Kimberly R. Wheat, MSHPE, is a native of South Carolina. She was born in Columbia, South Carolina, where she graduated from Cardinal Newman Catholic High School and the University of South Carolina (1995). She moved to Charleston in November of 1998 to attend graduate school in the spring of 1999. She worked in the Child Life Department at the Medical University of South Carolina while she attended graduate school and the water took hold of her. Kimberly joined the FitCatZ Team in the Spring of 2013; beginning as a volunteer and then shortly becoming employed by the College of Charleston. Kimberly serves as the Sensory Integration Specialist for the FitCatZ Program, where her main focus is to assist with the behavioral needs and safety demands of each child. She also provides support to the Program Director in any other area that may be needed.
Kimberly founded, owns, and maintains an independent practice, Unlimited Possibilities Mentoring Services LLC, which is a private agency that provides consultative and mentoring services for individuals with intellectual and/or developmental challenges, ages twelve to adulthood. Currently, three of her young adult clients are affiliated with the FitCatZ Program. Two of them are employed by the College of Charleston through Vocational Rehabilitation and one is a volunteer. They have all received extensive training and follow underneath the guidance of a group leader, Kimberly, and the Program Director.
Kimberly contains over twenty-four years of service within the field of developmental disabilities ranging from Autism/Pervasive Developmental Spectrum Disorders to Down Syndrome and other various learning challenges. Her background includes a variety of experiences such as Consultant for the Charleston Autism Division, Early Intervention Specialist and Supervisor for the South Carolina Department of Disabilities and Special Needs, Learning Disabilities Teacher at Trident Academy, New Parent Support Specialist for the United States Navy and Child Life through the Medically Fragile Children’s Program. She obtained her Master of Science in Health Professions Education, with honors, from the Medical University of South Carolina, 2000, with an emphasis on parent education for children with special needs and a Certificate in Applied Behavioral Analysis, from the University of South Carolina (2016). She is currently in the process of studying for national boards.