Our Coaches
Charles Cox
(he/him)
I earned my Master’s in Counseling from Kent State University which has led me to teach disabled people for 15 years. Now as a coach I help Autistic people to become better able to manage details, especially when they overwhelmed. I also act as a neutral third party, and helps keep the families I support working together in a positive mindset.
If you love Cleveland sports, then I could be a great fit for you as a coach as I am an avid sports fan who loves my Browns, Guardians and Cavs.
Danyetta Najoli
(she/her)
I am a cultural humility coach who will get to know your way of doing things and work with you to hold you accountable to your own goals. I will support you and your family members within the coaching relationship. I have a certificate from the Center of Cultural Humility at UC Berkeley and I earned my Master's degree in Organizational Leadership from Regent University. I also have a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Fisk University. I can help you become quite organized in your thinking and how you spend your time through a program I've developed. Some of my favorite practices are:
mindfulness
design thinking
mind mapping
person centered cultural humility (something I’ve coined in 2021)
communicating your strengths
These practices help to hold the coaching relationship in a mutually respectful and psychologically safe space. My clients have shared that they feel seen, heard, valued, and recognized for their unique identities and whole selves when they are being coached by me. I enjoy listening to my coaching clients and asking interesting questions they have, perhaps, never been asked before. I also enjoy offering highly customized services to meet my coaching client’s needs and to talk about things that interest them in the coaching sessions.
I live in Cincinnati, Ohio, and I am originally from Harlem, New York City. I love singing, reading, community building, listening to music and podcasts, all things Angela Bassett, traveling internationally, staying in touch virtually with my sisters and uncle who raised us, spending time with friends, being married to my Kenyan husband, and raising my two wonderful teenagers.
Jude Olubodun
(he/him)
What led me to Autism Personal Coach was my own journey in discovering myself. Why do my experiences make me feel the way they do, and what that means for my place in the world. On that journey I discovered my blackness, my queerness, my neurodivergence, my disabilities, the pride in who I am, the pain in what I lost, and the road to the intersections of them all that are hidden from us every single day. The people and parts of myself who I was told to abandon so that I could reach where I was supposed to be. My goals are to help you on this journey so that you don’t have to hide parts of yourself to reach where you want to be. That your feelings, your body, your existence, your special interests are valid.
For me, I love cartoons. I love Adventure Time and crying over Marceline and Ice King. I stim by listening to music really loud in my headphones snapping my finger near my ear while I rock. I do my best thinking while I walk through the house, and if I have to sit still I may fall into despair. I love the color pink and listening to music with synthesizers because it feels amazing for my synesthesia. I have two children who are also neurodivergent and we have similar but also different stims and we clash but we also work together so we don’t hurt each other and our differences don’t make us any less neurodivergent. So if you’d like, Come along with me…
Kelsey Higgins
My approach to coaching is holistic and intuitive. As neurodivergent individuals, we may often struggle to find our place in a society that was not built for us, it may even feel like it was designed to restrict us. My goal as a coach is to guide my clients towards alignment in their own lives. We will work together to break down the everyday struggles that one may face, and highlight the issues at their core. In our collaboration, we will unveil what sparks passion, joy, and love, while also identifying and implementing the skills needed to navigate fear, anger, and feelings of discomfort.
My educational background is in Psychology and Human Development. Although I have spent years reading books and analyzing research, I feel my most valuable information has been learned through the exploration of the natural world.
I grew up on the east coast and that is where I spent most of my life. I moved to Arizona in my mid 20’s, and that is where I met myself for the first time. The desert makes my heart sing, and it brings my soul to ease.
My interests include rock climbing, painting, drawing, architecture & design, film photography, geology, and animals of all kinds.
I love nothing more than a sunset hike with my dog and my partner.
I find joy in simplicity, and I find purpose in complexity.
Mikayla Umin
(she/her)
My experience and listening skills allow me to coach in a way that guides conversations toward solutions and uncovers new outcomes for past problems. I have the positive outlook that there’s a solution to every problem, and that all goals are obtainable–no matter the obstacles!
I love challenging myself to achieve my personal goals in fitness, organization, and time management. I love being outside, cooking, and enjoying all the events Cleveland has to offer with my family and two dogs!
Minna Abassi
(she/her, they/them)
As a coach, I guide others toward creating and achieving unique personal goals in life, work, and identity exploration. Approaching life with a curious and collaborative mindset, I meet people where they are and start conversations from a place of common ground. I work with clients with varied backgrounds, including those apart of other marginalized groups. Diagnosed autistic and ADHD well into adulthood, I have considerable experience working with clients diagnosed as adults and those that are suffering from burnout due to high levels of masking. I use my Master's in Industrial and Organizational Psychology to help me bridge the gap between clients and their employers, especially regarding navigating ADA accommodations.
Neisha Hirsch
(she/her, they/them)
My priority, as a coach, is to help my clients feel heard, seen, and valued while we work together to achieve their goals. I use my experience, both as an autistic person and a creative professional, to encourage each client’s unique needs and perspectives to direct each session. For me, creating an alliance with my client is paramount; similar to making any piece of art, it takes time, an open mind, and the willingness to trust our individual processes. I love encouraging discovery, self-awareness, and brainstorming solutions with my clients. After my ASD diagnosis, when I was 37 years old, I began actively seeking ways to build community and learn how to be myself more openly. Ultimately, that is what led me to Autism Personal Coach.
Outside of coaching, I have over 20 years of love for tarot, symbolism, spirituality, and specialty coffee. Some of my special interests are psychology/mental health, music, theater, highbrow sci-fi movies, quantum physics, space, and rescue animals (I volunteer at my local humane society whenever possible).
Safir Boukhalfa
(they/them)
As an Autistic person with ADHD, and someone who exists at the intersections of multiple identities (being queer, non-binary, and Algerian). I offer a deeply inclusive and intersectional approach to coaching. As a migrant currently living in Germany, I understand the added layers of complexity that come with navigating new environments, cultures, and systems. This lived experience informs my coaching, helping me relate to clients who are not only neurodivergent but also dealing with the challenges of migration, identity, and belonging in spaces that may not always reflect their realities.
My coaching is designed to help neurodivergent individuals find their strengths and thrive authentically. Whether you’re dealing with executive functioning challenges, sensory overload, or learning how to advocate for yourself in spaces that don’t always accommodate neurodivergent or marginalized identities, I work with you to develop strategies tailored to your specific needs. Together, we’ll take care of not only personal aspects of your life but also the systemic barriers like racism, ableism, and queer exclusion that can hold us back.
With a strong foundation in both lived experience and continuous academic study in neuroscience and psychology, my approach is grounded in compassion, self-advocacy, and empowerment. Whether you're dealing with the pressures of workplace environments, seeking accommodations, or striving to find balance amidst multiple identities, I’m here to support you every step of the way.
When I’m not coaching, I’m immersing myself in Berlin’s culture, staying active, and continuously learning more about neuro-inclusive psychology. I’m committed to helping my clients embrace all parts of themselves.
If you’re looking for a coach who understands the intersections of neurodivergence, race, queerness, and migration, and can help you navigate life’s complexities with confidence, let’s connect.
Stephanie Carroll
(she/her)
It’s easy to get overwhelmed with everyday tasks. That’s why I enjoy helping clients to create a plan that will help them be more successful in achieving these goals. We work together to schedule tasks according to their optimal work time, break them into smaller more manageable pieces, and clearly communicate expectations to all those involved. I try to apply these same strategies to my own life.
When I’m not working or spending time with my family, I enjoy reading and running. I am very passionate about both of these hobbies as they allow me to relax in different ways!
Tas Kronby
(they/them)
I am an Autistic, ADHD, Disabled, Deaf, Queer, POC. I earned my Bachelor degree in English Literature in 2023 and graduated Magna Cum Laude.
As an advocate, I have worked on a legislative level and grass roots. I am passionate about accessibility online and in person. Higher education is one of the most inaccessible places for Autistic and Disabled folks. Therefore, I support clients with everything from applying for college to getting reasonable accommodations. I stay up to date on federal laws that impact the Autistic community and how it intertwines with the ADA.
I support navigating the workplace whether it be getting reasonable accommodations or sorting through social politics.
In my free time, I am a surrealist horror artist and extreme horror writer. I play DnD, I love TWD, Star Trek, Doctor Who, Babylon 5, Primeval, Blood Drive, Death note, Vampire Knight...okay, I am a nerd and wear my nerd badge proudly!