Over the course of my life, I have worn many hats—mother, grandmother, educator, behavioral analyst, yoga teacher, and spiritual healer. Each role has shaped who I am today and has fueled my passion for the work I do.
I have been a mother for 35 years and a grandmother for 16 months. These roles are deeply ingrained in my identity, and they have taught me the power of nurturing, patience, and unconditional love. As a mother, I raised my children with guiding principles that I believed would help them grow into strong, independent individuals. Now, as a grandmother, I find myself revisiting these values and passing them on to the next generation.
For the past 42 years, I have dedicated my career to educating special needs students. This work is not just a job to me; it’s in my DNA. The experience has been humbling, rewarding, and has filled me with a deep sense of purpose. Ten years ago, I became a Board Certified Behavioral Analyst (BCBA), which allowed me to further refine my skills and provide targeted support to those who need it most. In addition, I have spent the last 15 years offering staff training in wellness and behavioral strategies, helping others find balance and effectiveness in their roles.
My journey into spiritual and holistic healing began about 36 years ago. It was a natural extension of my desire to nurture and support others. For the past 20 years, I have been teaching yoga and meditation, practices that have become integral to my life and work. These practices have brought a sense of calm and balance that I carry with me into all aspects of my life, including my work with special needs students.
As I contemplate retirement from my full-time role as a BCBA, I find myself reflecting on the deep connection I have with this work. Walking down the halls of the schools where I’ve spent so much time, I feel that my work with special needs students is not something I can simply leave behind. It lives and breathes within me, informed by all my experiences and expertise.
I raised my children with the following guiding principles:
- Follow your own unique path, be true to yourself.
- Trust in your own instincts, even if adults (including myself) don’t agree with it.
- Question authority (respectfully if possible), if you think they are not right.
- Tell the truth.
- Treat the Earth with respect, including all animals, plants and people.
- Clean up after yourself.
- Eat healthy, organic food.
- Don’t do drugs or abuse alcohol.
- Limit TV and video game time (thankfully they grew up in the pre cell phone, social media era)
- Learn how to provide support if someone else needs it.
Raising my two children, both now in their 30s, has further reinforced my belief in the importance of individuality. Neither of my children was labeled “special needs,” yet I advocated fiercely for their unique needs to be supported throughout their schooling. Whether it was encouraging creativity, advocating for advanced learning opportunities, or simply allowing them to follow their instincts, I stood by them as they navigated their own special paths.
I am sure that you can gather from my full transparency about how long I have been doing all this, is that I am a woman of “mature age and experience.” With all that I have learned and experienced, it has come time to integrate all of my skills, experience and expertise to support those who follow me on this path of being actively engaged with children with unique and special needs.
Now, with a lifetime of experience behind me, I am excited to offer my knowledge and skills to others. I have created a five-session series designed to provide comprehensive support for caregivers, children, families, and classrooms. This series includes individualized, holistic support and practical behavioral strategies tailored to each person’s unique needs.
In these sessions, we will explore self-reflection, meditation, basic yoga movements, breathing techniques, and methods for releasing limiting beliefs and blocked energy. We’ll also discuss diet, herbal, and aromatherapy suggestions, principles of applied behavioral analysis, and tips for structuring your day and environment. My goal is to help you become more grounded, balanced, and energized, so you can better support those in your care.
I believe it takes a village to raise all children, and I would be honored to be part of your village. I invite you to visit my website, Intuitiveartsbyronajan.com, to learn more about the services I offer. Stay tuned for future blog posts where I’ll dive deeper into the specific tools and techniques mentioned above.
Thank you for allowing me to share my journey with you. I look forward to walking alongside you on your own path.