https://www.villagenbtx.org/bio-page-1/about-me%3A-hi-everyone!-my-name-is-elaine-achterberg.-i-was-born-%26-raised-in-seguin%2C-tx-but-have-lived-in-new-braunfels-for-about-4-years-now.-i-love-this-town!-i-am-also-an-army-veteran.-i-work-full-time-for-a-local-school-district-as-a-special-education-inclusion-paraprofessional.-i-also-have-experience-in-working-with-special-needs-adults.-i-hold-several-trainings-%26-certifications-for-my-professional-roles.-in-my-spare-time%2C-i-like-to-do-walking%2C-crossfit-workouts-(i'm-a-beginner)%2C-work-on-my-counted-cross-stitch-projects%2C-read-%26-attend-church.-i-attend-oakwood-church-where-i'm-involved-in-the-mark-9-ministry.-my-why%3A-my-whole-reason-for-being-involved-in-this-role-%26-the-special-needs-community-is-my-son-christian-who-is-19.-christian-is-an-amazing%2C-smart%2C-funny-%26-sometimes-stubborn-young-man.-he-has-autism-%26-adhd.-i-have-been-a-single-parent-to-him-his-whole-life.-i-have-loved%2C-advocated-%26-fought-for-him-his-whole-life.-i-want-him-%26-others-like-him-to-have-the-most-enriching-and-best-life-possible%2C-while-being-a-valuable-member-of-society.-fun-fact%3A-a-fun-fact-about-me-is-that-i'm-a-beginner-in-the-crossfit-world.-my-goals-are-to-also-participate-in-5k-races-%26-endurance-races-like-spartan-or-tough-mudder. 2025-09-27 https://www.villagenbtx.org/bio-page-1/hi%2C-i%E2%80%99m-rebecca%2C-co-founder-and-executive-director-of-the-village-autism-alliance%2C-and-mom-to-flynn%2C-who-is-on-the-autism-spectrum.-this-organization-grew-out-of-my-own-journey-as-a-caregiver-and-my-deep-desire-to-create-the-kind-of-support-system-i-wish-existed-when-we-first-started-navigating-this-path.-by-day%2C-i-work-as-a-wealth-advisor-and-financial-planner%2C-specializing-in-helping-families-build-long-term-strategies-for-loved-ones-with-special-needs.-but-more-than-anything%2C-i%E2%80%99m-a-mom-who-understands-how-challenging-and-beautiful-this-life-can-be.-my-faith-guides-every-step-i-take%2C-and-i-truly-believe-that-when-families-are-supported%2C-everything-changes.-one-day%2C-i-hope-to-open-a-nature-based-school-that-celebrates-all-children-and-creates-space-for-them-to-thrive.-until-then%2C-i%E2%80%99m-focused-on-building-a-stronger%2C-more-inclusive-community%2C-one-where-no-caregiver-ever-has-to-feel-alone. 2025-09-27 https://www.villagenbtx.org/bio-page-1/about-me-i-was-born-in-new-braunfels-texas.-an-artist%2C-designer%2C-and-craftsman-i-met-my-wife-rebecca-while-working-part-time-at-a-cafe-in-town.-we-have-two-boys%2C-one-of-which-is-on-the-autism-spectrum-and-was-a-big-part-of-the-inspiration-behind-%22the-village%22.-i-work-full-time-currently-as-a-ux-designer.-why-after-my-son-was-diagnosed-with-autism%2C-everything-about-him-began-to-make-sense.-however%2C-alot-of-the-world-remained-confusing.-i-saw-all-of-the-gaps-in-the-infrastructure%2C-and-the-lack-of-recognition-for-kids%2C-and-people-in-general-affected-by-autism.-how-could-something-so-profound-and-widespread-be-hardly-addressed%3F-the-village-is-a-way-to-give-kids-in-our-local-community-of-new-braunfels-space-and-advocacy.-a-fun-fact-i-love-making-things-with-my-hands.-from-jewelry-to-furniture.-im-always-looking-for-ways-to-engage-in-crafting-something-unique. 2025-09-27 https://www.villagenbtx.org/bio-page-1/about-me%3A-dr.-jenn-ahrens%2C-a-full-clinical-professor-at-texas-state-university%2C-is-currently-the-director-of-texas-state-autism-camp-and-working-towards-completion-of-her-board-certification-as-a-behavior-analyst.-through-her-work-as-the-camp-director%2C-she-pursues-her-research-agenda-of-developing-pre-swim-rituals-and-promoting-safe-swim-habits-among-children-with-autism-spectrum-disorder-(asd)-to-reduce-the-rate-of-drowning.-children-with-asd-have-an-incidence-of-drowning-at-160-times-when-compared-to-their-typically-developing-peers.-in-addition%2C-she-serves-as-a-fellow-for-service-learning-and-the-program-coordinator-for-physical-education-teacher-education-at-texas-state-university.-your-why%3A-she-has-an-intense-passion-for-working-with-children-with-asd-and-families-with-children-on-the-spectrum.-her-goal-is-to-complete-her-bcba-and-have-a-place-where-children-with-asd-are-%E2%80%9Csafe%E2%80%9D-and-can-also-attend-school%2F-daycare-and-will-never-be-rejected.-as-soon-as-she-saw-the-village-post-come-on-her-feed%2C-she-was-so-excited-about-the-chance-to-be-able-to-jump-in-with-the-new-braunfels-community-and-offer-even-a-little-bit-of-help%2C-stress-relief%2C-or-information-to-the-families-in-need.-she-feels-that-working-in-the-asd-community-is-her-calling-and-absolutely-loves-her-job!-a-fun-fact%3A-in-addition-to-the-work-in-autism%2C-dr.-ahrens-also-has-extensive-experience-in-early-childhood-studying-fine-motor-behaviors. 2025-09-27 https://www.villagenbtx.org/bio-page-1/about-me%3A-hi!-i'm-cindy.-i-am-originally-from-new-jersey-but-moved-to-texas-at-the-age-of-12.-i-met-my-(now)-husband-and-we-have-been-married-for-40-years.-we-have-3-beautiful-daughters%2C-one-of-whom-is-in-heaven-waiting-for-me.-i-also-am-a-full-time-grammy!-i-have-7-grandkids%2C-ages-2-to-18.-and-i-of-course-have-some-fur-babies-that-help-fill-my-heart.-throughout-my-life%2C-i-have-been-so-blessed-to-have-worked-some-wonderful-jobs-and-grown-in-our-incredible-community.-though-i-have-been-%22retired%22-for-a-while-now%2C-my-time-is-always-filled.-from-serving-on-non-profit-boards-to-volunteering-at-community-events%2C-i-just-can't-sit-still!-in-addition%2C-i-currently-take-care-of-my-87-year-old-mom-who-has-parkinson's.-when-i-am-not-volunteering-or-taking-care-of-family%2C-there's-a-good-chance-you'll-find-my-bird-watching-or-hiking-or-shopping-with-my-girls!-why%3A-when-rebecca-(my-youngest-daughter)-and-john-(my-son-in-law)-told-me-about-their-vision-and-asked-for-my-help%2C-there-was-no-way-i-could-say-no.-my-grandson%2C-their-son%2C-flynn%2C-holds-our-hearts.-he-is-the-apple-of-their-eye%2C-and-honestly%2C-mine-too.-needless-to-say%2C-i-am-passionate-about-what-this-village-is-going-to-do-for-families-in-our-community.-a-fun-fact%3A-and-last-but-not-least%2C-a-fun-fact-about-myself!-i-am-obsessed-with-bunnies.-i-often-joke-that-bunnies-are-my-spirit-animal. 2025-09-27 https://www.villagenbtx.org/bio-page-1/about-me%3A-%22i'm-a-lifelong-art-enthusiast-namely%2C-theatre-arts!-born-and-raised-in-houston%2C-texas%2C-i-hold-a-bachelors-degree-in-theatre-arts%2Fenglish-literary-studies-and-a-masters-degree-in-theatre-education.-i-was-blessed-to-study-in-residence-in-new-york%2C-chicago%2C-and-london!-i-spent-my-career-as-a-theatre-and-english-educator-because-i-love-watching-students-make-their-own-personal-discoveries-along-the-way.-we-relocated-to-new-braunfels-in-2015.-when-i-got-here%2C-i-was-determined-to-be-an-active-part-of-the-local-arts-community-and-conquered-that-goal-by-serving-on-the-executive-board-of-the-greater-new-braunfels-arts-council-and-proudly-(serving-as-president-from-2020-2024).-i-created-and-launched-a-new-non-profit-organization-creative-culture-alliance-of-texas-(www.creativeculturealliance.org).-our-mission-is-to-enrich-central-texas-communities-by-advocating-for-the-transformative-impact-of-art-and-culture-in-our-area%2C-while-always-seeking-out-financial-opportunities-for-our-local-art-and-culture-non-profits.-my-experience-as-an-educator-and-mom-has-made-me-intimately-aware-of-the-benefits-of-creative-expression-among-all-students%2C-but-mostly-those-with-learning-disabilities-or-special-needs.-i%E2%80%99m-thrilled-to-be-a-part-of-this-%E2%80%9Cvillage%E2%80%9D-and-do-my-part-to-help-the-families-in-our-community.%22-your-why%3A-as-an-advocate-for-education-and-creative-expression-for-all-students%2C-i-have-seen-and-witnessed-the-impact-theatre-and-art-can-have-on-students-with-learning-disabilities-or-different-learning-styles.-as-a-friend-of-the-muehl's%2C-i-immediately-wanted-to-help-with-this-amazing-mission-that-is-destined-to-satisfy-a-huge-void-in-our-community-and-benefit-countless-families.-a-fun-fact%3A-i-lived-in-san-juan%2C-puerto-rico-for-9-years-(throughout-my-20s)-where-my-son-was-born. 2025-09-27 https://www.villagenbtx.org/bio-page-1/about-me%3A-born-and-raised-in-waco%2C-tx%2C-i-made-the-move-to-new-braunfels-a-decade-ago%2C-and-it-didn't-take-long-for-this-charming-town-to-capture-my-heart.-%C2%A0new-braunfels-is-more-than-just-where-i-live-it's-my-home.-%C2%A0i-love-the-rich-traditions-and-vibrant-community-that-make-it-the-perfect-place-to-create-lasting-memories-with-my-family.-%C2%A0being-a-mom-has-always-been-a-dream-of-mine%2C-and-i'm-so-blessed-to-live-that-dream-every-day-with-my-two-beautiful-children%2C-austin-(6)-and-zoey-(4).-%C2%A0i-co-parent-with-their-incredible-dad%2C-garrett%2C-and-together-we-love-spending-quality-time-as-a-family.-%C2%A0whether-we're-enjoying-pizza-at-bootleggers-pizza-(because-the-playground-is-a-lifesaver!)%2C-exploring-the-local-parks%2C-visiting-mckenna-children's-museum%2C-or-cuddling-on-the-couch-for-a-movie-night%2C-every-moment-feels-special.-%C2%A0i-work-full-time-as-a-recruiter-for-caterpillar-inc.%2C-a-job-i'm-truly-passionate-about.-%C2%A0outside-of-work%2C-i-embrace-everything-new-braunfels-has-to-offer-walks-admiring-the-murals%2C-listening-to-great-music-and-moving-my-body%2C-floating-the-rivers-to-stay-cool-during-the-hot-months%2C-exploring-local-coffee-shops%2C-and-dancing-whenever-i-can.-%C2%A0i-am-a-warrior-when-it-comes-to-advocating-for-my-kids-and-will-be-for-each-and-every-one-of-you-too!-%C2%A0i-prioritize-my-well-being-too.-%C2%A0balancing-it-all-isn't-always-easy%2C-but-i'm-proud-of-how-i-manage-it-because-i-know-that-taking-care-of-myself-allows-me-to-show-up-as-the-best-version-of-me-for-my-family-and-for-yours-too!-%C2%A0new-braunfels-has-given-me-the-space-to-thrive%2C-and-i-couldn't-imagine-a-better-place-to-call-home.%C2%A0-your-why-%3A-the-day-my-son-was-diagnosed-with-autism-was-not-a-day-i-look-back-and-mourn%2C-but-rather-a-day-that-opened-my-eyes-to-a-new-perspective.-%C2%A0a-new-way-of-seeing-the-world-through-someone-else's-eyes.-%C2%A0a-new-way-of-rooting-for-my-kids%2C-other-kids%2C-and-being-more-patient%2C-and-it-truly-gave-me-a-purpose.-%C2%A0i-will-always-root-for-you%2C-be-an-ear-to-listen%2C-cry-with-you%2C-hug-you%2C-etc.-%C2%A0my-purpose-and-duty-is-to-make-sure-our-kids-have-a-safe-community-to-grow-up-in.-%C2%A0a-safe-place-for-people-like-you-and-me-to-have-for-our-families.-%C2%A0i-am-truly-proud-to-be-a-mom-to-my-neurodivergent-son-and-i-cannot-wait-to-bring-each-and-every-one-of-us-together-to-share-our-stories%2C-to-advocate-and-to-open-the-eyes-of-so-many-that-just-don't-know-or-understand-so-our-community-becomes-more-inclusive.-a-fun-fact-%3A-i-mentioned-that-one-of-my-hobbies-was-to-dance.-%C2%A0although-i-am-not-professional%2C-i-enjoy-dancing-in-the-comfort-of-my-living-room-with-just-myself%2C-my-kiddos-and-even-friends.-%C2%A0i-usually-make-fun-videos-of-us-dancing-and-share-to-my-instagram-stories.-%C2%A0i-have-many-people-reach-out-to-inform-me-that-the-dance-videos-bring-a-little-cheer-to-their-day-or-puts-a-smile-on-their-face.-%C2%A0i-am-a-total-goofball-and-i-believe-that-showcasing-this-helps-others-to-let-down-their-guard-and-be-a-little-silly.-%C2%A0life-is-too-short-and-dancing-truly-makes-me-feel-better-mentally-and-physically.-%C2%A0if-i-can-bring-a-smile-to-just-one-person-a-day%2C-then-i-call-that-a-win!%C2%A0 2025-09-27