42yrs

female

Speaks English

When I was 19 I volunteered at a children's hospital in the toddler autism intervention program and in their child care center. From there I was encouraged to take the required classes to at least begin substitute teaching for them, which I did and then I ended up getting my Bachelor's degree in Child Development. Part of getting my degree required several internships at various organizations that we were allowed to pick from. I volunteered at a group home for adults with autism; a high school for pregnant/expecting teens and teens already parenting; a safe house for parental visitations; Child Protective Services; and in a court ordered program for at-risk teens. I spent 3. 5 years nannying for a family with a special needs daughter which allowed me to work alongside her speech therapist, physical therapist, watch her hippotherapy, and learn some ASL at weekly ASL sessions I went to with her. I have always been drawn to children with special needs and/or less fortunate situations than typical children (i. e. foster children, at-risk youth).