SCHOLARS

HEATHER BARNETT
Military Spouse | Alliant International University | Ph.D, Education
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“Ensuring that my son receives the best education possible to fit
his specific needs is my top priority.”
Following the death of her husband in May 2014 while serving as a Lieutenant
Commander, Heather is a mother of two young children in addition to serving as
a school counselor, conducting individual and group counseling for students that
addressed issues pertaining to adjustment, ADHD, parental separation and divorce,
and the death of a parent.
In 2009, their two-year-old son was diagnosed with Autism, leaving Heather and her
husband to face an endless procession of speech therapy, occupational therapy,
music therapy and applied behavioral analysis. With her and her husband always
working as a team, their purpose in life was the same, to serve those in need and
support each other.
Now as a single parent, Heather’s ultimate goal is to honor her husband’s service
to his country and their children by pursuing a career in developing and improving
upon programs that support and encourage the educational success for students
with moderate to severe Autism in community colleges and universities. With a
specific research interest in understanding the predictors of higher learning success
among young adults with moderate-severe Autism, Heather is interested in designing
programs equipped with proper supports, accommodations and trained personnel
that will enable those who require more assistance to complete one, two or four year
degree programs and find suitable employment that fits their skillset.
Ensuring that her son receives the best education possible to fit his specific needs
is Heather’s top priority. The challenges faced in ensuring he has an appropriate
education have informed her understanding of programs geared toward Autistic
children and young adults and is only natural that she extend this interest and
knowledge to her professional life, both in effort to fulfill her personal interest and
passion, and to ensure that her son continues to receive the resources he needs to
succeed.
Class of 2015