Her Story
About Andrea
Andrea Dixon serves as a developmental specialist and service coordinator for early intervention in the Hanover public school system. With 33 years of experience in early childhood and special education, she previously worked in two school divisions as an autism specialist and coach, collaborating with teachers, parents, therapists, and community agencies to support children with special needs. She holds a master's degree in special education from James Madison University, earned in 1992, along with certifications in ADOS, PECS implementation, infant massage through the Blue Ridge School of Massage Therapy, yoga massage, and as a certified child yoga instructor. Dixon has volunteered as an educator and collaborator on international training trips to South Africa and Costa Rica through the Jefferson College of Occupational Therapists, providing training on evidence-based practices. She is a member of the International Association of Infant Massage and coaches families on infant massage to build developmental skills and attachment. She attributes her success to thinking outside the box and creating community initiatives, such as the sensory-friendly Special Night at the Museum program. Dixon values highlighting strengths, teaching self-advocacy, and using trauma-informed, self-regulation strategies in her work.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Andrea
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to thinking outside of the box and going beyond the basics, looking for possibilities within everyday community actions. For example, I created a sensory-friendly free night at the museum called Special Night at the Museum for kids with sensory differences, raising money to open it with therapy dogs and music therapists, which continued even after I moved away.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Building community through connection, networking, and building bridges with other agencies and professionals builds the strongest team approach to make the biggest impact.
03What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Since the pandemic, behaviors and mental health challenges have increased significantly. A powerful strategy is changing our approach by teaching self-regulation strategies to young children, co-regulating with them, modeling kindness and self-care, and using trauma-informed practices. We must focus on ensuring children are in a self-regulated, healthy, safe place before expecting learning, as per Maslow's hierarchy of needs.
04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Highlighting strengths and positives to set people up for success by building upon their strengths rather than focusing on deficits. I do a lot of teaching self-advocacy and focusing on the positive before looking at deficits.
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