Biography

Ava Locks is a New York State-certified Special Education Teacher with extensive teaching experience at New York public and private schools and cultural organizations. She is experienced in developing programs and strategies to meet the needs of Neurodiverse populations. Her expertise includes sensory-friendly training, disability equity training, and advising businesses on accessible and inclusive strategies and best practices.

She has experience providing early intervention services for children with autism and individualized learning style instruction in private practice. She has delivered instruction and programs for children from early childhood through high school. Ava has served as a guest speaker for conferences, colleges, and youth organizations, offering her expertise as a community-based educator and inclusion specialist.

In addition to instruction, Ava has developed and written curricula for various cultural organizations. She enjoys the opportunities they present for educational outreach within her community. In her master's degree program, Ava authored a thesis on the importance of place-based learning and the East End's enriching opportunities to enhance a curriculum. Upon graduation, her thesis's research and development were implemented when she formed her company, Peconic Programs, in Southampton, New York.

Ava has served as a guest speaker for conferences, colleges, and youth organizations, offering her expertise as a community-based educator and inclusion specialist. She presented “Increase Audience Engagement with Sensory Friendly Awareness” at the Museum Association of New York Annual Conference (April 2023).

In 2024, she launched ACCESSforALL, a disability consultation firm offering workshops and training services to businesses and professionals interested in creating more equitable and inclusive experiences for their communities.