A self-published author and behavioral health professional shares her journey of integrating multiple passions into Little Steps Press, a mission dedicated to literacy, creativity, and community connection through consistent, purposeful action.
Her Story
About Dora
My journey into this field was deeply inspired by my family. Growing up, I always had the mindset that one day I would be the one caring for my family because they had a lot of medical issues. This led me to seek out programs and workplaces that aligned with that mission. I started at Lakeside Neurologic, a 24-hour rehabilitation center for children and adults with traumatic brain injuries in my hometown. I began as a residential services assistant and was shocked by how burnt out the staff were and how little they engaged with residents. I wanted to make a change for every life, so I started documenting everything I was doing, creating extra activities and art while doing my regular duties. I saw a lot of progress and fewer behavioral issues, which led to my promotion to the vocational department where I could really flourish with classes, workshops, and job site training to help residents prepare for their eventual discharge back into the community. After moving to Texas to be with my husband, I became an RBT working with young children on the autism spectrum doing ABA therapy. This gave me such a unique perspective because I had typically worked with children over a certain age, so working with babies was eye-opening. I got to see both ends of life and what could have been worked on earlier. It was heartbreaking to see what happens when mom and dad aren't there anymore and the child is left to essentially fend for themselves. That really motivated me because I'm not thinking about today or next week, I'm thinking about the rest of your life, about independence, adaptation, and self-advocacy. I eventually transitioned out of the traditional work setting because I had to care for family, and I noticed I was only able to help the children who could walk through the door, often limited by insurance or income. I believe resources shouldn't be limited by these things, they need to be accessible. So I took a step back and founded Little Steps Press, where I published my first children's book with ABA therapy woven inside it, making it an easy, fun way for children to make associations and learn about communities and transitions.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Dora
01What do you attribute your success to?
Honestly, all to God. It's all God. He's given me this talent, and then little by little through my life, He's given me these experiences that give it such an importance and such a value. You know, this is your purpose, this is your mission. One thing that really sealed it was before I moved to Texas, it was even a question of whether I was gonna make the move. I had lost my mother during Hurricane Ian. That night, I had to do CPR on her while we were experiencing this, and it was just such a crazy experience. And then to even be faced with that decision of am I gonna even make this leap, am I even gonna leave this hometown that I've been in forever? Something just told me, like, I have to go. There's a purpose. There's something for me to do, and I know that it's helping others, and I know it's helping children as well as the caregivers. Having that huge responsibility of having to care for someone, that worry, that stress, it's hard. And it's even harder when you feel alone, and when you have resources, but it's just so hard to get to them because regulations and things like that are always changing, and nothing's really guaranteed right now. I just want to make sure that these parents know they're not alone and they have that support.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Definitely to keep going. Even when the progress isn't shown, when you're waiting for a callback, you're waiting for that follow-up email, you just have to keep showing up every day. And whether maybe that day is just making connections, and the next day is just personal maintenance, or just whatever the case, that consistency definitely is key.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would advise to keep living and keep experiencing life. You have to really pay attention to what those experiences give you as well. I've learned a lot in life that what you do like is just as important as what you don't like. And that will definitely give you that purpose of what do I want to change? What impact do I want to make? How can I help?
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
I think one of the biggest challenges right now is protecting the integrity and remembering the real reason why we even show up to our job, why we even try to do therapy and try to do early intervention with autism and other learning disabilities. I think once we've gotten, how do I say this, I almost think that we've gotten a little bit monopolized. It's such a fresh, learning, growing field that everyone's kind of starting to gatekeep and almost, yeah, I just want to make sure that we remember we're here for the child, and we're here for the next generation.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The most important values would be integrity, honesty, and kindness.
Her Content Hub
Articles by Dora
One Little Step at a Time: Building a Mission Through Faith, Creativity, and Community
From scattered dreams to purposeful impact: How faith and small steps built Little Steps Press.
When people hear that I am a self-published author, artist, and behavioral health professional, they often assume I had a detailed plan from the beginning.
The truth is, I didn’t.
Like many women pursuing a dream, I spent years wondering how my different passions could fit together. I loved art. I loved working with children and families. I loved helping people grow and become more independent. For a long time, those interests felt like separate paths. Over time, I realized they were all leading me toward the same purpose. That realization became the foundation of Little Steps Press.
What started as an idea for a children’s book has grown into a larger mission centered on literacy, creativity, and community connection. Through books, art, and community partnerships, my goal is to create meaningful experiences that support people across the lifespan.
One of the greatest lessons I have learned is that impact is rarely built overnight. It is built through small, consistent actions: a conversation, a volunteer opportunity, a book reading, a partnership, or a willingness to say yes when an opportunity appears.
Many of the opportunities I am pursuing today were not part of my original plan. They came through relationships, faith, and a commitment to continue moving forward even when the next step was unclear.
As women, we often feel pressure to have every detail figured out before we begin. My experience has taught me something different. Sometimes we only need enough faith and courage to take the next step. For me, that step became Little Steps Press. Tomorrow, it may become something even larger. For now, I remain grateful for every opportunity to serve others through creativity, literacy, and community.
After all, meaningful change often begins with one little step at a time.
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