Welcome to my blog! Join me in exploring various pathways to hope and healing that can have an amazing impact on your child’s health and education journey.
We will be discussing everything from advocating for your child in a school setting to nutritional deficiencies and diet modifications for optimal health. We will also look at root cause analysis to further investigate additional strategies that will help your child thrive rather than simply survive. Drawing from both my personal and professional experiences, I hope to empower, educate and support each of you on your unique journey. Let’s dive in and begin to level the playing field.
About Me
I am first and foremost a mom and a grandmother. My personal walk has included unexpected medical and educational challenges of those closest to me. I know what it’s like to hang by a thread having only my faith as an anchor because the journey ahead seemed so daunting. Like you, I’ve teetered on the edge watching a loved one struggle with health challenges wishing I had more control over the outcomes. I now have a five year old granddaughter who navigates unsurmountable obstacles daily with grace and dignity. I am hopeful that my personal journey will resonate with you but mostly provide insight and encouragement moving forward.
Secondly, my life’s work as an educator has focused on children with special needs and their families. I have a dual BS degree in Special Education and Elementary Education. My Masters degree is in the Supervision of Special Education. I hold 13 additional endorsements in both teaching and administration. I began my career working as a special education teacher. I have also worked as a reading teacher; trained in both Orton Gillingham and Reading Recovery. I ‘ve worked as a developmental therapist as part of an early intervention team. I have supervised special education programs at two different school districts encompassing all disability areas at all levels. I’ve worked as both a teacher and a supervisor at every level ranging from preschool through high school. I have worked as an assessor administering the Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS) for preschool classrooms. The focus of the CLASS was on teacher-student interactions proven to drive learning and development. I have been an adjunct professor at the university level and also supervised student teachers at the elementary level. I have worked as an Elementary Assistant Principal and at the Department of Education as an Early Childhood Specialist. Privately, I worked as an advocate for parents of special needs children helping them to navigate eligibility and IEP meetings within the public school setting. I have a Health Coaching certification that is focused on the “Childhood Epidemics” which has integrated my passion for optimal health with my love for children with special needs. I believe that the mind and body are intertwined synergistically and are interdependent on one another in achieving the milestones needed to level the playing field. Let’s discover some of these as we embark upon this journey together.
-Dianne Gaudiose
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