Navigating Disability with Love & Support
At Adelante Mujeres, we believe in the power of community and the importance of ensuring that every child has the opportunity to thrive. In October 2024, our Family Engagement staff recognized a growing need among families in our Early Childhood Education and parenting programs. Many children required additional support, and we knew that we could provide guidance and resources to help.
Graciela Chavez - Family Support Facilitator
Graciela Chavez, a dedicated Family Support Facilitator at Adelante Mujeres, works closely with children in our early learning programs who have Individualized Family Service Plans (IFSPs), ensuring they receive the early intervention services needed to thrive. When she took a workshop with FACT Oregon, an organization dedicated to empowering families of youth experiencing disability, it sparked an exciting idea. Graciela was motivated to empower Spanish-speaking families to support their children with disabilities through culturally-specific sessions inspired by FACT Oregon.
"It is important that parents know how to accept and support their kids, and learn the tools to navigate the system better," Graciela shares. "We don’t want our kids to get lost in the system. We want them to be accepted into all educational spaces."
Creating a Safe and Inclusive Space
Our workshops, offered in Spanish, provide a welcoming environment for parents to share experiences, resources, and knowledge. Washington County has resources available for families, but Adelante Mujeres is proud to be the only organization offering these workshops specifically in Spanish. Our goal is to ensure that no family feels isolated or uncertain about their child’s future.
Lorena Barrera, once a parent in our early childhood program and now a Family Support Facilitator, says, "I want to make an impact for other parents like me. Sometimes you feel alone until you meet others going through the same struggles. I love that I can provide resources and teach people about their rights in this role." With her son entering kindergarten next year, Lorena feels more prepared to advocate for his needs, thanks to the knowledge gained through these workshops.
While we currently serve Adelante Mujeres families, we have big dreams of expanding these services to the wider community and are committed to additional collaborations, internally and externally. For example, we plan to integrate our Chicas facilitators, who work with students in grades 3-12, into the workshops to help them learn essential behavioral management skills for their programs.
A Community Growing Together
In November, we held our first workshop (in partnership with FACT Oregon), welcoming nine participants. It was a resounding success! Parents left feeling empowered, heard, and better prepared to support their children.
Lorena Barrera, Family Support Facilitator
Our behavioral health workshops take place once a month, with additional access to informative webinars. In January, we collaborated with our Health Equity Department—Rosi Delgado, Early Childhood Wellness Specialist, led an introduction to special education workshop. At another of our recent Spanish-language workshops, Identifying Neurodiversity, parents learned about the natural ways in which human brains function and how we can embrace these differences without labeling them as "correct" or "incorrect." These workshops mark the beginning of a more inclusive community, where families can learn about their rights and build confidence as they navigate their children’s educational journeys.
Graciela expresses her hopes for the future: "I hope all families feel included and part of the community. Adelante is here to help all kids flourish."
Lorena adds, "I hope the story of my journey with my son who experiences disability brings other people hope."
Together, we are building a future where every child, regardless of ability, has the tools, support, and advocacy they need to thrive. We invite our community to join us on this journey—because when we support our children, we strengthen our entire community.