The Hurdle Learning Lab

Hi there, and welcome. I’m an urban educator and curriculum designer with 30+ years of experience creating learning environments where every child can thrive—especially neurodivergent learners in PreK–K classrooms. My career spans classroom teaching, early childhood leadership, curriculum design, and Early Intervention services in New York’s diverse urban communities. I’ve worked extensively with multilingual families, children from varied cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds, and students across the learning spectrum, with deep expertise supporting children with autism, ADHD, sensory processing challenges, and developmental delays. I’ve led curriculum development, coached teachers on inclusive practices, and designed countless visual supports and sensory-friendly materials. Working in diverse urban settings taught me to create resources that are linguistically accessible, culturally responsive, and flexible for real classrooms. My work is grounded in practical, tested strategies that support diverse brains, languages, and lived experiences. Today, I specialize in neurodiverse-friendly PreK–K resources where visual supports, sensory considerations, and differentiated instruction are built in—not add-ons.

I believe every young learner deserves materials designed with their unique brain in mind. My resources feature: Predictable structure and routines: clear expectations, visual schedules, and consistent patterns that support executive function Multi-sensory, hands-on learning: concrete experiences engaging different learning styles and sensory preferences Visual supports throughout: picture cues, visual directions, and communication supports built into every lesson Calm, sensory-friendly design: reduced clutter, clear layouts, and thoughtful design that doesn’t overwhelm Differentiation as standard: multiple entry points so every child can participate meaningfully Linguistic accessibility: visual-heavy materials that transcend language barriers for multilingual learners Everything I create helps you feel prepared—whether you’re leading Circle Time with mixed abilities, supporting a child with autism during transitions, or teaching multilingual students. My goal is to save you modification time while creating classrooms where every child feels capable and excited to learn.

Throughout my career, I’ve served in roles including: Director of Early Childhood Programs: led curriculum development, instructional planning, and inclusive classroom design Curriculum and Instructional Leadership: designed comprehensive PreK–K curriculums with embedded supports for diverse learners Early Intervention Specialist: worked with families and young children with developmental delays and autism spectrum disorder, building deep autism-specific expertise Urban Educator in Diverse Communities: served multilingual, multicultural families across varied socioeconomic backgrounds in New York Professional Development Leader: coached teachers on differentiation, visual supports, and neurodiverse-friendly practices My most meaningful moments: my proudest moments aren’t awards—they’re breakthroughs. A nonverbal child with autism uttering their first sounds, words, or using a visual schedule independently. A multilingual family’s child with sensory challenges participating in group activities. A child with ADHD staying engaged through Circle Time because the structure worked. A teacher in an overcrowded urban classroom saying, “This is the first curriculum that works for my students with autism AND my English language learners without hours of modifications.” Those moments remind me why this matters: every child—regardless of neurotype, home language, or background—deserves to feel successful.Supporting teachers and paraprofessionals through professional development and coaching Designing inclusive classroom environments that support diverse learning needs Serving as a Director of Early Childhood Programs, overseeing classrooms, instruction, and compliance Holding leadership roles in curriculum and instruction, with responsibility for program design and implementation Being trusted by families and educators to support young learners during critical developmental years While my work has included formal leadership roles and professional recognition, what matters most to me is creating high-quality learning experiences that help children feel confident, capable, and excited to learn.

I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Community Health Education and Master’s degree in Education, with multiple New York State teaching certifications: Special Education (Birth–Grade 2) Special Education (K–12) General Education (Birth–Grade 2) General Education (Grades 1–6) My formal education provided the foundation, but my real expertise comes from three decades in New York’s urban early childhood settings, school-based programs, and Early Intervention. I’ve learned what works from adapting lessons for a child with autism having a sensory meltdown, creating visual supports that help multilingual children with limited English follow directions, and designing curriculum that meets IEP goals while honoring diverse cultural backgrounds. This combination—formal training, extensive autism-specific experience, and deep work in multicultural urban communities—shapes every resource I create..

Why I Focus on Neurodiverse-Friendly Early Childhood Education After 30 years as an urban educator working with children from every background—multilingual families, diverse cultures, varied socioeconomic circumstances, and especially extensive work with children on the autism spectrum—I’ve seen how the right PreK–K supports change entire learning trajectories. Too often, teachers in diverse classrooms are handed generic curriculum and told to “just differentiate” for students with autism, English language learners, and various learning needs. But differentiation takes hours most teachers don’t have. I created The Hurdle Learning Lab to solve this. My resources have visual supports, sensory considerations, linguistic accessibility, and differentiated instruction already built in, so you spend less time modifying and more time teaching. My Design Philosophy Neurodiversity as foundation: materials work from the start for children with autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, sensory processing differences, and language delays, with particular depth in autism-specific supports Linguistically and culturally responsive: visual supports transcend language barriers; materials honor diverse families and work for multilingual learners Urban classroom-tested: realistic for high ratios, limited resources, and the complexity of diverse communities Teacher-centered practicality: realistic prep time, clear directions, flexible for different settings Calm, visually supportive environments: reduced clutter, predictable layouts, sensory-friendly design Structure that builds confidence: clear routines, visual schedules, predictable patterns help children feel safe and capable What I’m Passionate About I’m committed to inclusive classrooms where neurodivergent and neurotypical children from all backgrounds learn together successfully. Having spent my career in New York’s urban communities, I understand the intersection of neurodiversity with multilingualism, cultural diversity, and varied socioeconomic realities. My particular passion is autism education—I’ve dedicated significant portions of my career to understanding autism spectrum disorder and creating materials that help children with autism thrive alongside peers. Visual supports, predictable routines, sensory-friendly design, and clear communication aren’t just “nice to have”—they’re essential for many and beneficial for all. Looking Ahead I’m expanding my neurodiverse-friendly PreK–K collection, with plans for more comprehensive curriculums, professional development guides, and materials for home use. Eventually, I hope to partner with school districts to implement neurodiverse-friendly practices systemically. Thank you for visiting my store and for the important work you do with children. Whether you’re a classroom teacher, special educator, parent, or administrator, I’m honored to support you in creating learning experiences where every child can thrive. Let’s help every young learner clear their hurdles—together. Questions about my resources or how to adapt them for your students? Reach out through TpT messaging, or leave a question on any product. I respond personally and love connecting with educators who share this passion for inclusive early childhood education.