Education is the pillar that shapes lives regardless of people’s backgrounds or their financial status. In a world that thrives on knowledge, making it accessible to everyone is the need of the hour. Jaeyeon Irene Do, a researcher with expertise on Special Education is addressing the very need but for a group of people who come from culturally diverse backgrounds.

An alumnus of Auburn University, where she mastered Autism for special education, Jaeyeon joined the Alabama – Korea Education and Economic Partnership (A–KEEP) as a Team Leader for Research in Development and Special Education. A-KEEP is closely associated with the Alabama Council on Developmental Disabilities to create certification programs that enable trainees to professionally qualify as English Korean Educational Interpreters with Special Education.  

The move is not only directed towards the culturally sensitive, but also for individuals and families that grapple with disability. Jaeyeon Irene Do’s vision is to make the learning process more inclusive by amalgamating experiences that are unique to many cultural groups. She also aims to make information more accessible in order for people to make informed decisions.

“Individuals and families with disabilities need more support from the community,” says Jaeyeon. “My services will enable people to access services based on their needs and empower them to achieve their dreams.”

Jaeyeon has specialized as an educator for individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and developmental disabilities. A person with ASD is neurodivergent with a wide scope of personality traits and hence needs specialized education that caters to their strengths and challenges. Jaeyeon immersed herself in helping such individuals by creating individualized classroom learning sessions. Her practices also make her a favorite among those with developmental disabilities – a condition that affects the physical and intellectual abilities of a person. 

Her drive for excellence and empathy motivated Jaeyeon to shift her base from Seoul to the United States of America, where she found her calling with A-KEEP and decided to pursue her endeavor by individualizing special education needs. Like all new beginnings, her efforts too were met with a set of challenges, the biggest of which were language and cultural barriers. 

“I took it as a personal challenge to learn and deliver service models that surpassed language and cultural barriers. It led me to study and understand different cultures since they can be a great asset to help individuals and address the challenges that a typical American or an immigrant family with a disability might face.”

For Jaeyeon, learning and embracing different cultures and backgrounds is a very important criterion for developing individualized service models. She believes that cultures shape the way people think and address disability. Understanding the reasoning behind the behavior is a key factor in addressing an individual’s learning needs and helping them in areas where required. 

“I love special education. It is not just related to imparting knowledge; it involves connecting to a person on a deeper level of understanding,” says Jaeyeon. “Disability is a wonderful diversity of life, and I am honored to support these beautiful individuals in their happy lives.”

In the future, Jaeyeon looks forward to connecting with organizations that address physical and intellectual disabilities. She aspires to create a brand that revolves around empathy, understanding, and inclusivity while expanding her service models to cater to a larger group throughout the United States. 

Published by Stephanie M.