EVERY VOICE MATTERS
Community Partners
Leaders in local School Programs
These leaders have been completed the S2C practitioner training and help support their staff and students with understanding and using alternative forms of communication.

Shelley Carnes
The Hirsch Academy
Executive Director
Occupational Therapist
Shelley has over 25 years experience in partnering with the neurodivergent community. She is a licensed Occupational Therapist, an Expert DIR Floortime Provider and is one of the co-founders of The Hirsch Academy and is one of the I-ASC trainers for the ACTS certification program. Shelley is a passionate supporter and advocate for the neurodivergent community and is a voracious learner of what more can be done to support and empower the beliefs behind neurodiversity affirming practices.
Michele Kukler
Connections School of Atlanta
Director of Operations
Michele has a master’s degree in youth development leadership from Clemson University and a bachelor’s in child and family development from the University of Georgia. Michele holds a Strategic Inclusive Excellence Certificate from Clemson and currently teaches online undergraduate courses in youth development at Clemson. Michele is also a certified therapeutic yoga teacher and leads Friday yoga classes for students. After opening Connections as the first lead teacher and later serving five years as Head of School, Michele is using her intimate knowledge of the organization to manage finances, compliance, and strategy.


Julia Oliver
Connections School of Atlanta
Head of School
Julia has a master’s degree in social work from Georgia State University and a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Georgia College. Julia completed her practicum for her master’s program at Connections before joining the faculty as Director of Student Transitions. In this role, she designed and brought to life the young adult transition programs that serve Connections students after they complete their core curriculum. Julia went on to serve as Assistant Head of School where her passion for student empowerment, family engagement, and community education grew. As Head of School, Julia oversees all facets of the organization while centering students’ voices and ideas at every level.
Community
Members
These community members have completed the S2C practitioner training and continue to support clients with alternative forms of communication.

Roxy Cuadra-Sewell
Roxy Sewell, MS, RYT-200 is an Atlanta based CRP that worked at the Hirsch Academy and Growing Kids Therapy Center before she branched out and started her own business. Trained in RPM, S2C, and DIR/Floortime, her approach is both skill based and relationship based. Roxy writes her own lessons and uses them as platforms for rich communication and complex thinking. Beyond the boards, as a registered yoga teacher, Roxy offers 1:1 yoga to clients. Roxy's goal is to provide a safe energetic space so that each of her clients rises to meet the full potential of their own self expression.
Katie Asher
Special Education Teacher
Health Coach
I trained my son to spell to communicate and he is now a fluent 27 year old speller who attends college and spells for his classwork. After his breakthrough I went through S2C training because I wanted to offer the same opportunity of communication for other non-speakers and unreliable speakers. My main area of focus is parent education and training.
