National Leadership Program, Summer 2020
Nicole Homerin
Nicole Homerin was a Community Outreach Fellow in RespectAbility’s National Leadership Program for Summer 2020. RespectAbility is a nonprofit organization fighting stigmas and advancing opportunities so that people with disabilities can fully participate in all aspects of community.
As an incoming Doctoral student in Special Education at California State University, Los Angeles, Homerin has over a decade of experience working with individuals with disabilities. Homerin received her Master’s Degree in Special Education from Boston College, where she was the recipient of the Bernard A. Stotsky/Thomas H. Browne Prize for Excellence in Special Education. In addition, Homerin holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education from Boston University.
Most recently she served as Lead Special Education Teacher at a Nonpublic School in Los Angeles for children with multiple disabilities and children who were medically fragile. Prior to this, Homerin spent several years educating children with multiple disabilities at The Campus School at Boston College and in the Deafblind Program at Perkins School for the Blind. In addition to her love of classroom teaching, she has a passion for expanding recreational and leisure opportunities for individuals with disabilities. Homerin spent two years working in the Adaptive Dance Program at The Boston Ballet School and taught several Adaptive Percussive Dance classes at Perkins School for the Blind. In addition, Homerin has spent her summers since 2012 working at AbilityFirst Camp Paivika, a summer camp in Southern California. for children and adults with disabilities. Homerin has held numerous positions at Camp Paivika, including Camp Counselor, Fine Arts Coordinator, and Program Coordinator. Homerin plans to continue her journey of advocacy in special education as well as serve as a mentor and educator for aspiring Special Education Professionals.
Outside of work, Homerin enjoys being active. She has trained as an Irish Step Dancer since childhood and continues to enjoy training and performing for the community. In addition, Homerin enjoys running. She most recently completed the 2020 Los Angeles Marathon. She is a member of Team Hoyt San Diego, a non-profit that empowers athletes with disabilities through inclusion in sports, running races, and triathlons.
