My name is Chelsey Gleason and I am a 31 year old mother of two. I have spent the past nine years teaching special education in the State of Arizona where I had the opportunity to work with amazing students, families, and colleagues. Through my years of teaching and working with families, I realized there is a need for more collaboration between schools, families, and community resources. Now, as an advocate, I work to ensure that families and individuals with varying abilities have accesses to resources in their schools, neighborhoods, and community. I help families navigate what the state has to offer, what educational opportunities are available, and how to accesses them.

My journey in special education started nearly 31 years ago when I was diagnosed with Albinism and identified as being legally blind at just a few months old. I was lucky enough to receive services as early as infancy and throughout my entire education. I have navigated the system both as a person with a disability, and as an educator. Having a disability has given me insight and perspective on what each student is dealing with. As a result I am able to share my experience and empathize with the individuals, and families I work with. My professional knowledge of writing IEP's (Individualized Education Plans), lesson planning, creating and providing accommodations/modifications in the general education classroom, provides me with the tools needed to guide and assist families through the school system.

Education Background:

University of Arizona Bachelors of Science- May 2009

University of Arizona Masters in Special Education with an emphasis in Severe and Multiple Disabilities- May 2010

I attended the University of Arizona from the fall of 2005 to the spring of 2009 where I earned a Bachelors of Science in Special Education with an emphasis in Cross Categorical. Cross Categorical is an academic term used to cover a wide range of disabilities from a specific learning disability to severe autism. During my junior year, I earned a grant in which I was then able to duel enroll my senior year and begin my Masters in Special Education with an emphasis on working with individuals with severe and multiple disabilities.

During my time at the University of Arizona I gained an abundance of knowledge and experience about how disability resource centers and Vocational Rehabilitation can assist those with disabilities gain access to and succeed in the rigorous world of academia. As a person with a visual impairment I utilized these services and took full advantage of the opportunities they afforded me.

Teaching Experience

2009 - 2010 Vail Unified School District (Vail Arizona).

While finishing my last year in graduate school I worked in the Vail School District where I had previously completed my student teaching. During this time, I worked with high school aged students with mild and moderate intellectual disabilities in an inclusive setting. In addition to creating accommodations for my students I also worked with a Transition from School to Work Program (TSW) to ensure that after leaving high school each student could find gainful employment.

2010 - 2017 Deer Valley Unified School District.

After finishing graduate school I moved to Phoenix where I accepted a position with Deer Valley Unified School District. While in Deer Valley I worked in a myriad of settings including inclusive classrooms, self-contained classrooms, behavioral programs and again in a Transition from School to Work Program. This experience provided in depth knowledge regarding the inner workings of each type of program and how to aid students in succeeding through the program.

2017 - 2018 - Glendale Union High School District

While at the Glendale Union High School District TSW program I focused on the transition needs of students between the ages of 18 to 22. My duties included acting as a coordination point for students and families with agencies such as Vocational Rehabilitation. This coordination helped individuals and families to navigate the changes in the Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act. In the end I was able to help students reach employment, or an appropriate post-secondary outcome.

2018-Present Grand Canyon University

I consulted as a Subject Matter Expert as Grand Canyon University built a graduate program for educators looking to teach students with severe and moderate disabilities. I created course objectives, assignments and benchmark assessments for future teachers.

Throughout my years teaching in Arizona I have written just under 100 Individualized Education Plans (IEP), participated in hundreds of IEP meetings, participated in nearly 60 Multidisciplinary Evaluation Team meetings, sat in on over 40 in-take interviews with Vocational Rehabilitation and helped countless families navigate services through the Division of Developmental Disabilities.

2018-Present People First AZ Consultants

I have had the great opportunity to be able to work alongside a group of highly qualified special education teachers who are committed to helping individuals with varying abilities. We work with families, schools and employers to help ensure individuals with disabilities can be successful in their community.

In Summary:

It is through my teaching experience as well as my own experiences with having a disability, that I feel I would be able to help individuals and families avoid pitfalls, gain knowledge regarding resources and services, and provide the tools necessary for independence in their community