ABSTRACT
In the sixth grade, I volunteered in one of the first special education classrooms in Henrico County, Virginia. The teacher was a remarkable woman who expected more than I thought possible for students with disabilities. In high school, I had a positive experience as a summer camp counselor with children with intellectual disabilities. One of the parents encouraged me to explore special education as a career choice. A summer job in an institution for individuals with intellectual disabilities was an important epiphany. I realized that I wanted to have a career working with individuals with disabilities, but not in an institutional setting.
