Ysabel Fuentes, Hispanic Parent to Parent Coordinator
Hello! I studied in Mexico and got my bachelor degree in Education. I was Principal in a rural area for a couple of years. Then I decided to come to Walla Walla and I married with Martin. We have two daughters, Christian and Esmeralda. When Christian was born she participated in Serendipity an Early Intervention program, and Parent to Parent. She reached her milestones when she was a toddler and exited the program successfully. At first I started to volunteer my time to translate, assisting people in interviews or calling for them. I become a Helping Parent in 1992 and I started as a Hispanic Outreach in 1998, officially with Parent to Parent. I was a Family Resources Coordinator (FRC) in Walla Walla Birth to Three under the former Department of Human Services, for fifteen years. Also I was translating IEPs (Individualized Educational Program) for Walla Walla Public Schools for about three years. Now in the evenings I watch kids with disabilities as a caregiver; I am an Individual Provider (IP) with Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA). As a Hispanic Outreach in Parent to Parent we created Mamas Especiales, a group of ladies very enthusiastic! We are having a support meeting every month and we talk about everything in Spanish. Our children have different disabilities and ages; we are happy to celebrate our culture sharing our best food platters with each other. We enjoy being together and grew up ourselves facing the challenges to rise a child with disabilities represent. To me Parent to Parent has been a blessing! It is an extension of my family, as I am here in this country by myself in the beginning. Now my daughters always support me with their strength and time as volunteers in all the projects I become involved with.
