CARAFAP LLC and CARAFAP Foundation were birthed from a family that Dr. Carter provided services to during graduate school. She was first exposed to the autism community while in undergraduate school. At the time, autism was not as prevalent and limited research had been conducted. She recalls working with a former client who had a history of elopement. She was required to provide line-of-sight supervision to ensure the client’s safety while out in the community due to unknown behaviors that could potentially occur.  After transitioning from that position and entering graduate school, she stumbled upon another opportunity, a family with two children on the spectrum.  As time passed, Dr. Carter established a strong connection and rapport with the family, and they became her extended family.  This relationship had an everlasting impact and caused her to change the direction of her career path. Dr. Carter had previously aspired to become an anesthesiologist.  However, those “hands-on” experiences led and empowered her to shift her planned career path and concentrate on making a global impact by providing much needed services to this vulnerable population.

 

Dr. Carter’s work was launched, and some began to refer to her as the “autism queen”.  She has spoken on local and national platforms to inspire, educate and encourage those who are familiar and unfamiliar with this disability. Dr. Carter served as an adjunct professor at Nova Community College located in Annandale, Virginia teaching those with disabilities.  Prior to CARAFAP’s inception, she worked as a consultant in various capacities providing treatment to those with autism and other developmental needs.

 

Dr. Carter believes being a vessel to this population is her ministry and she works diligently and lovingly to provide excellent care to each of her clients and their families. She is humbly grateful for being chosen to walk this journey.