Ms. Barrera came to the United States in 1995. Once here, she married and started a family. The youngest of her two children, Christopher, was diagnosed with autism at the age of three. Since his diagnosis in 2005, Mrs. Barrera has become a staunch advocate. She is very involved with Fiesta Educativa and also participates in the Los Angeles Unified School District’s Community Advisory Committee. Most recently, Guadalupe has joined the board of directors at South Central L.A. Regional Center. Her objective is to learn everything she can about autisum so that she can be a better advocate not only for her child, but all children in South Los Angeles who have been or may be diagnosed  autism.

“I want to learn what Christopher’s rights are. I want to be an active parent and participate in different agencies that support the integration of people with special needs because I know what it’s like. At the age of 16 months, I was diagnose with an alteration in my vocal cords and for these reason my voice is different than others. In order to get specialized medical attention my family and I had to move to Puebla Mexico. I know from my own experience how having a child with special needs can impact a family.”