and group coaching to parents of children with special needs • Weight Loss/Health Coach- Take Shape For Life • ADHD Family on Line Special Education Consultant And Contributor I’m also an adoptive parent of a child with special needs.

Organizations

Association of Educational Therapists Associate Member (AET) Greater Boston Association of Educational Therapists (GBAET) Special Advocates Network Board Member (SPaN) Massachusetts Association of Parent Advisory Councils Member (MASSPAC) Massachusetts Public Health Association Member (MPHA) The Youth Centered Suicide Prevention Program Steering Committee Member

Publications

• Your Child’s Mental Health and Learning… There is a Connection Five Steps you can take immediately to get Your Child the Services they Need ADHD Family Report December 2009 • ADHD, Executive Function, and Multi-tasking… What’s the Connection? And how does it play out in your child’s IEP? ADHD Family Report Newsletter November 2009 • Educational Therapy that Addresses Complex Profiles- AET Journal (January 2009) • Coming Full Circle: A Mother’s Journey www.mykidsupport.com (December 2008) • Parenting Power Hour –Guest Speaker, Waterford, CT Public Access TV (November 2008) • The 7 Secrets of Powerful Parenting Tele seminar Guest Speaker (October 2008) • Leave Your Hankie at the Door…The ABCs on How to Prepare for Your Child’s School Team Meeting Free Report (May 2008)

Education/Credentials

I received a Graduate Certificate in Educational Therapy from Curry College Milton, MA in 2007, a Masters in Public Health from Boston University School of Public Health in 1984, and a BA in American Studies/ Women Studies from the State University at Buffalo in 1975.

Awards and Honors

Team member recipient of Commonwealth of Massachusetts Performance Recognition Award for designing and implementing a non-name based system of HIV surveillance (1999). Recipient of Commonwealth of Massachusetts Performance Recognition Award for Outstanding Performance (1995) • Recipient of HCHP Diamond Award for outstanding management staff person (1983).