From Summer Camp to Consulting Firm

When I was 20-years-old, someone in my social psychology class handed me a brochure and said, “I think you’d be good at this.”  I thanked them and headed to my seat, wondering how a stranger could know that about me. The pamphlet was for Camp New Hope, a summer camp for people with autism run by the Autism Society of NC.  I wasn’t sure about my qualifications, but I applied anyway and found myself heading to Chapel Hill, NC that May for an unforgettable summer. 

At the time, I didn’t know how profoundly that experience would shape the course of my life. I only knew that being in that community—learning, laughing, problem-solving, and building connections—felt deeply right. For the first time, I witnessed what it meant for people with disabilities to be valued for who they are, and I recognized my own sense of belonging in that space.

That summer planted the seed for what would become a lifelong calling: creating spaces, opportunities and programs that center the lens of disability for a more authentic and accessible experience.

Over the years and through many professional roles, that camp counselor grew into the founder of Centered Resources, a disability-led education and consulting firm. Creating this company has been about more than starting a business—it’s been about honoring the lessons I’ve learned about inclusion, access and belonging and carrying them into professional spaces where it’s often missing.

Centered Resources is also about widening the circle of employment opportunity. It’s about creating a professional home where people with disabilities can lead in ways that feel authentic to them while being compensated competitively for the work they do. Centered Resources is a place where careers can be flexible and purposeful and where belonging is not just promised but practiced.

This is the work I’ve wanted to do my entire life, and I’m honored to be doing it alongside such a talented and passionate team. I invite you to partner with us to bring inclusion, accessibility, and lived experience into your own professional work space through our consulting and education services.