I started out working in a residential facility for the developmentally disabled and found this was my passion.  I was hired by the school district as a paraprofessional.  The bulk of my time working as a paraprofessional has been in the middle school setting.  The last five years I have been a paraprofessional in special education in the elementary school setting.  I went to school in my twenties, but was in a near fatal car accident and suffered numerous internal injuries along with a closed head injury.  So needless to say this set me back and I did not finish.  Life was a challenge and I struggled at times.  I had children and that was my life. My other work experiences have been working as a manger of an adult day program for the developmentally disabled.  I have managed an Adult Family home.  I have done respite with individuals with developmental disabilities for the last 25 years.