From Overwhelmed Mom to Dedicated Advocate
Hi, I’m Natasha — a mom, a behavior professional, and someone who’s walked the same uncertain path you may be on now.
Over 13 years ago, I began asking quiet questions. I’d watch my son Adam wander through our home and backyard, disconnected, not truly engaging. He didn’t babble. He didn’t say “mama” or “dada.” Deep in my gut, I knew something was different.
By age two, Adam was enrolled in an early intervention preschool and receiving over six hours a week of therapy. My life turned upside down. I became his case manager, his voice in every room, his full-time advocate.
It was overwhelming. Isolating. Exhausting.
But one day, he pointed. Then he could sit through circle time. Eventually, he said “mama.”
Those tiny milestones — they lit my way through the dark.
Now, I use that journey to light the way for other families.
Why I Do This
Because No Parent Should Feel Alone in This
An autism diagnosis, ADHD, learning differences — they change everything. The weight of decisions, the therapy options, the school meetings… it can all feel like too much.
I know how confusing and lonely it is. I also know how powerful the right support can be.
Today, I guide parents through those early decisions, school systems, and behavior plans — always with the compassion of someone who truly gets it.
My Professional Journey
After years of sitting in therapy rooms, soaking in everything I could from Adam’s incredible team of therapists, behaviorists, and clinicians, I realised I had developed more than just personal insight — I had built a skill set. That led me to step into the professional world of autism intervention.
I began at Cortica Behavioral Health, earning my BCAT (Behavior Certified Autism Technician) certification and supporting children across multiple settings — in the Thousand Oaks clinic, private homes, and school campuses through the Conejo Valley Unified School District. I worked with behaviours ranging from mild tantrums to severe aggression, always tailoring my approach to the child’s unique needs.
My assignments took me to Maple Elementary and Banyan Elementary, where I supported students in both Moderate-Severe and Mild-Moderate autism classrooms. Beyond behaviour intervention, I often acted as an assistant teacher, helping with communication strategies, engagement, and lesson planning.
Later, I joined the Las Virgenes Unified School District as a Paraprofessional, working alongside exceptional Special Education teachers at Lupin Hill Elementary — a classroom supporting students with some of the most intensive academic and behavioural needs in the district.
Over a decade of IEP meetings, working with dozens of service providers, and navigating state and federal programs has given me a comprehensive skill set — one rooted in both lived experience and professional expertise.