I am a special education advocate, activist, and community organizer. Currently I work independently as a special education advocate and under private attorneys. Previously, I worked as a community organizer with the ACLU, Industrial Areas Foundation, and as a parent advocate in many capacaties.
My background was first as a community organizer. At the age of 23, I founded a grassroots group for Latino families, Latina Mami, in Austin, Texas. I also hosted the "Mamis of Color" radio show, a project of Latina Mami, for 8 years on KOOP 91.7 FM in Austin, and served on the KOOP Board. I have also worked on immigrant rights and reproductive justice issues, especially as they affect working class women.
I was named one of Austin's "10 Most Loved Women" by Austin Monthly Magazine and was featured in Latina Magazine as an "Inspiring Latina". I also named an Ernst and Young's Social Entrepreneur of the Year finalist.
I help parents of children with special needs find their way around the public school system and have created several systems for helping parents navigate the IEP process. My areas of specialty are autism and disciplinary procedures.
I speak frequently on disability, special education, combating zero tolerance laws, the School to Prison Pipeline, community organizing,and race and parenting, and divorce and the special needs family.
Click here for an article written about me and Latina Mami/organizing and why I do some of the work I do.
Gloria featured in Latina Magazine
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