voiceability

  Meet Cecelia:  She is a mother of an amazing young adult with autism. She is a powerful advocate and a model of courage and perseverance. Knowing that Latino parents with special needs children are especially isolated moved her to begin the support group La Esperanza de Emily. Here is her story. At 12 months, Emily was saying only a few words. She started getting frustrated because she couldn’t express herself. She was evaluated and Emily was diagnosed with autism at two and a half. In speech therapy, they told me she would not be able to talk. I was so determined, that I did not accept the diagnosis. And eventually she did talk. My life became all about Emily. I had tutors come help her with her regular homework plus any other subjects she was falling behind in. Some days she would say, “Mom, I don’t want to do this anymore.” Her life was not easy. I regret it sometimes because she didn’t have a normal childhood. Thanks to that pressure though, I see how she