The catch phrase “Where there is a WILL... there is a WAY” is a perfect way to describe Debbie and the way she has lived her life. Born and raised in the small coal mining town of Wise, Virginia located in the mountains of Southwestern Virginia. Debbie is the middle child of six children. To say that while growing up she has been through many difficult times in life is an understatement. In 2008 she began writing her life story in a book titled “Harvesting the Wildwood Flower” documenting her up-bringing, how she survived numerous early difficulties, heartbreaking tragedies and how her path lead her to where she is now. Debbie's vivid memories will make you smile, laugh and cry as she recounts her life beginning from her first memories at the tender age of 3. Debbie is truly an example of how someone can experience hardships in their life and take those experiences and continue to be resilient. Life’s rocky road has taken her off the beaten path time and time again and regardless of the difficulties ahead of her she was able to pick herself up once again and move forward never letting it slow her down from her goals of helping others in need.
After she graduated high school in 1983 and attended a local community college she found herself being offered local jobs as a print model for several businesses in and around her hometown. Then in 1987 she decided to move to Texas to start a career in Acting. From 1988 to 1991 she worked to get her foot in the door in the entertainment business. She has worked on television, motion pictures and commercials. She worked with the late John Ritter on the movie "Problem Child". Was a hand model for GTE , worked on the televised USA Cable Network Channel movie "Fire and Rain", Oliver Stone's motion picture "JFK" and other various film projects.
Then in 1992 her precious son Nathan was born and by 1994 her life had dramatically changed from being a working mom to a mother just trying to survive day to day and raising a child with Autism/Asperger’s Syndrome alone. Her dream of acting was put on hold to do everything possible to help her son. Often when asked if she misses her acting career she says that “she is happy to have the memories of those times” and that “maybe in the future she will be able to continue that dream”. At one point when Nathan began going to school full time she was once again able to be around the profession of acting when she worked from 2002-2005 at The Movie Studios at Las Colinas as the Director of Marketing & Public Relations for the tour department. When she has a chance and been able to fit it into her already busy schedule she has worked on stage at a local theatre.
With compassion and love she has been advocating for Nathan her Son for the past 16 years to have the best life possible. He is now thriving, happy and living a life that could not have been imagined several years ago. She has found a way for this to be a possibility for others as well. She devised a plan to help other families to achieve happiness for their children living with Asperger’s Syndrome. In her new book “The Wish List” she has come up with a simple 10 Step Plan to help those living with Asperger’s Syndrome be happy, safe, successful and fulfilled at school and other areas of their lives.
Currently Debbie is working to educate, teach compassion and understanding to regular education Teachers, Parents, Family Members, Family Friends and school aged Children about Asperger’s Syndrome and helping Parents understand their legal rights and how to Advocate for Special Education Services for their children in the public school system. Through her experiences and true compassion she is helping other parents with children who have just been diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome and those who have already been living with AS. Debbie conducts workshops and is a Guest Speaker and Educator for Parents and Individuals wanting and needing to know how to help navigate the Public School System.
Many who know Debbie or have worked with her have said that “she is a very giving person who will help others in need”. “ She has a big heart when it comes to children and especially working with children with disabilities”. Since 2007 Debbie also worked for The Parenting Center in Fort Worth Texas as a PEPS Educator (Parenting Education in Public Schools) traveling to different high schools each week helping to educate students on the importance of healthy family communications, healthy relationships, child abuse awareness and child abuse prevention.
Currently, Debbie lives in Fort Worth, Texas with her family
