Welcome to Occupational Autism! This website has been designed to help support our children and students as they navigate this unexpected, and sometimes overwhelming, world of growing up with Autism.

The world of Autism can be confusing, overwhelming, unexpected, and even frustrating. Through Occupational Autism, you will see that Autism is more than a diagnosis; it is a way of life. Occupational Autism seeks to provide guidance and resources to support the the whole child as they begin their journey through life. This website does not focus on causes or "cures" for Autism. Rather, it seeks to provide practical help for day to day life.

My Story

My name is Emily Kendall and I have been educating children for ten years. I started my career with two part time jobs: one as a teacher for toddlers at a private Christian preschool, and the other as a swim instructor for children with various disabilities. Along the way, I became a private nanny for a little girl, and I was opened up to the beautiful world of Autism. I began working as a Paraprofessional for Fairfax County Public Schools Preschool Autism Classroom (PAC) Program while I finished my undergraduate degree. I graduated from Liberty University in 2016 and began teaching the 4 Year Old Autism Program for Prince Georges County Public Schools, where I taught for five years - through the Co-vid school shut downs. Along the way, I earned my masters degree in special education from Johns Hopkins University, and currently I teach special education at a juvenile detention center in Georgia. If you'd like to see my complete portfolio, follow the link at: https://www.eakportfolio.com/

My Outlook:

Autism comes with many struggles, but also many triumphs. Children with Autism see the world from a perspective that most others cannot see. Reaching them in their world and connecting to ours is a wonderful and complex process that I get to enjoy every day. I have three goals in creating this resource:

• To help parents and families cope with and learn from Autism from childhood to adulthood

• To help children growing up with Autism to believe in and advocate for themselves

• To help educators learn how to infuse best practices in their classrooms throughout ever school day.