15+ Years Experience Special Education Life Skills & Mindfulness Coach

Desiree D.

ADHD

​I hold an Associates degree in Early Childhood Education with a major in Special Needs and have over 15 years of experience working directly with neurodivergent students, including those with ADHD. My background includes training in evidence-based strategies for executive dysfunction, time management, task initiation, and working memory support. I design personalized, strength-based learning plans that help students develop effective study habits, stay organized, and build academic confidence.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

Throughout my 15 years in education, I have dedicated a significant portion of my career to supporting neurodivergent learners across the Autism Spectrum in a variety of educational and community settings. My formal qualifications include an Associate Degree in Special Education, a Holistic Life Coaching certification, and six years of hands-on experience in a public school district's specialized life skills classroom. In this role, I worked extensively both one-on-one and in small group settings, developing low-demand, structured environments that accommodated diverse sensory needs, encouraged social communication, and built core academic and executive function skills. Additionally, my background as an Employment Specialist allowed me to support autistic individuals as they navigated workplace readiness, job coaching, and career integration, giving me a deep understanding of how to foster practical independence across different stages of life. Building on this groundwork, my current focus includes teaching virtual classes tailored specifically to young adult and adult autistic students. These sessions center on strengthening daily living skills, self-advocacy, time management, and goal setting in an accessible, highly supportive digital space. Whether guiding high school students through assignment parameters or coaching adults through post-secondary transitions, my approach is always person-centered and grounded in patience, respect, and clear structure. By meeting each student where they are and honoring their unique learning style, I help autistic individuals cultivate self-confidence, develop sustainable daily routines, and successfully achieve their personal, academic, and vocational goals.

Career Development

I have dedicated two years professionally specifically to working as a Job Coach and Employment Specialist, partnering with students and adults with diverse physical, cognitive, and neurodivergent disabilities. In this role, I guided clients through every phase of the employment journey, from crafting targeted resumes and building job search strategies to conducting low-stress mock interviews and coaching them through workplace integration. I specialize in breaking down complex career transitions into manageable, step-by-step action plans tailored to each individual's unique strengths, communication style, and support needs. My coaching approach focuses on fostering genuine independence, workplace confidence, and self-advocacy. Whether working with transition-age high school students stepping into their first jobs or adults navigating career shifts, we work collaboratively to establish sustainable organizational routines, manage workplace anxiety through mindfulness tools, and build the practical communication skills needed for long-term professional success.

Elementary Math

With over six years working in elementary classrooms with K–6 students of all abilities, I’ve seen how quickly math anxiety can build when concepts are taught purely through memorization and rigid drills. Math doesn't have to feel like a high-pressure test. Having supported young learners of all abilities in life skills settings, I specialize in taking the stress out of elementary math by translating abstract numbers into clear, intuitive visual frameworks that truly make sense. In my sessions with K–6 students, we step away from timed pressure and focus on building real number sense. Whether a student is navigating basic addition and place value, working through multi-step word problems, or trying to grasp fractions and measurement, I break down each topic into bite-sized, multi-sensory steps. We use color-coded notes, hands-on visual models, and relatable real-world examples to make every concept accessible. My goal is to build a calm, low-demand environment where students feel safe making mistakes and exploring how math works at their own pace. By meeting kids right where they are and adapting strategies to fit how their brain processes information, I help K–6 learners rebuild their confidence, overcome learning hurdles, and develop positive, lasting study habits.

Executive Functioning

With 15 years of experience supporting learners across diverse educational environments, I specialize in equipping students with the core organizational and self-management skills required for academic and personal success. My foundational background includes an Associate Degree in Special Education, a Holistic Life Coaching certification, and six years of targeted instruction inside a life skills classroom. Through this work, I have developed structured approaches that demystify complex routines, help students overcome task initiation hurdles, and turn overwhelming workloads into manageable, step-by-step action plans. In my coaching practice, working both individually and in group settings, I focus heavily on building sustainable habits around planning, time estimation, and active study strategies. Rather than imposing rigid systems, I collaborate with students to analyze assignment rubrics, establish realistic daily schedules, and design custom note-taking methods that align with their specific cognitive style. By prioritizing low-demand mentorship, patience, and actionable skill-building, I empower students to reduce procrastination, build meaningful self-advocacy, and take confident ownership of their academic journey.

Grammar

With more than 15 years of experience supporting learners across diverse educational environments, I specialize in translating technical grammar concepts into practical, everyday applications. Having guided students and young adults of all learning styles and abilities toward their personal and academic goals, I bring a flexible, student-centered strategy to mastering the written word. Mastering grammar is about discovering your own voice and learning how to convey thoughts with total clarity. Through structured, low-demand instruction, I help learners break down sentence mechanics, punctuation, and syntax without the stress of traditional rote memorization. Whether building foundational skills or fine-tuning advanced sentence structure, our work together fosters long-term reading and writing confidence for every student.

Interview Prep

Having spent two years as a job coach and employment specialist, I’ve worked side-by-side with teens and adults of all abilities to help them nail their job interviews. Interviewing can feel awkward and high-pressure, but it doesn't have to be. Instead of pushing rigid, canned answers, I help you break down questions into simple, visual frameworks so you can talk naturally about your skills and experience without feeling put on the spot. We will also work on building self-confidence to assure you're feeling secure! In our sessions, we’ll run through low-stress mock interviews, learn how to dress appropriately for an interview, learn how to answer common interview questions, and figure out what to say when you feel stuck. I also bring in quick, grounding mindfulness tools to help quiet pre-interview jitters so you can walk into your interview feeling calm, centered, and ready to show up as yourself.

Phonics

I hold an Associate Degree in Special Education and over 15 years of experience helping students build real confidence in reading. I specialize in phonics and foundational literacy, using step-by-step strategies to make reading feel approachable rather than overwhelming. From breaking down tricky sounds and multi-syllable words to understanding spelling rules, my goal is to help every student go from just trying to sound out words to genuinely enjoying reading.

Reading

I hold an Associate Degree in Special Education and bring over 15 years of experience helping students build real confidence in reading. I focus on making reading clear, approachable, and stress-free. Whether your child needs help decoding tricky words, building reading fluency, or understanding what they read, I use step-by-step strategies tailored to their unique pace so reading goes from frustrating to rewarding.

Special Needs

With over 15 years of special education experience, I specialize in supporting students with diverse learning needs, including neurodivergent learners, sensory sensitivities, and executive dysfunction. I hold an Associate Degree in Education focused on Special Education and a Holistic Life Coaching certification. Having spent 6 years directly leading a life skills classroom and currently instructing young adults in virtual settings, I am deeply experienced in adapting lessons to honor individual learning styles and accommodation needs. My approach is warm, patient, and highly structured, focusing on academic confidence, self-advocacy, daily routines, and functional independence.

Study Skills

With over 15 years of experience in education and coaching including 6 years in a life skills classroom. I help elementary and neurodiverse students build the practical tools they need to thrive independently. Holding a degree in Special Education and a certification in Holistic Life Coaching, my approach addresses the root of study challenges (such as task initiation, organization, and working memory) rather than just treating symptoms. ​I specialize in helping students take ownership of their learning by combining research-backed strategies (active reading, structured note-taking, and spaced review) with low-demand, stress-reducing mindfulness techniques. Together, we build routines that stick, fostering confidence, autonomy, and academic success.