I am qualified and love working with any children, and I have experience with special needs. I've worked at The School For the Deaf in White Plains, NY and also have grown up deaf. I now have a cochlear implant, so that my hearing is in the 90% range. My hearing problems have made me extremely visual and super-aware in situations where others might not be. This is particularly important working with infants and young children. Recently, my daughter, her husband and 2 young children lived with us for 2 years. I was often the primary care-giver for my granddaughters, the youngest of whom has speech, social, emotional and developmental issues. I reached her in ways others could not. Through love, patience and setting boundaries, I was able quiet her, get her to focus and encourage her to use words instead of screaming and acting out. 20 years ago my husband had an accident that left him a vent-dependent quadriplegic. These 20 years have given me enormous patience and understanding of.