Supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities has been my greatest joy and purpose—empowering them to live meaningful and self-directed lives, experience personal growth, and be valued as active, contributing members of their communities where their voices, choices, and achievements are truly celebrated.
An intellectual or mental health diagnosis is not about limits. It’s an invitation to meet people where they are with care, compassion, empathy, and unwavering support. Together, we dismantle stigma and shame, create space for honest dialogue and advocacy, and affirm this conviction: a diagnosis is not a barrier, but a bridge to possibility.
True healing happens when we show up wholeheartedly not just to address needs, but to care with intention and compassion. Every person carries a story of strength, and every nurse helps write a chapter of hope.
Not all disabilities are visible or look the same. Be kind to those who communicate differently. Inclusion through meaningful experiences fosters awareness, builds understanding, and inspires positive change—ensuring that all people, in all their differences, are truly seen and valued.
When completing my degree in early childhood special education, I realized we were teaching children who couldn’t yet tie their shoes or feed themselves or know how to do math. I’m passionate about shifting that focus—teaching life, not just lessons. If we prepare people for independence, we reduce dependency and increase dignity. That’s real education.
Behavior change begins with human connection. When we see the person before the plan, we open the door for meaningful progress that extends beyond therapy and into every aspect of life. As a clinical leader, my goal is to cultivate that same empathy and intentionality within every clinician supervised, so our collective impact is felt in the lives we serve. I strive to model this belief across every program I oversee, ensuring that our teams focus on human potential rather than limitation.
Each and every person deserves the support they need to thrive, and it brings me great joy every day to support individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities and those experiencing mental health challenges. Providing supportive resources can make all the difference in the world to improve someone’s quality of life. All it takes is encouraging self-advocacy.
CRi’s staff are our unsung heroes, and I love championing them and their strengths. When developing training, I visit them at their sites and include them in presentations. Our teams learn best from their peers – and participation creates motivation and encouragement.
