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Ellen chose this career path because she wanted to be an advocate for children with special needs and ensure that the funding and support necessary was available to these individuals in order for them to be successful in society.

She attended dozens of workshops to develop more skills through philanthropic associations, and learning from doing various demonstrations as well.

The biggest challenge that she encountered was learning how to overcome the emotional impact of special needs children, the misconception about them and to educate people and family members about special needs children.

Her greatest strength is her sense of humor, her willingness to learn and change with the times, her pro-activeness, and her ability to work with other teachers and professionals in order to write proposals to receive grants for children with special needs.

Her greatest accomplishment was being instrumental in successfully having children with special needs to have inclusion in two schools in her local school district.

Her professional goal is to mentor people, to guide people and them to feel comfort in knowing that there are advocates for people with special needs.

Ellen has been inspired most by her family and other immigrants who have come to this country with little education, a lot of hard work and a determination to ensure that their children receive the educations that they weren't able to receive.

Ellen wants most to be remembered as someone with a sense of humor and as someone who never took no for an answer.

Ellen enjoys sewing baby hats which she gives to grandchildren, nieces, nephews and friends.