Guest Biography
With over 14 years of experience in supporting autistic and neurodivergent individuals and families, I am the Founder and Program Director at IRL Social Skills, a company that offers evidence-based, parent-mediated, and trauma-informed social and communication skills training using current neuroscience-backed nervous system education and UCLA's PEERS curriculum. PEERS is a proven and effective program that helps socially struggling individuals learn how to make and keep friends, gain and retain employment, and develop and sustain romantic relationships.
As a neurodivergent educator who specialized in alternative and augmented communication (AAC) for nonspeaking autistic students and served on autism evaluation teams as a speech-language pathologist, I lead a brilliant and diverse team of professionals who understand first-hand the challenges and opportunities of navigating our strange, sensational social world. I also serve as a member of the Oregon Commission for Autism, where I advocate for representation, resources, and support for the autistic community. My mission is to create a kinder, more inclusive world where everyone can thrive.