You wouldn’t know it to talk to her now, but Ciara wasn’t always as outgoing as she is today. As an assistant floater teacher at Bel Air’s Childtime Learning Center, she’s friendly, talkative, and thrives in her role working with children from infancy through pre-kindergarten. But growing up, she describes herself as a “withdrawn” teen, hesitant to step outside her comfort zone.
Ciara’s confidence began to blossom in 2018 when she started working with peer mentors who encouraged her to step beyond her comfort zone. Through their support and guidance, she gradually built essential life and leadership skills, learning how to form meaningful friendships and become more engaged with her community.
“I had amazing instructors that helped me with developing friendship skills and leadership skills,” Ciara says. She put those skills to good use, moving from program participant to peer mentor so she could give back by helping others navigate the same situations she faced. “I want to help others who are having the same struggles, who need help with different goals and skills, in order to help them become more independent,” she adds. With an instructor and another mentor, she does this through planning discussions and hands-on activities for her peers.
Ciara also applies these skills in her job at Childtime, where she has worked for the past three and a half years. Three days a week, she assists teachers, covers breaks, and supports children throughout their daily routines. She especially loves working with different age groups and getting to experience the variety each classroom offers.
Supporting her in this journey is Humanim Direct Support Professional-Job Coach Lionel Harris, who checks in with her regularly to ensure she has the tools she needs to succeed. “If I need any support, I tell Lionel the things that I need help with, especially with being afraid to ask for clarification, and he gives me tools for that,” Ciara explains. From problem-solving strategies to practical tips like setting phone reminders for clocking in and out, these small adjustments have helped her grow in confidence and independence.
Outside of work, Ciara’s life is filled with many of her favorite activities, both through private organizations and through the Special Olympics. She participates in special needs dance classes and recitals, adaptive fitness classes, and social clubs that host events in person and over Zoom, including trivia nights and karaoke. She’s been with the Special Olympics for 13 years and credits the excellent coaches and supportive teammates with increasing her self-confidence, making her a better athlete and teammate, and teaching her sportsmanship skills.
A multiple medal winner in swimming in the Special Olympics Summer Games, she’s training to return, working through two qualifiers to get into the 2025 Games. Last year, she won gold in the breaststroke, which is a particularly challenging style to master. It’s quite an accomplishment for someone who was afraid to even get into the water when she first started.
“I didn’t want to get in the pool, actually,” she recalls. “Then I just kind of taught myself. We’re all scared to do stuff, but it’s okay if we conquer those fears and just try. It’s about having that positive self-reflection of knowing, ‘I can do this.’”
Ciara’s journey is a testament to the power of perseverance, community, and self-belief. As we celebrate Autism Acceptance Month, her story reminds us that confidence and success come in many forms, and that with the right support, anything is possible.