About Me

My passion is to encourage self-understanding, self-compassion, and empowerment by walking with you in exploring unexpected life changes.

I began having vision problems when I was five years old. Parents and teachers noticed that I would lean close to my coloring books and scoot really close to the TV during these younger years.

Throughout elementary school, I struggled to see the board and read print materials. Doctors and specialists were unable to identify the problem. By the end of fifth grade I no longer felt I could move around safely.

As an adult who identifies as being totally blind, I am very happy with my life, the accomplishments I’ve achieved, and the challenges I’ve overcome.

I am a strong ally to black, indigenous, and other people of color. Especially those with disabilities, LGBTQ, and gender non-conforming people.

Personal Life

I identify as a white, sex positive, cis woman. I live in the Pacific Northwest with my husband who is a cis man and my two wonderful adult children.

Outside of work, I enjoy a variety of outdoor activities including hiking, tandem biking and gardening. I love visiting local museums and galleries and am an avid reader. I also love making and glazing ceramics.

I frequently volunteer with the City of Portland’s bureau of Civic Life and the Office of Equity and Human Rights. I also work with the Portland Art Museum to promote equity and elevate the voices of the disabled community.

What I Do As A Professional

In addition to my private practice as an Oregon licensed professional counselor, I continue to be a Disability Services counselor at PCC.

As a part of my private business I provide services as a consultant to companies as a Website Accessibility Analyst. I have been hired by several large publishers, local corporations, and companies to improve the usability and accessibility of their business websites.

Education

I earned my undergraduate degree in sociology/psychology from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. At that time, I was also employed at an independent living center for blind and visually impaired individuals at Affiliated Blind of Louisiana.

Following my education, I established a massage therapy practice on the Oregon coast that lasted for 15 years.

After that, I attended Portland State University where I received my Masters in Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling. During graduate school I trained as a mental health counselor in the PSU community clinic and as a Disability Services counselor at Portland Community College.