My name is Jessica Summers, and I am a former Special Education teacher, Early Intervention Service Coordinator and Autism Research Coordinator. Here’s the short version of my story.
Growing up, I saw my grandma caring for my Aunt Carol who had Down’s Syndrome. I heard stories about her standing up to doctors, the community, the school, etc. I was in awe of my grandma for being a force to be reckoned with for my aunt.
In middle school and high school I was led to coach Special Olympics in track and field and bowling. As an undergraduate at UNC- Chapel Hill, I took a course on Autism and was able to shadow several therapists at TEACCH. I served children and their families in the community that qualified for respite and other services through the ARC of Orange County during and after my undergraduate career. For the next 18 years, I worked in developmental disabilities case management, research of autism and related diagnoses, early intervention and eventually special education after obtaining my masters degree from UGA. Most recently I’ve been a research coordinator for NIH studies on Autism, ADHD and Anxiety in young children at the Duke Center for Autism and Brain Development.
During every step, the constant thread was the joy I felt when I was able to support parents being parents. When I could stand by a parent and help them make their lives better and more fulfilling with their child after a diagnosis. I am a parent myself and have dealt with an IEP, 504 and various professionals trying to give diagnoses I agreed or disagreed with. I have experience navigating this world and also the foster care/adoption world. More recently, I had a premature daughter and navigated the NICU and life after the NICU- specialists, developmental evaluations and keeping my child on track.
Nothing about parenting is easy, but add in a diagnosis you weren’t planning for- the world just stops. You walk out with paperwork that lists next steps, but unless you have hours to do research or friends that work in the field of your child’s diagnosis, it’s like stepping into a foreign country. You are already lacking time, sleep, and can’t afford to have a 2nd full time job of doing research and trial and error. That’s where I come in and hold your hand as we figure it out together. I’ve lived this, I’ve been in this world both professionally and personally and I know how to speak the language.
Interested in my professional experience? Feel free to check out my Linkedin Profile that contains my CV.