IRIS Consultant Biography

Care Responsibilities

Your TMG IRIS consultant is your partner as you create a plan that meets your needs and stays within your IRIS budget. Your TMG IRIS consultant can connect you to resources in your area, and will be a great source of information for any questions you have

Educational Background

Credentials

Specialties (e.g., working with autism, the elderly, employment for people with disabilities or youth in transition, mental health, experience with assisted technology)

Prior to coming to TMG, I worked at Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin for eight years. While there, I worked closely with clinicians and patients to support and maintain good patient health. As a substitute teacher for the Sheboygan Area School District, I followed lesson plans and fostered a healthy learning environment. I also worked at The Rehabilitation Center of Sheboygan for eighteen years. I have extensive experience working with individuals with cognitive disabilities and mental health issues of all ages. As a Program Director for Friendship Manor Homes, I supervised staff, created schedules, maintained budgets and safeguarded resident life plans.

County/Region I'm familiar with

Sheboygan

Languages or Communication Skills

English

I'm comfortable with pets in the home

Yes

More about me

How do you Partner with people to 'clear the path ahead'?
To me, partnering means learning about you and your goals, then creating a path you feel comfortable with to reach them. First, I work with you to identify services, resources or supports available now. This will help to stretch your IRIS budget and keep the resources you need to get the care and support necessary to realize those important goals.

What's your favorite thing about being an IRIS consultant?
I truly believe in self-directed care, because it's the path I would choose for myself. And, it allows for people to be more independent and strong. Helping people get the most out of life is rewarding and fulfilling. My biggest joys are when I see people learning about their own opportunities, resources, themselves and being able to use this knowledge to pride themselves in their own successes.

What past experience prepared you to become an IRIS Consultant?
My education was very important, and real life experience has been very powerful for me as well. As a human services worker for nearly thirty years now, I have had vast opportunities to learn and grow. I have been privileged to have wonderful mentors and support as well. Knowledge and learning are so important to me and I see every life experience as an opportunity for growth. Some of my favorite experiences have been to be able to expand on the basis knowledge of my jobs. I became quite knowledgeable about women's health, various forms of learning, cultures, learning a bit of sign language and some of the edicts of the language and so much more. One thing I do very much pride myself on is the opportunity I was allowed to be the guardian for a beautiful woman who is now living a fabulous life in her 60's while having Down syndrome. I truly enjoy the conversations that lead to learning together.

What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
In my free time, I enjoy time with my children and seeing the wonders of their self-discovery. I like to read stories as well as informative literature. I like to watch movies, go shopping, go on walks, spend time with friends and have quiet time to myself and reflect.