I am a neuro-affirming education consultant specializing in executive functioning, inclusive professional development, and supports for students, schools, organizations, and families.
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About Me
Hi, I am Melissa! I specialize in supporting neurodivergent children, teens, and families - especially those who don't fit neatly into traditional systems.
My husband and I co-own the online vintage rug business Old New House (since 2011) with a small shop in Katonah, NY, where we live with our own quirky family.
My main interest in everything I have ever done is people and all of our stories! As an adolescent, I had neighborhood younger kids over in my garage to work on arts + crafts projects and work through life issues; I worked with disadvantaged youth and later developmentally disabled adults at a camp; I studied film and photography in college and focused almost exclusively on portraiture, and before I met my husband and started the business with him, I was a wedding and family photographer.
In 2023, I co-founded Inclusive Initiative, a local group born from the Town of Bedford, to begin to spread autism and neurodiversity awareness in our community and beyond, and that work continues today.
My husband and I co-own the online vintage rug business Old New House (since 2011) with a small shop in Katonah, NY, where we live with our own quirky family.
My main interest in everything I have ever done is people and all of our stories! As an adolescent, I had neighborhood younger kids over in my garage to work on arts + crafts projects and work through life issues; I worked with disadvantaged youth and later developmentally disabled adults at a camp; I studied film and photography in college and focused almost exclusively on portraiture, and before I met my husband and started the business with him, I was a wedding and family photographer.
In 2023, I co-founded Inclusive Initiative, a local group born from the Town of Bedford, to begin to spread autism and neurodiversity awareness in our community and beyond, and that work continues today.
My Credentials
M.Ed. in Education Technology & Instructional Design
NASET Board Certification in Special Education (B.C.S.E.)
Executive Function Consulting micro-credential from Sensational Brain
NASET, Sensational Brain, and more certificates in Special Education, Universal Design for Learning, Social Emotional Learning, and more
currently working on:
New York State teacher certification
NASET Board Certification in Special Education (B.C.S.E.)
Executive Function Consulting micro-credential from Sensational Brain
NASET, Sensational Brain, and more certificates in Special Education, Universal Design for Learning, Social Emotional Learning, and more
currently working on:
New York State teacher certification
What Sets Me Apart
Beyond my credentials and constant learning and researching for best practices, I bring years of lived experience supporting my own neurodivergent self and children navigating these and more:
- PDA (Pathological Demand Avoidance)
- ADHD
- Autism Spectrum Disorder
- School Avoidance
- Sensory Processing Differences
- Neuroimmune Challenges, like PANS/PANDAS
- Autistic Burnout
- High Masking
- Executive Functioning Challenges
- Asynchronous Learning
- Self-led Learning
- Training Business, School, and Organization leaders on Neurodiversity
- Advocating within the Public School System for IEP Services and 504 Accommodations
My blend of professional training, never-ending desire to learn and grow, continued experiences within all of these realms, deep empathy for others with a problem-solving and "let's dive in and get it done" attitude, and my countless real-life learning experiences give me a unique, nuanced understanding of what I strongly believe children, families, and schools/organizations/communities truly need.
I hope to make a difference, and I hope to help.
Inclusive Initiative
I co-founded Inclusive Initiative in 2023, and the work continues today, which has some parallels to the work I am doing here, and it is just something I hope spreads far and wide, so I want to link it here:
Inclusive Initiative
Inclusive Initiative
get in touch
A 15-minute free consult is where we can start to discuss how I can help!
Have questions and prefer e-mail over phone call? Contact me here!
Thank you!
Words from Clients
In only a short period of time, I see how Melissa got to know my child's learning style. She is so skilled at working with kids like mine and in particular understanding the PDA-behaviors that come out. With more time, I can imagine she will be able to find increasingly creative ways to engage with and help them grow.
parent
The sessions have been amazingly helpful in so many ways -
Melissa has provided my child with another caring adult who can understand how they learn and engage with them and offered me a break during a time of day when I am pretty exhausted and often struggling, which allows me to be better able to handle other parts of the day. My child had a chance to develop trust with someone new around learning and thinking which is invaluable.
parent
Across all of our work together, Ms. Dilmaghani has shown herself to be professional,
motivated, intellectually curious, and self-directed. She communicates clearly, collaborates effectively, and brings a strong sense of purpose to her work. She centers inclusivity in all areas of her work and knows how to build rapport easily in all settings. I have no doubt that she will continue to use her expertise, creativity, and talent for good.
professional
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