Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

Nonprofit AzulBlue helps parents understand autism

AzulBlue

Krystal Ramirez / Special to The Sunday

Children participate in outdoor activities such as soccer with the help of AzulBlue, a nonprofit organization that helps families that have children with autism.

Olivia Espinoza fully expected the diagnosis that was coming, but she never could have been prepared for it.

When her son Matthew was 10 months old, Espinoza noticed he wasn’t acting quite like other children his age. He was unusually quiet, and he didn’t seem particularly interested in interacting with her or his father, Luis.

When Matthew was almost 2, after Espinoza had been typing questions about her son’s behavior into search engines for months, he was diagnosed with autism.

The family lived in Pahrump at the time and found few resources to lean on. They moved to Las Vegas with the hope of providing a better life for Matthew.

Once they got here, though, Espinoza found she was still doing much of the work herself to find help. There was scant information available to parents, especially those whose first language is Spanish, which forced her to make round after round of phone calls and office visits in search of services.

Although programs existed, she says they were poorly advertised, and figuring out the next steps after an autism diagnosis was a laborious, frustrating process.

“Most parents have no idea what to do next,” Espinoza said. “There are school programs, camps, workshops, therapy ... but people, especially in the Hispanic community, aren’t getting the information.”

In December 2011, Espinoza, who had been collecting phone numbers and information for various programs in Southern Nevada, launched AzulBlue, a community organization dedicated to helping families with children with autism, with a focus on the Hispanic community.

This summer, AzulBlue received official nonprofit status and, with the ability to raise more money, is aiming to expand its services. Espinoza also has plans to start a chapter in Texas, where she has family with autistic children.

Espinoza hunted for information wherever she could find it when her son was diagnosed. She speaks and understands English, but Spanish is her first language and she is more comfortable using her native tongue when talking about complicated subjects. When Espinoza asked local autism conference organizers whether they could provide Spanish-language translators for her and other parents, they turned her away.

Of the 100 families that participate in AzulBlue activities, which include social and sporting events and informative workshops, 90 percent are Hispanic. But the programs are bilingual, and translators are at all of their conferences.

Julia Aguirre, events coordinator for AzulBlue and the mother of a son with autism, said AzulBlue was invaluable to her when her son was diagnosed.

It’s an isolating experience, she said, and parents often have no clue where to turn.

“They handed me a flier in English, and I think I read and understand English well, but I didn’t understand it,” Aguirre said. “I asked for one in Spanish, and that one didn’t make sense, either.”

At the core of AzulBlue’s services, which are based out of a rent-free space offered by the Grant a Gift Autism Foundation, is the parent-orientation program. At a workshop, parents receive a binder of important contacts and information on programs and school resources.

All of AzulBlue’s offerings — soccer sessions, social events for kids of different ages, a drum circle for kids, special gatherings for fathers and mothers — are designed to build support networks and advance the coordination, social and mental skills of the children.

Bonifacio Preciado, whose 14-year-old son, Angel, was diagnosed with autism 10 years ago, said finding help took a lot of “knocking on doors” and countless phone calls. AzulBlue has been a godsend, he said.

“Playing soccer has helped my son a lot,” he said. “He interacts more with other kids, talks more. And his coordination has really improved.”

Until recently, all of the money for programs came from parents and volunteers. Some offer money, some offer time and some offer empanadas or other items to sell at fundraisers. Now, the organization hopes to land grants and corporate donations.

AzulBlue teams with other autism organizations throughout the valley, including Nevada PEP, which also provides Spanish-language services, to make the most of limited resources.

Espinoza sees AzulBlue as her mission, and she’s committed to helping it grow.

“Parents are so scared when they call here for the first time,” she said. “They don’t know where to turn, but then they see there are many others in their position. We can make our children’s lives richer and fuller as long as we support each other.”

For more information, call 702-586-0737 or send an email.

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