Life & Work with Aura Vizcaya

Today we’d like to introduce you to Aura Vizcaya.

Hi Aura, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Mother of two boys, Mauro, 14 years old, diagnosed with autism, and Fabian, six years old.

My story began when I received my son’s diagnosis and decided to change my profession, and I started my child development associated and got trained in the Autism Field. I worked as a lead teacher in a school that was about 30 miles from my house. By then, my son had already started the special education program within the public school system, I had to leave him in a before and after school program, where he was accepted, something that caught my attention at that time was that all the nurseries They said the same thing “they don’t change diapers/pull-ups after a certain age” my son was four years old at the time. As a single mother, I had no choice but to go to work with tears in my eyes and with great concern. When I picked up my son at the end of the day, I found him in a corner sitting, holding the urge to urinate (he had not urinated since 6 am until 6 pm) and the teachers talking to each other, without paying attention to the neurotypical children, much less to my son (neurodivergent). Summer arrived and Mauro started a summer camp, where he had an accident (scratched his face and broke a tooth) incredibly no one saw. Years later, he suffered from bullying by his teacher.

I began to understand that I was not the only mother who was on this path of the spectrum and began to advocate for my son. I met my friend, partner, confidant and husband Ricardo Matos Jr who gave me his support in all aspects and in 2015, we had Fabian, the youngest of the family.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Of course, it has been a very hard road and it still is. We live in a society/community where inclusion is talked about but not practiced, where there is no respect, acceptance or tolerance towards the Autism spectrum, where there is nothing appropriate for children, much less for young people or adults within the spectrum.

Searching for funds is becoming increasingly difficult since it is a topic that few are interested in unless they have a family member within the spectrum, and these funds are to create opportunities for children, youth and adults with autism as well as for their families, who are also not taken into consideration and they also need help in the area of ​​mental health among many others.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m the founder of Autismo Dia a Dia, a non-profit organization dedicated to support to families, providing educational information, referral for professional intervention, useful tools to advocate for the rights of individuals and families impacted by the AUTISM SPECTRUM diagnosis and Owner/Director of the First Holistic Family Child Care with neurodivergent inclusion with Spanish immersion in the State of Georgia.

What matters most to you? Why?
What matters most to me today is raising awareness about the Autism Spectrum, to live in a community full of inclusion, respect, acceptance and empathy. See communities with wide access to parks for children with different abilities (known as different disabilities), an appropriate education (without seclusion), fully trained police/firefighters/ambulances to deal with a situation with an individual with autism spectrum, decent jobs for neurodivergent youth and adults.

Why?

Because the last data made in 2018 and published by the CDC in 2021 was 1 in 44 8-year-old children have Autism, this was obtained in only 11 states (only few areas inside the 11 states), this lets me know that there are more children with diagnoses of Autism and few resources and accommodations. And it’s time to create awareness, respect and inclusion, we can’t wait any longer, IT’S NOT FAIR!

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: www.autismodiaadia.org/home
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/autismodiaadiaatl
• Facebook: Autismo Dia a Dia Atl

Image Credits
Ernesto Santisteban, IG: @ernesto_santisteban