Director/Job Coach
Doris has been teaching individuals with special needs for 30 years. She retired from the New Mexico School for the Deaf in June 2013 after 24 years of working with multiply disabled deaf individuals ranging from 6 - 22 years of age. She has two MA degrees, one in Deaf Education and the other in Visual Impairment, and is also a specialist in Special Needs. She is the daughter of two Deaf adults and a legal guardian of a Deaf Down Syndrome individuals. It was her dream to open this business when her two daughters had no where to go during the day that would provide the necessary communication needs for them to be included in meaningful day activities. She is very excited for this business to be open and she can not wait to meet any new individual who wants to attend.
Director-in-training, Direct Support Staff
Edith has 30 yrs experience in healthcare. She recently transitioned to work with adult special needs individuals. On a personal level She enjoy hanging out with her special needs son and seeing him grow as an individual. She always had an affinity towards job coaching, and acts of service. Working at AIF has been humbling to say the least. She enjoys crafting projects with the clients. She says the individuals teach her patience, and it shows her the beauty of being uniquely gifted in many different ways.
Office Manager, Job Coach and Direct Support Staff
Susie has been around individuals with disabilities her whole life. She grew up with 2 deaf down syndrome sisters, and her mother worked with disabled individuals in the school system. She has an extensive work history in different living and day systems within the DD Waiver and Mi-Via programs. Her daughter, Aurora, has been a part of AIF since the beginning in 2014. The clients love her and enjoy the time she spends with them. In Susie's free time she enjoys riding her motorcycle, dancing, camping, fishing, spending time with her American Legion family, and spending time with Aurora.
Lead Counselor
Jessica has a long and inclusive background in working with the Developmentally Disabled, as well as, degrees in Family and Consumer Economics and Culinary Arts. She grew up with two Deaf, Downs syndrome sisters, as well as a sister who is medically fragile. She loves working within the community that she lives in. She is bi-lingual speaking both English and ASL and is picking up Spanish with the help of some of our clients. She has worked on and off at AIF since it opened and says there is something magical about this place that makes her keep coming back.
Direct Support Staff
Ashlee was born and raised in Espanola, NM. She loves to write, draw, play games with her son, and laugh until it hurts. She has worked with individuals with disabilities for over 2 years and she has loved every second. She hopes to improve the lives of our clients through their artwork and building strong life skills. We are so very lucky to have her on our team!
Direct Support Staff
For 15 years Don worked at Los Alamos High School in the Special Ed and Severe Special Needs department. He retired from LAPS and has since joined our team. He is a proud member of the teams, which he says is more of a family. Our clients are a joy and a privilege to work with for him. In his free time he enjoys doing artwork, cooking, baking and spending time with friends, family and most importantly his fur baby Apollo.
Direct Support Staff
Harrison loves anything and everything about being outdoors. He is a fan of hiking, backpacking, camping and so much more. Harrison has been in boy scouts his whole life and now contiunes to work with them. Harrison grew up with a sister who has Down Syndrome and has always had a special place in his heart for special needs individuals. He is loving his position here and hopes to continue improving the lives of our individuals.
