OUR PATH FINDERS
We are your partners, Independent Facilitators,
Person-Centered Planners, Parent Support and Advocates.
JULIE EBIN LAROSE
FOUNDER, INDEPENDENT FACILITATOR & PERSON-CENTERED PLANNER
Julie LaRose comes to her work in the neurodiverse community as the proud mother, champion, and advocate of two neurodiverse adults; one of whom is currently in the Self-Determination program. Julie is a graduate of Guidelight Group’s Independent Facilitator training. She is a certified Person-Centered Planner and thinker and is the founder of Path Forward Facilitation which provides Independent Facilitation and consultation services to families, organizations, and Regional Centers throughout the state. She is also the COO of The Rad Lab which creates high quality programs for neurodiverse individuals.
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Born and raised in Minnesota, Julie has a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of Minnesota, Carlson School of Management and specialized in corporate branding, business development and marketing. Before embarking on a mission to help empower those with diverse abilities to become more Self-Determined, her eclectic range of enterprises included Wardrobe Stylist Women’s Retail Consultant, Interior Designer, Home Goods Creator and Yoga Instructor.
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Each aspect of Julie’s background has intersected, translating her entrepreneurial, visual, and artistic skills to drive and elevate programs and lives from a Person-Centered based perspective. Her Midwestern values, desire to hold space, and collaborative spirit and have given her a unique ability to make people feel at ease and to serve the needs of others. She aims to share what she has learned to connect and support others as a parent, facilitator, and businesswoman to serve the IDD community and encourage individuals to “live by choice and not by chance.”
AMINAH ABDUL HAKIM
INDEPENDENT FACILITATOR & PERSON-CENTERED PLANNER
Aminah's greatest accomplishment is her thriving son, Don Jay, who is on the Autism Spectrum. She's a first-generation college graduate that has worked to support herself and other family members since the age of 14 (some of whom also have diverse abilities). She possesses a Master of Business Administration and a Bachelor of Science in Organizational Management and Leadership. Some of her professional background includes business, government, non-profit/not-for-profit, higher education, public speaking, mentoring and coaching. Being an African-American woman that raised her son as a single-parent puts Aminah in a unique position to understand diversity, equity and inclusion. As for Aminah, silence is not an option, and advocacy is not a choice. It's a way of life.
DEBORAH ROGER
INDEPENDENT FACILITATOR & PERSON-CENTERED PLANNER
Deborah has spent a good part of her career in education and service to the under-represented before joining Path Forward Facilitation as an Independent Facilitator. For her, helping families chart a course for a meaningful and purpose-driven life for their child is deeply gratifying. Deborah was a Life Coach for over six years, specializing in young adults with special needs and their families, and a former marketing executive for 20+ years. She has a 20-year-old son with special needs in the Self Determination Program and sees first-hand that when you dream big, all things are possible.
MICHELLE CAIT
PERSON-CENTERED PLANNER
Michelle brings to Path Forward her experience from an eclectic and varied career. She holds a master’s degree in Expressive Arts Therapy and is a certified Integrative Coach and Meditation Facilitator. She was the founding Director of Shemesh Farms in Malibu. Her work experience includes leadership roles in therapeutic settings, mental health programs, entrepreneurial business settings, farming, sales, group dynamic work, wellness coaching and meditation facilitation to name a few. She is delighted to be on board as a Pathfinder for Path Forward Facilitation as a certified IF and Person-Centered Planner. She is a mom of three adult children and resides with her husband both in LA and Connecticut. She enjoys hiking, swimming, meditation, yoga, and pickleball during her free time.
JEANETTE BERGSTROM
INDEPENDENT FACILITATOR & PERSON-CENTERED PLANNER
Jeanette Bergstrom is a Southern California native and is currently living in Orange County. Jeanette comes from a large family with 5 older sisters, an aunt with Down syndrome, and a nephew with Non-Verbal Autism. She has an Independent Facilitation Certification from GuideLight Group. Her previous work as a creative director has given Jeanette a passion about Person Centered planning and Independent Facilitation as tools to help a person achieve their dreams, including living a full life in the community.
CHASE BECKERMAN
PERSONALIZED SUPPORT COORDINATOR, INDEPENDENT FACILITATOR,
PERSON-CENTERED PLANNER & MINDFULNESS COUNSELOR
Chase is a certified Mindfulness Facilitator through UCLA's Mindfulness Awareness Research Center at the Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior and a Certified Independent Facilitator through The Guidelight Group. She is a proud mother of two, her eldest is neurodiverse and has medical needs. Through her experience and training she has a long history of giving back to others helping build strength, resilience and has devoted herself to helping others access resources and support. With her training and lived experience she is called to give back to other parents and caregivers. By blending theory, research, and practice in mind-body awareness she has a holistic and integrative approach towards her clients.
