I first got introduced into the world of special needs when I was 8. We had friends with two non-verbal sons my age and I would hang out with them when our families would spend time together. When I was 11, I was asked to volunteer in a special education classroom and throughout the rest of my middle/high school career I had at least one class each semester volunteering in a moderate/intensive classroom (reading, life skills, gym, math, etc.). In college, I worked as a direct support professional in the home setting as well as the same company's day center. I volunteered as an assistant coach for a special needs soccer team (ages 3-8). I also spent times in elementary classrooms and adult learning centers throughout college. Most of my experience is behavioral, but I do have some experience with medically fragile children. The diagnoses I have worked with the most are autism and down syndrome. My degree was originally Special Education and when I changed, I minored in it.