About Me

Josh (left) and Emily (right) as kids.

inspiration

My brother and I have always been inseparable. When I came home from the hospital Josh thought I was the coolest thing on the planet. As I grew, I always wanted to do whatever Josh did. When he stopped bottle-feeding so did I; when he wanted to sleep on the floor, I put my mattress right next to his. We were always together.

 
Emily (Left) and Josh (right) as adults.

Josh isn’t a typical big brother; Josh has autism. He didn’t do all the regular kid stuff; he did other things instead and I happily joined him. I tagged along to Josh’s numerous appointments, excitedly participating during play therapy. As we got older, we continued to play together at summer camp; I proudly applauded him at his Bar Mitzvah; I cheered for him and his friends at Special Olympics; I celebrated his high school graduation and later his 5- and 10-year anniversaries at his job; we routinely wear matching Halloween costumes. I always saw (and see) Josh as my cool older brother.

Experience

I have wanted to work with people with disabilities for my entire life. Excluding growing up with my autistic older brother, I have 18 years of experience working with teens and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. I spent nearly all of my free time during my teen years volunteering with Keshet, The Center for Enriched Living, New Trier’s ELS Club, and New Trier Special Olympics. I spent my summers working as a 1:1 camp counselor with NSSRA’s inclusion program and at Keshet Teen Camp. I’ve done multiple overnight stays through Special Olympics, ELS Club, and Keshet Teen Camp.

After high school, I held multiple roles at Our Place including intern, program volunteer, Senior Program Leader, Participant Support Coordinator, and Online Program Coordinator. I have extensive experience designing and leading in-person and online recreation programs with groups ranging in size from 3 to 30+ individuals. Programs include art and creative expression, dance and physical fitness, cooking, laundry, shopping, relationships, conversation skills, and emotional regulation.

I am knowledgeable in creating supports independently as well as through collaboration with behavior analysts and occupational therapists. Some of the supports I have created include schedules, social stories, behavior support plans with positive reinforcement, and sensory diets.

I also have experience as a job coach at multiple sites. I have coached a small group hanging and organizing clothes in a thrift shop storefront; coached a small group doing inventory, stocking, and shelving at a food pantry; and coached an autistic individual with little computer knowledge doing data entry at a bank.