Kelly Leffler turns special needs advocacy into authorship and education

Kelly Leffler, a Brighton, Colorado behavior technician and self-published author, is using education, advocacy, and personal storytelling to build a career centered on support and perseverance. Her work spans special needs services, psychology studies, and a 2024 book written after a traumatic brain injury.

Why it matters: - Kelly Leffler’s career connects classroom support, behavioral health, and personal advocacy in one path. - Her story shows how professional experience and lived hardship can shape both service work and public storytelling. - Leffler’s work touches students with special needs, families, and readers looking for a recovery narrative grounded in faith and persistence.

What happened: - Kelly Leffler, based in Brighton, Colorado, works as a Behavior Technician at an Applied Behavior Analysis center. - Leffler previously worked as a Special Needs Paraprofessional. - She became a self-published author in 2024. - Leffler is also studying psychology while balancing work and family life.

The details: - In her current role, Leffler works with clients to carry out individualized behavior intervention and skill-building plans under a supervising clinician. - Her earlier special needs role involved working with multidisciplinary teams to support student growth, independence, and emotional well-being. - Leffler’s approach centers on empathy, problem-solving, and advocacy for students with significant support needs. - She is also studying American Sign Language on her own to better communicate with diverse learners. - Her education includes an A.S. in Psychology and history studies from Front Range Community College. - Leffler is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Psychology. - Her credentials include a one-year substitute teaching license, CPR and AED certification, and customer service training that covers difficult conversations, rapport building, call control, and support through chat and text. - Her technical experience includes Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, virtual learning platforms, and administrative systems. - Leffler has more than 15 years of experience across education, office administration, retail, and caregiving. - She says her professional range has strengthened her ability to multitask and stay committed to excellence. - Leffler published her first book after sustaining a traumatic brain injury in a workplace incident involving a student. - The book covers her life from childhood through challenges involving faith, family, health, and raising children with special needs. - Writing became part of her recovery and a way to document the experiences that shaped her life. - She said listening to Scripture during recovery helped inspire her to put her story into words. - Leffler credits her faith in God, along with support from her husband, parents, friends, and teachers at Master’s Academy, for helping her rebuild confidence. - Her advice to young women entering the field centers on patience, faith, consistency, mentorship, and community.

Between the lines: - Leffler’s path reflects a broader theme in special education and behavioral support: practitioners often bring both formal training and personal experience to the work. - The book adds a second layer to her public identity, positioning Leffler not just as a support professional but also as a voice on recovery, resilience, and family caregiving. - Her emphasis on faith and community suggests that her message is as much personal testimony as professional guidance.

What’s next: - Leffler says she will continue pursuing her education, professional growth, and advocacy work. - Her profile and website provide additional information about her background and projects: Influential Women profile and her website. - As she advances in psychology studies, her experience in behavioral support and special needs advocacy is likely to remain central to her work.

The bottom line: - Kelly Leffler is building a career at the intersection of education, behavioral support, and personal storytelling, with faith and perseverance at the center.