Scholars

Caroline completed her undergraduate degree at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she majored in Exercise and Sports Science with minors in Neuroscience and History. Caroline has 8 years of experience working with and alongside individuals with I/DD, which has fueled her passion for accessibility and inclusivity. She looks forward to using the skills learned from the SHINES curriculum to best support and advocate for students with high-intensity needs.

Jenna is a first year MSOT student at UNC Chapel Hill. She is passionate about advancing her knowledge and skills of school-based practice to provide competent and effective services to students with disabilities. She is interested in the ways in which school-based practitioners can fill the gap in the understanding of individualized needs for students with disabilities and their families. Jenna has previous experience observing in school-settings, particularly in programs serving students with both intellectual and physical disabilities. She also worked for eight-months as a volunteer in a pediatric clinic, exposing her to the wide array of disabilities that school-aged individuals might face. Jenna is excited to be a part of the SHINES training grant with hopes of becoming an empowering school-based therapist in the future.

Adelyn completed her undergraduate career at the University of Dayton with a degree in Health Science – Occupational and Behavioral Studies. After her undergraduate career, Adelyn worked at the TEACCH Autism Program in Wilmington as a Resource and Referral Specialist, where she supported families and connected them with community resources. Through this work, Adelyn discovered her interest in the school systems and hopes to utilize this grant to learn how to be a resource and advocate for students with disabilities.

Emily is a first-year MSOT student and SHINES Scholar with a background in psychology and disability studies. She brings experience as a medical assistant at the Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, a NC LEND trainee and years of work in public school special education classrooms. Emily is passionate about supporting children with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) and their families, with a particular focus on equity and advocacy in rural healthcare and education.