I grew up in South Carolina and Georgia but am happy to call the Philadelphia area home. I moved to Philadelphia for work and ministry in 1993, building on connections developed through Medical Campus Outreach’s Summer Medical Institute (SMI) while studying occupational therapy at the Medical College of Georgia (Augusta University). I worked as an occupational therapist at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and in community-based early intervention. I met my husband, Keith, in Philadelphia, and we now live with our two children in Havertown. We are members of Proclamation Presbyterian Church in Bryn Mawr.
Though I had encountered disability professionally, I was surprised when it became personal with my own diagnosis of epilepsy during my first pregnancy and with my son’s developmental and learning disabilities. During this same period, I was seeking to support families with young children with disabilities as nursery coordinator at Tenth Presbyterian Church.
God used the ministry of Engaging Disability and founding director Stephanie Hubach to help me develop a biblical view of disability, bringing acceptance and joy in God’s providence, and to help me care for families impacted by disability in the church. In 2007, I began Tenth’s special-needs ministry where I served for nine years. In 2012, I joined Engaging Disability’s team of volunteer ministry facilitators, assisting PCA congregations in developing ministry to people touched by disability.
In 2016, I had the privilege of joining the staff of Engaging Disability. I serve as the Ministry Services Coordinator. My days are full of connecting with church and family members, exploring and developing resources, and teaching live or online trainings.