Hi, my name is Chris Gagne and I am the new Senior Program Director for DSAW-Family Services. Before I came to DSAW, I was a Special Education Teacher for the Shorewood School District and the Slinger School District for 10 years. My favorite part of my teaching career was traveling with my students to Hawaii and the Florida Everglades and watching them grow through all of the adventures we had together.
This hints at my previous profession as a Recreation Therapist and my love for the outdoors. My role as a recreation therapist enabled me to work with adults with acquired brain injuries and the elderly. I was even a camp director out in California and Nevada for awhile.
Having children settled me into the teaching role, getting my Masters degree in education, and finally finding my way into the DSAW world. I have two biological children (18 and 21) and one foster son age 13. My husband is a saint in the making and my kids are all adventurous like myself - one heading to South Africa for a couple of years!
I consider my clients at DSAW -FS an extension of my family - my phone is filled with more pictures of them than my own. I hope I get a chance to meet more of you in the near future. DSAW-FS is the best ! We have THE BEST staff and really can not be compared to any other agency out there .... because we love those with DS and other disbilities and want to be a part of shaping their future.