My Story
Welcome and thank you for checking out and following my page! I am beyond excited to share with you about my journey as an autism advocate, musician, visionary, leader, and activist. My goal is for others to use my site as tool for those to view Autism Through a New Lens through autism education, acceptance, and inclusion. I'm thrilled to share that I am currently Miss Nebraska Volunteer 2024 within the Miss Volunteer America pageant!
Education
After graduating with honors at Eldon High School, I choose to attend Drury University in Springfield, Missouri. I graduated with a Bachelor's in Music and minoring in Communication.
Growing Up
I was born and raised in Eldon, Missouri, a small town located in the heart of the state. My parents always taught me to have an active role in my community and stay true to myself. I grew up with one brother, Brian who is my constant motivation and inspiration who has Pervasive Developmental Disorder-Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS), a form of autism. The care and compassion visible in the people around me strongly influences my dreams of helping people throughout my lifetime.
The sibling lens of growing up with an individual with a disability can be challenging and rewarding at the same time. Many skills learning in this experience including flexibility, kindness, increased empathy, resiliency, and a greater understanding for those who are different. As a sibling it can sometimes be challenging to find a way to communicate this unique experience or find a community of other siblings. Especially if a sibling is an eventually caregiver or is currently a caregiver for their sibling with a disability.
Autism Through a New Lens, combats stereotypical assumptions of autism while promoting understanding, acceptance, and inclusion. My mission is to support families and siblings with an autistic individual and share my experiences through the lens as a sister to a brother with autism.
Please feel free to share your stories with me and resources to add to the autism resource tab. I'd love to hear from you! If interested in booking me for your next event as a keynote speaker, entertainer, mentor, emcee, or as an ambassador for your program head over to contact listed above in the navigation menu.