CLASE Members
Karina Kuljacha
Grupo de Apoyo Psicoeducativo en el Valle de Coachella
Karina Kuljacha tiene 12 años trabajando como Consultor de Habilidades para padres en autismo. Es una madre y profesional comprometida en el tema de forma personal y profesional, Karina cuenta con la licenciatura como médico nutricionista además de haber estudiado 3 años la carrera de Gastronomía Internacional.
Karina ha servido de guía y apoyo a muchas madres que inician en este proceso dentro de los Estados Unidos. Tiene una historia exitosa en su hija de vida que compartir como ejemplo al ser diagnosticada como Autismo Severo en los Estados Unidos y hoy es un Autismo Leve.
Karina colabora con muchas organizaciones dentro de los estados unidos apoyando a muchos padres. Además de ser fundadora de Auti Fundación que da apoyo a los padres del Valle Imperial y Coachella, Palm Desert, Riverside, Los Ángeles, San Francisco dentro de los Estados Unidos.
Phone: (442) 252-1309 & (760) 970-9612
Liliana Cervantes-Valenzuela
San Bernardino CAC
Liliana is the mother of 2 teenage kids with autism, she has lived in the city of San Bernardino for 14 years. She is actively dedicated to promoting education and support for parents, foster community awareness of students with special needs, improve communication and understanding between parents and district administrators and the Board of Education, in turn enhance special education in the SELPA.
Liliana is the Facilitator/Founder of Grupo Especial support group, Facilitator/Co-Founder /Community Relations spokesperson of Padres Excepcionales parent support group. Both groups are located in San Bernardino where she organizes and facilitates parent workshops and classes to provide support and resources to the community. Liliana is a member of Parents in Action, San Bernardino branch and also a member of SB Community Coalitions for CHANGE.
She is also the former Community Advisory Committee Chairperson of the San Bernardino City Unified School District where she continues to actively participate. Providing educational resources that empower parents of students with special needs for advocacy, and also bringing awareness of the importance of being an involved parent.
Lilliana Garnica
Inland Regional Center (IRC) Program Manager – Enhanced Service Coordination Unit
My name is Lilliana Garnica, and I am the Program Manager for the Enhanced Service Coordination Unit at Inland Regional Center. Inland Regional Center (IRC) is one of 21 regional centers, and the largest, in the state of California serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities since 1972 that live in San Bernardino and Riverside counties. As the Program Manager of IRCs Enhanced Service Coordination Unit, I have the privilege of leading a team of 10 Enhanced Service Coordinators who are passionate and dedicated to serving IRC families who are identified as part of a disparity group, also known as underserved families, who receive little to no services paid for by IRC. My role allows me to lead a team of case managers with an equity and advocacy lens utilizing cultural proficiency and cultural humility practices to help eliminate barriers to services that IRC families face including but not limited to language, cultural, and systemic barriers. Prior to my current role, I was IRCs Cultural Specialist and Cultural Proficiency Facilitator. I created and managed Service Access and Equity projects for IRCs underserved families, attended outreach opportunities throughout both counties, and spoke at numerous events regarding IRCs equity efforts.
On a personal note, I was born in Yuma, Arizona to Mexican immigrant parents and I’m the youngest of three siblings. I was the first of my family to earn a bachelor’s and master’s degree which was driven by the work ethic instilled in me growing up and witnessing the hard work and sacrifices of my parents. My passion and drive are to help vulnerable populations overcome social and systemic injustices and promote cultural proficiency and cultural humility among the professionals that serve them along the way.
On my free time, I love spending time with my family and my cats, reading, watching documentaries and crime solving shows, hiking, camping, and I know how to enjoy a sweet glass of wine.
If I can be of service in any way, please feel free to contact me. I am happy to help!
Phone: 909-890-4781
Mariza Hernandez
Early Start Family Resource Network (ESFRN)
Has been a Parent Representative with the Early Start Family Resource Network for over 15 yrs. She is a Parent Partner with Exceptional Parent Unlimited for the past year. She is also the President for District 23 Challenger Baseball League which serves the West End Area and she’s the Challenger Coordinator for the Chino POP Warner Challenger Flag Football and Cheer Program. She has 4 children her oldest son Ralph who is 25 yrs old has Traumatic Brain Injury and she has a 17 yr. old daughter with ADHD. She provides Parent to Parent support and it’s knowledgeable in various services such as IHSS, SSI, CCS and Medical to name a few.
Phone: (909) 890-4788
Melissa Cardona
Autism Society Inland Empire Autism Resource Specialist
Melissa graduated from Florida Atlantic University and has a Bachelor of Health Services. She is a mother of 4 boys, 2 of whom are on the spectrum. Melissa assists parents with questions, resources, finding events, and lending a listening ear. She will also continue to improve ASIE website resource pages.
Phone: 951-220-6922
Mónica Adriana Mier-Roldán
Grupo de Apoyo Latino Murrieta
Nacida en Durango, México e inmigrante desde 1999, con una niña con múltiples discapacidades de 1 año y medio de edad. Tenía tantas preguntas sin respuesta, que esto me llevó a educarme y desde entonces fui a clases, conferencias, leí todo tipo de lectura relacionada a múltiples discapacidades y esto me abrió puertas y pude llevar a mi hija hacia la independencia. Mi pasión por aprender me ha llevado hasta aquí, queriendo ser una madre líder y servicial para otras madres que vienen detrás de mí con sus pequeños niños.
Grupo de Apoyo Latino Murrieta es conformado por padres latinos con hijos con necesidades especiales donde se realizan talleres informativos mensuales entre otras actividades. La finalidad es que unidos podamos seguir informándonos y educándonos para así poder brindarles un futuro mejor a nuestros hijos.
Reyna Galindo
Parent Advocate
My small family dynamic is made up of myself as full-time primary Caregiver/part time Instructional Assistant for English Language Learners and my husband as Primary Income Earner, who is also a US Army Veteran. Together, we are parenting, learning and advocating for our (elementary-aged) child with a primary diagnosis of Autism and other co-existing conditions and expecting our second child later this year (2022). Though I have participated in various DD/ID community projects/events, Parent groups and open forums, my current focus among my community is my role as one of two Community Liaisons of our CAC in the Moreno Valley school district. CAC meetings are held monthly and are a great place to gain further knowledge of student needs and deepen parent education of the system that supports your student(s) learning, as well as provide input and collaboration as to any school community needs not yet being addressed. I am also an avid attendee of our Parent/Caregiver support group in Moreno Valley, along with a couple of my CLASE Colleagues. The support group currently meets via Zoom every 1st Wednesday of the month for both English and Spanish speakers. You may contact me via email for further details to get signed up to attend the support group, which is open to Moreno Valley caregivers with a loved one with a physical, emotional, developmental and/or intellectual disability who need it.
As a disabled parent myself (living with autoimmune conditions and chronic pain), the support group gives me a safe space to express my own stress, trials and triumphs among a group of parents who “get it” and offer support as well as share effective solutions in countless areas. It is also very helpful that we have two Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFT’s) who help facilitate and steer conversations at these support group meetings.
Susana Lopez
Parent Advocate
Mi nombre es Susana López, soy mamá de un joven de 21 años con diagnostico autista. Me gusta ayudar a mi comunidad, he participado en grupos de apoyo, invitando a padres para que se unan y se capaciten en talleres para que ellos mismos puedan seguir abogando por sus hijos.
Tania Vega
United Cerebral Palsy of Inland Empire (UCPIE) Outreach Coordinator
My name is Tania Vega, I have over 5 years of combined experience in community services and non-profit work, where I’ve had the opportunity to assist and engage with the Inland Empire community. I am the Outreach Coordinator for UCPIE, whose “mission is to advance the independence, productivity and full citizenship of people with disabilities”. Outside of work, I really enjoy reading, exercising, and spending time with my family. If you have any questions or would like any information about the important work we do at UCPIE, please contact me.
