Supporting Education. Embracing Differences. Strengthening Families
Hi There,
I’m Shannon!
I’m a family mentor, special education consultant, and trainer, bringing both professional expertise and lived experience as a mom to young adults, teens, and tweens with brain-based differences
I support parents of children, teens, and young adults with brain-based differences by making the science of the brain-body connection simple and practical.
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My work is grounded in research, observation, and a deep respect for the individuality of each child and family. I help parents better understand how their child’s brain works, apply strategies that meet their unique needs, and strengthen the parent-child connection along the way.
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This same personalized, compassionate approach also guides my work in schools. As a non-attorney special education consultant, I partner with families to ensure their child’s educational needs are truly being met. I provide parent coaching and support, review educational data and assessments, attend school meetings, and help develop behavior support plans tailored to each child’s brain and learning profile.
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I specialize in supporting families and students living with brain-based differences
and behavioral challenges related to:
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Complex trauma
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Prenatal substance exposure, including alcohol
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Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD)
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ADHD and executive functioning struggles
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Memory issues
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Toxic stress
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Attachment-related challenges​
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Adoption and foster care
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My work is shaped by lived experience, professional training, and a deep commitment to helping families feel seen, supported, and empowered to navigate the journey ahead.
Ways To Work Together
Learning and the Brain
Children cannot learn when they do not feel safe.
Sometimes, intervention strategies and support services are ineffective for students, especially for students with complex trauma and brain-based differences. Evidence-based practices implemented by schools for years have historically worked for students with varying challenges. However, when intervention strategies are not working, it's time for a new approach.
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Children cannot learn when they are not supported appropriately.
Each student has a unique brain profile that shows up differently on assessments and observations. Looking deeper into to assessment data and observations, is a game-changer for students in need of different supports and related services. A brain-based, curious approach highlights the need for parents, school psychologists, administrators, and educators to approach each behavioral communication and symptom with curiosity and question. A brain-based approach emphasizes identifying the student's unique brain profile and developing personalized strategies to support each student's learning and behavioral symptoms and communication differently.
From consultation and coaching to full IEP support and meeting attendance, I am here to walk with you and your student through the special education and IEP process.
Parenting and the Brain
What does the brain have to do with the behaviors I'm seeing?
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Research in neuroscience shows that brain development and behavior are closely connected. When the brain works differently, behavior often looks different too. By learning how the brain functions—and how changes in the brain can affect thinking, emotions, and actions—we can shift the way we parent, teach, and support our children.
This understanding helps us respond to behavior with more empathy and effective strategies, rather than frustration. Whether you're a parent, teacher, or caregiver, changing how you approach behavior can reduce stress, build stronger relationships, and lead to better long-term outcomes for children with brain-based differences.
Everything
Using A Brain-Based Approach
Years of brain research have shown that many developmental conditions are linked to real, physical differences in how the brain is wired. These differences often show up as behavioral challenges—but they are rooted in how the brain works.
As a parent of multiple children with brain-based differences, I’ve experienced this firsthand. By learning how the brain affects behavior and applying practical strategies at home, our family has moved from constant frustration to greater connection.
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This same approach works in schools too. When students are given the right supports, we see stronger relationships, improved learning, and more positive behavior. With the right tools and understanding, meaningful change is possible—for families, teachers, and most importantly, for the kids.
