About

Education

BA History (St. John’s University)
JD (Hofstra University School of Law)
MS Special Education (City College)
MS Ed Special Education Leadership (Bank Street College)

I am the mother of three teenagers and have sat at the IEP table as a parent, teacher, advocate, and CSE Chairperson.  This has given me a unique perspective into the special education process.  I have worked in the field of education for over 20 years as a teacher, autism coach, and administrator, with a focus on children with autism.  In addition to being an advocate, I also supervise first and second year graduate students in their first year of teaching at both Columbia University and Lehman College.  I also conduct CPSE classroom observations in preschools as part of the evaluation process.

I have had the honor to present at Columbia University as well as in schools throughout New York City.  I have presented workshops on TEACCH, behavior management strategies, creating inclusive classrooms, co-teaching, and IEP Law for Special Educators.  I am trained in a variety of teaching strategies including ABA, TEACCH, Fundations, and communication systems, including PECs.

In my role as advocate, I have successfully helped parents negotiate the special education process for their children from initial evaluation through the IEP meeting.  I believe my role is to support you to become an advocate for your child.  This is done through pre-meeting preparation and modeling while also attending your child’s IEP meeting to advocate for the services your child requires.