About Rachel

Before I knew the laws, the acronyms, or which doors to knock on, I was just a mom trying to figure out how to get my child what he needed. ↑ ↓ ✕

I’m the mom of an autistic young adult with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and my family has been navigating disability systems for more than two decades. Along the way, I learned a lot of things nobody hands you in a pamphlet: that the right words can change a conversation, that sometimes you have to ask the same question three different ways, that “no” isn’t always the end of the story, and that knowing what your family is entitled to and knowing how to actually get it can be two very different things. I also learned how much it matters to have someone beside you who understands both the system you’re navigating and what it feels like to be the parent navigating it. ↑ ↓ ✕

For more than a decade, I’ve worked alongside families of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, helping them understand their rights, navigate complex systems, solve problems, and find the supports they need. I spent 11 years at The Arc of King County, ultimately serving as Director of Information and Family Support, and served two terms on the Washington State Developmental Disabilities Council. I’ve supported thousands of families through special education, DDA and other service systems, transition to adulthood, guardianship and decision-making, and the many unexpected challenges that come with raising a child with a disability. I started Nemhouse so I could continue doing the work I know and love in a more personal and flexible way—offering families the kind of practical, knowledgeable, one-on-one support that can make a complicated road feel a little more manageable. ↑ ↓ ✕ ↑ ↓ ✕