In 2013, our family of four made Nanaimo home. Myself and hubby have medical backgrounds, which had given us book knowledge of childhood disabilities—but our son gave us a deeper understanding of living and thriving with one. Our elder son has been a steadfast advocate and supporter for his brother since childhood, Inspired by our son’s Oro-motor needs, my husband pursued a career in compounding pharmacy to support him and others with swallowing challenges and my journey is fueled by a commitment to understand the processing strengths of children with severe autism, and using those effectively to overcome their learning deficits, training and empowering families, and fostering inclusion, so everyone can thrive.

Over the past 25 years, I’ve worn various hats as a guide and supporter for families with a member who has a disability. From volunteering to working with organizations in the disability community, I’ve been privileged to help families navigate challenges, find resources, and build resilience. Today, I serve as a Board Member at Plan Institute, Family Support Coordinator at NACL.

Teaching is another passion I hold dear. I’ve led numerous workshops, discussion forums and webinars for families and paraprofessionals on topics related to various aspects of Level 2 and 3 Autism. We build a deeper understanding childrens needs, refine interaction strategies, and collaborate on meaningful goals with the education system.