Today we’d like to introduce you to Susie Wingate.
Hi Susie, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
In 2005 I graduated from college at Millersville University in Pennsylvania with a Bachelor’s degree in Special Education with a Minor in Coaching. I returned home to my parent’s house in New Jersey and started my very first teaching job. After two years of being home in Jersey, I decided to try something new, and I moved across the country to San Diego. I obtained a teaching job at Mira Mesa High School in 2007 in the moderate/severe program. After two years at Mira Mesa, I became the Special Education Department Chair, and in 2011, I received my Master’s Degree from Alliant International University, San Diego in Educational Leadership with an administrative credential. In 2012 I landed a teaching position at Torrey Pines High School in their Moderate/Severe Transitional Academic Program. In the 2017-2018 school year, I was named Teacher of the Year for Torrey Pines High School as well as the San Dieguito Union High School District. While at Torrey Pines High School, I was not just a teacher, but I was also a coach for soccer and softball and an advisor for several school clubs. In January of 2020, my life changed dramatically.
On January 26, 2020, my son, Hudson, at 13 months old, was having difficulty breathing. My husband was away on a business trip, and I was faced with some difficult decisions. I took Hudson to the pediatrician to have him checked out. His pediatrician referred us to an Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) Specialist. The very next day, I took Hudson to the ENT, and he examined him. Hudson was diagnosed that day with vocal cord paralysis, which means that his vocal cords were not opening at all, and it was leaving him with a very small air passageway to breathe. The ENT told me to call my husband and tell him to take the next flight home. The next day Hudson was admitted into Rady’s Children’s Hospital where he stayed until April 2020. After a month of being misdiagnosed, we were able to get Rapid Whole Genome Sequencing (rWGS) done. Within 48 hours, we had the results, and Hudson was diagnosed with Riboflavin Transporter Deficiency (RTD) Type 3, which is a very rare neurodegenerative genetic disorder. In the short 3 years of this journey, Hudson has had 6 surgeries and has a tracheostomy, g-tube, and bi-laterial cochlear implants. He has come a long way and we just pray that there is a cure one day for this deficiency.
Due to Hudson’s life-threatening situation, I had to take a leave of absence from teaching. I became Hudson’s full-time caregiver and learned a lot along the way. I spent hours upon hours working to ensure that Hudson and our family had the proper care we needed at home. While drowning in tears and losing sleep, I just thought about all of the families that I have worked with through the years. I was now a parent on the other side of the table needing support and help, and that was hard for me. I was no longer the one giving the advice, I was the one seeking the advice. However, while spending so much time getting the services and supports established it dawned on me one day that I needed to create a document to make this easier for other families moving forward. That is when I had the idea that I could return to supporting families again. I missed it, and I missed my students. I knew I couldn’t go back to the classroom because I needed to have a flexible schedule and more time to care for Hudson, but I knew I could start something, and that is when Community Based Instructional (CBI) Services came about in September of 2021. Hudson’s unfortunate circumstances lead me down a path that I would have never traveled, and I am so blessed and grateful that my boy has given me this opportunity. To learn more about CBI Services, check out my website https://www.cbiservices4u.com/services
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has not been a smooth road; in fact, it has been a road I never thought I would travel on. However, I am thankful for this journey every day and so blessed to have been given this opportunity to support so many families that are experiencing the same challenges that my family is.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
CBI Services is dedicated to providing services to meet the needs of all of our clients. We pride ourselves on our commitment and devotion that goes into preparing and implementing exceptional services for each client that participates. Our goal is to support individuals with disabilities in a variety of inclusive settings and provide them with the necessary tools to be able to develop independence and apply the skills learned within their home, workplace, and community. Through collaborative and meaningful community opportunities, individuals with disabilities will develop more independent skills to apply to their everyday life. Our hope is to bring awareness to the importance of inclusion, social integration, and being contributing participants in society. We will achieve this through developing strong skills in the areas of communication, mobility training, employment training, health and safety training, independent and functional living skills, and community integration skills. Services include:
Group sessions:
CBI Services creates meaningful experiences that promote adult life and social skills opportunities within the community for young adults with disabilities.
One-on-One Sessions:
Focus is on specific individualized goals and needs (i.e., employment, use of public transportation, involvement in the community, etc.)
Consulting:
Navigating the supports and services available for individuals with disabilities and their families can be extremely overwhelming. CBI services are customized to meet the specific needs of each individual (i.e., obtaining Medi-Cal, IHSS, SSI, Regional Center, etc.). I work collaboratively throughout the entire process to help relieve stress, time and provide valuable guidance to meet the needs of each individual and their families.
What would you say has been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
I have learned that building a strong foundation is the most crucial part to a successful business. I need to take things slow and back off when I start to get that anxious feeling. I always say to myself, “Slow and steady wins the race.” It’s just those little sayings and reminders that keep me grounded and remind me that I don’t need to get ahead of myself. I have also learned that the best gift that you can give someone is support, especially in a time of great need. When we support one another we become stronger together.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.cbiservices4u.com/services
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cbiservices4u/
