About Us
About Whole Children and Milestones
Whole Children and Milestones’ goal is to create an inclusive environment where every child, teen and adult is successful and valued for who they are, no matter their abilities or disabilities. Our diverse catalog offers both in-person and virtual classes, such as dance, art, cooking, voice acting video games and kung-fu. Classes emphasize social skills, self-advocacy and fun! We fill a vital need by creating opportunities where the hard work of skill-building is made social and fun, and by creating a supportive community for parents and caregivers.
We are a social/recreation center that welcomes families and students of all abilities, philosophies, and cultures. We are not a therapeutic program and we do not adhere to any one system or approach to teaching, running groups, or working with students. Whole Children is a community of families who are walking a similar path and who are happy to share the experience!
Carrie McGee
For the past twenty-two years, Carrie has been a leader and a visionary in founding and developing Whole Children and its spin-off programs, Milestones and Whole Selves. Along with a team of fearless parents and skilled, innovative professionals, this group has created resources, community and opportunities for individuals with intellectual disabilities to thrive.
Chris Harper
Chris Harper has been with Whole Children for over ten years. When she’s not playing with The Friendship Band she can be found riding her bike or in the garden. “I love working at Whole Children for so many reasons but the staff and students are definitely at the top of the list!”
Jenna Perna-Elias
Jenna (she/they) has worked as a Milestones teacher since 2017. They've served as a member of Pathlight’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion committee, a lead teacher, and a key member of the Whole Selves creative team. Jenna is originally from the Philadelphia area. She spends her free time in nature, traveling, reading, cooking, and cuddling with her puppy and cat.
Liana Marks
Liana Marks is the Whole Children program manager but has been a Recreation Specialist with Whole Children and Milestones since 2015. She has taught many different classes over the years from Cooking, Art, Boundaries and Relationships and more. “I feel so lucky to be working at a place that helps others build friendships, relationships and community. The amazing students and staff are what make this place so unique and special. When you walk in, you’ll feel it!”
Tracy Romeo
Since 2016, Tracy Romeo has been managing our Whole Selves website, products, and community. If you are looking for support for your child or yourself, have questions about how Whole Selves can help you, need resources, or something else, Tracy will be able to help you find what you need. With more that 35 years of experience providing high-level support to a variety of executive leaders, Tracy is a master at helping people find the support and resources they are looking for.
Amy Baker
Amy (she/her) is an artist, writer, former teacher, and current grad student. She loves creating, cats, trees, the moon, glitter, red, Gaeilge, and friends. She creates books, poems, and music, as well as being a cupcake whisperer of some renown.
Heidi Nehring
Heidi (she/her) is a loving mom who is dedicated to supporting her children and their sports events and practices. She also helps care for her brother with cerebral palsy. Their family has a cat and recently adopted a new puppy.
Valle Dwight
Valle has been a part of Whole Children since 2004 as a parent and volunteer and joined Pathlight in 2011. She is a long-time reporter, writer and editor and is passionate about Pathlight and Whole Children’s mission to ensure that people with disabilities take their rightful place in the community.
Kevin Cox
Kevin Cox has been happily working here for more than five years. He runs the Minecraft classes, helps in Smash Brothers and Animal Crossing, and is assisting in Dungeons and Dragons as a dwarf that sounds like a Scottish pirate. He is exceptionally grateful to have the online community to interact with, as it keeps him sane… relatively speaking. “The one time I want to find a pun, I find none. Maybe a pun about a nun? No, nun of the above.”
Eddy Hougen
Eddy Hougen has worked as Recreation Specialist at Milestones and Whole Children for more than four years. Eddy has loved all the variety of life skills and enrichment classes he has been part of, such as Self-Advocacy, Music, Theater, Photography, and Dance Movement Therapy. Eddy plays bass and sings with The Friendship Band (Whole Children’s gigging rock band), and deeply appreciates all opportunities for participants of Milestones and Whole Children to interact and make connections with the greater community. Eddy lives with his wife Sarah, a physical therapist, and two daughters, in Florence, MA.
Ella LaMee
Ella LaMee (she/they) joined Milestones and Whole Children as a program assistant in June of 2024. Ella is a visual and performance artist who loves sharing her passions with the Pathlight community. Ella teaches a variety of classes and loves to be hands on and join in the activities with the participants. Ella is adaptable and happy to help out wherever she is needed.
Brian Melanson
“I’m Brian! I started volunteering at Whole Children more than ten years ago and my love for this amazing community grows bigger every day. You’ll find me jamming on guitar with the Friendship Band, growing and learning in Men’s Group, and helping students discover who they are in our many wonderful Whole Selves classes. I love Whole Children!”
Liam Regan
Liam joined Milestones and Whole Children in fall of 2022. He works primarily in the Milestones Day program but also assists in Whole Children/Milestones classes such as Boundaries & Relationships; Legos, Trains and More; Anime Club; Cooking; and more. He loves being a part of the Whole Children and Milestones family!
Evan Sabourin
Evan started working for Whole Children in 2019. He is currently a teacher and program assistant for Whole Children and the Milestones program. He helps manage the Whole Children Discord community as well as teaches many of the online classes. When not online you can find him helping out or teaching at the ICC. “I count myself lucky to be a part of such an amazing community. Being able to work with such wonderful students and staff is truly a joy!”
Lila Singer
Hello All! My name is Lila and I’m a Program Assistant at the Milestones day program and Whole Children. I am involved in many art classes, cooking classes, and sports and games! I love meeting new friendly faces and hope to see everyone around.
Nick Vogt
Nick Vogt has been a Recreation Specialist at Milestones and Whole Children since July 2019. He is one of the Dungeon Masters for the Whole Children D&D class, and leads the Dance Movement class. Nick makes appearances helping out in a handful of other classes including Theater and Boundaries & Relationships.