CLASE Members
Alejandra Rivera
I’ve worked 15 years in the field of disability service systems advocacy. My passion grew out of my own experience as a mom to a young man diagnosed with Autism. My expertise is in Special Education, Self Determination and Person-Centered Planning.
Alma Rodriguez
Parent Advocate
I was born in Guanajuato, Mexico, my studies were a bachelor’s degree with the specialty of Technician in Construction. I worked as a teacher of Basic Education in Culinary Missions for 4 years, I took the higher Normal until the 3rd grade, then I left my career when I got married and migrated to this country in 1993. I worked at a maquiladora company (Electronics) and a company manufacturing hospital goods. I quit my job when my young daughter (8 Months) began presenting health problems and at age 3 and a half she was diagnosed with Autism and Intellectual Disability. I started to educate myself to be able to help my daughter, attending any informational talks I found regarding Autism.
Alondra Gonzalez
Grupo de Apoyo Psicoeducativo en el Valle de Coachella
Mi nombre es Alondra Gonzalez, soy parte de un grupo de padres que ayuda familias vulnerables que no saben navegar el sistema o pedir ayuda, también ocurre por la falta de diversidad docente entre los rangos de enseñanza, la mala distribución de fondos escolares y la poca responsabilidad que se le achaca al personal para cumplir estándares sostiene.
Blanca Loria
Angeles con Futuro
Facilitator for the Spanish support group Angeles con Futuro in the city of San Bernardino and Parent Representative for Early Start Family Resource Network.
Blanca has 3 children, two boys and a girl. Her youngest, Ashley, has Down Syndrome. She was diagnosed in utero and her pregnancy was a bit stressful, filled with ultrasounds and stress tests to ensure Ashley was developing okay. When Ashley was born, she had cardiac arrest and spent 5 days in the NICU. Blanca feels blessed to have Ashley in her life because of all she has learned. Ashley is a young adult now. Blanca has learned how to advocate in the school, the community, and the Regional Center system. Blanca is always willing to share what she has learned and finds it a privilege to be a helpful resource to you.
Elvia Tamayo
Ives Torres Foundation Padres con Poder
Soy madre sola con 4 hijos, uno de ellos con parálisis cerebral. Pertenezco al grupo de Padres con Poder ya por 5 años.
Es un grupo de apoyo de padres, organizado por padres para proveer apoyo a las familias de niños con necesidades especiales. Ofrecemos talleres informativos, eventos y recursos en la comunidad para familias de habla hispana en un ambiente inclusivo.
Emilia M. Palomino
Parent Advocate
Mi Nombre es Emilia M. Palomino, Nací en Guadalajara Jalisco, estudié 3 años de enfermería en la Universidad de Guadalajara. Me case en 1990 y soy madre de 4 hijos.
Actualmente pertenezco al Grupo de Apoyo Latino Murrieta. Nosotros somos padres Latinos apoyando a padres Latinos que tienen hijos con alguna discapacidad o necesidad especial, ofrecemos talleres Educativos que apoyan a las diferentes necesidades de sus hijos, también ofrecemos actividades recreacionales para que los hijos socialicen y para que los padres se conozcan y compartan sus experiencias, no importa la edad ni la discapacidad de sus hijos todos son bienvenidos, y estamos aquí para servirles.
Yo creo que ningún padre debería pasar solo, por tanto.
Gabriela Ibarra
Parent Advocate
Mi deseo de ayudar a mi hija con necesidades especiales se convirtió en una pasión por ayudar a otros padres en caminos similares. La necesidad de más recursos y conocimientos se hizo evidente durante la pandemia de COVID-19, por lo que otros padres y yo nos reunimos para compartir los conocimientos, la capacitación y los recursos que teníamos para ayudarnos a los padres a navegar los sistemas y ayudar a todos nuestros hijos a progresar en todas áreas de sus vidas. Nos reunimos los fines de semana para trabajar en lo académico, el comportamiento y las actividades divertidas.
Tengo material de aprendizaje útil para niños que puedo proporcionar gratis por correo electrónico.
Gabriela Mendez
Capacidades Diferentes
Provides resources to all disabilities through our website and events that are psycho-educational and inclusive for social development. Serves Spanish and English speakers. Group of family events for families with different abilities.
Jannett Reyes
United Cerebral Palsy of Inland Empire (UCPIE) Skill Builders Program Manager
Isabel Torres a Jannett Reyes a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst with a Master’s Degree in Applied Behavior Analysis and Autism. She grew up in the Coachella Valley and is the proud parent of a teenager with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Jannett has over 20 years of clinical experience working with families of children and adults with special needs. She completed training from the University of San Diego Special Education Advocacy Program and most recently became a PEERS adolescents certified provider. Jannett works at United Cerebral Palsy of the Inland Empire (UCPIE) as the manager of the Skill Builders Program. She continues her involvement in the community by supporting and empowering individuals and parents of children with special needs.
United Cerebral Palsy of Inland Empire Programs:
In-Home Respite Care In-Home Respite Care is a service offered to individuals with disabilities signed up with the Inland Regional Center (IRC) in the Inland Empire. UCPIE sends qualified, pre-screened, CPR and First Aid certified respite caregivers to homes to care for special needs individuals which allows the usual caregivers an opportunity to take a much-needed rest or tend to other tasks.
Family Empowerment Program The UCPIE Family Empowerment Program provides facilitated counseling services to parents/guardians raising a child/adult with disabilities. The program is facilitated by a Licensed Marriage and Family therapist who follows a curriculum with key topics such as: learning that you have power, balancing caretaking, respecting emotional differences, processing feelings, taking care of yourself, and building a healthy relationship. The program’s goal is for families to walk away with specific skills and applicable strategies to strengthen their family relationships and reduce stress.
Skill Builders After School & Summer Program The afterschool and summer programs provide community integration and social recreational activities for youth ages 7-22. Community integration helps clients develop personal safety skills, appropriate behaviors, communication, independence skills, and improve physical health. To ensure quality and provide individualized support, instruction is provided at a 3:1 student-staff ratio.
Skill Builders Virtual Program The virtual program provides adaptive sports and social activities such as karate, yoga, CrossFit, dance parties, and sing-alongs. The program is offered Monday through Friday and is open to anyone with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities.
Adaptive Bike Program UCPIE’s Adaptive Bike Program (UCPIE Team Freedom) provides the gift of an adaptive bike to individuals with mobility disabilities such as cerebral palsy, Spina bifida and other disabilities. Each adaptive bike is custom made to the level of support needed by each individual.
Jessica Munoz
Parent Advocate
My family dynamic is made up of my husband, myself, a 15-year-old daughter and a 10-year-old son. I am a stay-at-home mom and the primary caregiver/advocate for our son who has a primary diagnosis of autism and other conditions such as a learning disability and speech impairment. My daughter is a smart young lady with a passion for helping her little brother. We four integrate as a team and we are trying our best to cover all the needs of my son’s conditions.
