Rochelle Matthews-Somerville, PhD
Special Needs Educational Specialist
Dr. Rochelle Matthews-Somerville is a special education expert, author, speaker, and a homeschool veteran who has dedicated more than two decades to empowering neurodivergent learners and supporting families across both traditional and home education spaces. She is widely recognized for her passion for equipping parents, advocating for students, and helping families navigate individualized learning with confidence.
Rochelle holds a Masters of Science in Special Education with a focus in Autism/Asperger’s Syndrome and Behavior Disorders, and a doctorate in Psychological and Cultural Studies specializing in Learners with Severe and Communication Disorders. Her extensive professional background includes roles as a university professor, autism specialist, K–12 resource teacher, and educational consultant in both public and private educational settings.
In 2019, Rochelle joined HSLDA and now serves as an Educational Specialist, supporting families nationwide with customized guidance, resources, and encouragement.
She is also the Co-founder, President, and CEO of EFM Educational Consultants, where she serves as an educator, advocate and certified neurodiversity coach. Through EFM, she partners with parents, students, and organizations to provide executive function coaching, academic strategy support, parent education, and professional development.
She and her husband have homeschooled for almost 20 years and graduated two of their six children, with four still learning at their home. She lives in southern Maryland. Faith, family, and educational freedom remain central to her work.