Meet Our Founder

Shannon Hooley

Hello, my name is Shannon Hooley. I have created this very unique healing space that is warm and inclusive — House of Love and Gratitude. I have twin daughters. One of my daughters was diagnosed with autism at 20 months. Since that day, I have been on a journey to help her heal profoundly. House of Love and Gratitude was my dream that has now become a reality. Finding the right school in Fort Lauderdale for my daughter with autism was a significant challenge.

Homeschooling was not an option, in our home, because my daughter needs a highly structured environment that also allows her to feel safe, comfortable and free to be herself, just like she feels at home. I created House of Love and Gratitude as a homeschool support center. This center is my unique vision. Students attending House of Love and Gratitude must be registered as a homeschool student with his or her designated public school district. Since we are a homeschool support center, we are not governed by state mandates or required to administer high stake testing. Instead we offer academic and social support with the freedom of using materials and methods that match your child's individual learning style. We are interviewing potential families to join our learning adventure. Your child may be the right fit if he or she is on the spectrum of autism and is not thriving in a current educational setting. You, as parents, are ideal for our school, if you are open to non-traditional, educational methods, and healing modalities such as light therapy, sound therapy and vibrational therapy.

It is my great hope, along with my amazing team of teachers and therapists, to create a structured but colorful and fun loving space in which these children have a deep sense of belonging. My team and I are committed to providing everything these children need to live their lives with joy each day. My family and I love this "Awesomism" Autism journey we are on, and we are grateful for it all. Love is the energy that we give to others, and gratitude is the love that we receive. We plan to use the power of love and gratitude as the driving force behind our home.

Our Team

Meet our dedicated and nurturing team

Lori Levy MA CCC-SLP

Speech Language Pathologist

A Brainy Choice Inc. is owned by Lori Levy MA CCC-SLP, a national certified (ASHA) and state licensed/insured Speech Language Pathologist. Ms. Levy attended the University of Central Florida and received her Masters Degree in Communicative Disorders/Speech Language Pathology in 2003. During her professional career of over 20 years, Lori has worked in a variety of settings. Lori gained experience working in hospitals, clinics, home health, elementary, middle, and high schools before starting her own private practice. She specializes in oral motor and feeding disorders, and is highly experienced working with Developmental Delays, Down Syndrome, Autism, medically fragile children, language disorders, fluency disorders, as well as articulation and phonological disorders. Lori has also created several educational apps that coincide with the therapy she provides. Ms. Levy has worked closely with Occupational Therapists for many years, and realizes the benefits of working as a team to see the best results. She has created a team with a variety of therapists that are highly skilled and unique. The talented and dedicated group of therapists work hard daily to make sure each child reaches their maximum potential. Ms. Levy and her team take an innovative and realistic approach to motivate and maintain the interest of the patient, while finding the best treatment plan possible. Her belief is that every individual deserves the best quality of care to express themselves and improve their overall quality of life.

Jacquelyn

Education Specialist, M.S.

Jacquelyn, Education Specialist, M.S., is a certified Special and General Education Teacher licensed/insured in the States of Florida and New York. Jacquelyn has a dual Master's Degree of Science for Teachers from Pace University in New York City and graduated top of her class as a NYC Teaching Fellow. She also has a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology with a Pre-Medical Concentration. Jacquelyn is currently certified to teach students with moderate to severe disabilities as well as a general education curriculum. She specializes and is experienced working with Autism, Auditory Processing, Developmental/cognitive Delays, Down Syndrome, Emotional/Multiple Disabilities, and medically fragile children. She is also certified in ESL, Therapeutic Crisis Intervention in Schools (TCIS) as well as Positive Behavior Support and Mental Health Support through Rutgers University Medical Center. Jacquelyn is trained in a wide range of behavioral supports and has years of experience writing Functional Behavior Analysis (FBA), Behavior Intervention Plans (BIP), and Individualized Education Plans (IEPs). She is also conversational to intermediate level in a few languages including American Sign. Jacquelyn works with students ranging in age and cognitive ability and has taught in the classroom as well as the private sector, and now as an independent contractor. While teaching in New York City, Jacquelyn was awarded highly effective ratings while being observed for her pedagogy skills. She also has extensive experience homeschooling, tutoring, and coaching/consulting parents while navigating the education and therapy services process for their children. Jacquelyn works closely and collaborates with a team of specialists including Speech Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Behavior Therapists, and more. She strongly believes in team collaboration in order to provide and ensure the best quality of care for her students/clients. Jacquelyn believes that anyone can reach their full potential through focus, hard work, and perseverance. She takes a fun, gentle, and strategic approach while instructing her students and makes sure that all of the material is adapted to meet the individual needs of every student. Jacquelyn firmly believes in building rapport so that her students are comfortable, engaged, and achieve success through positive reinforcement during the learning process. This ensures and provides a safe learning environment where students can express themselves as well as enrich and improve their quality of life. Jacquelyn continues to improve her practice through years of experience and continued professional development courses. She is continuing her studies in American Cued Speech, as well as pursuing her NBCT (National Board Certification) and PhD.

Darlene Gray MA CCC-SLP

Speech-Language Pathologist

Darlene is a licensed Speech-Language Pathologist with over 25 years of experience supporting children and families in school and clinical settings in New York City and Fort Lauderdale. She previously ran a private practice in Manhattan and Brooklyn, working closely with families, educators, and interdisciplinary teams who value connection, growth, and each child's unique potential. At House of Love and Gratitude, she is honored to be part of a community that shares her belief in nurturing the whole child. Her approach is compassionate, individualized, and rooted in evidence-based practices, guided by each child's strengths, needs, and family goals. Darlene specializes in working with children who experience challenges in speech, language, feeding, and oral-motor development, including those with autism and childhood apraxia of speech. She incorporates advanced training in PROMPT, Orton-Gillingham, The Hanen Program, and Talk Tools to create meaningful, engaging, and effective therapy experiences. Above all, she believes that progress happens through connection, trust, and joy.

Pearl Natanel

Occupational Therapist

Pearl was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. She graduated in 2011 with a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology from Brooklyn College, the City University of New York. She then moved on to graduate in 2014 with her Master's Degree in Occupational Therapy from Long Island University. Pearl has an extensive background working with children with developmental disabilities, specifically those with Autism Spectrum Disorder. She has 9+ years of experience working with special education teachers, families, and other supporting staff to enhance children's participation and engagement in meaningful occupations. Pearl has worked in multiple settings, including schools, clinics, and homes, to support child development.