Carola

Carola is a mother of two amazing boys aged 7 and 14 with Autism who are clients of Regional Center. Her journey in the Self-Determination Program began in 2015 when she became a member of her sons' Regional Center Self-Determination Local Advisory Committee. 

She was born and raised in Bolivia, where she graduated with honors from Chemical Engineering at San Simon University (UMSS). She also worked as a researcher at the UMSS Agrotechnology Center for 4 years, and has a Master of Science in Refining and Natural Gas treatment with her diploma from the IFP French Institute of Petroleum Paris-France.

Carola came to the US in 2007 and 2 years later had her oldest son.  He was diagnosed with Autism at age 2, and 6 years later her youngest son was diagnosed with Autism as well; events that completely changed her life. Since then, she has been dedicated to learning how to navigate the complex disability world.

For more than 10 years she has been through a lot in the world of disabilities. She understands how hard this can be, and how lonely this journey can feel. She had learned to navigate systems like Special Education, Regional Center, In-Home Support Services, and health insurance; each one helping her to become a more effective advocate. Her sons transitioned to Self-Determination in 2021; venturing out this way and finding new ways to shape the lives of individuals with special needs originally seemed daunting, but she has been able to see the benefits of the Self-Determination Program every day in her own sons’ lives.

The Self-Determination Program focuses on strengths, interests, dreams, and passions.  This requires a significant shift in the way people think about their loved ones and themselves, as most are used to thinking about deficits and challenges. It has opened many doors for Carola’s sons, and she sees it as a privilege to be part of helping others achieve their dream lives.

Carola completed 2 years of The Learning Rights Center Tiger program, which is a program that focuses on Special Education and rights under IDEA (the Individual with Disabilities Education Act).  In addition, she’s completed trainings on Person Centered Thinking and hold Independent Facilitator certifications from the State Council of Developmental Disabilities, Autism Society of Los Angeles, Disability Voices United, and Guidelight Group.Carola speaks English and Spanish, is familiar with Developmental Disorders like Autism, as well as other related diagnosis like Sensory Processing, Sensory Integration, Developmental Coordination, Receptive and Expressive Language Disorders, Dysarthria and Mental Health Diagnoses like Generalized Anxiety Disorder GAD, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder ADHD, Obsessive compulsive Disorder OCD, interoception and dual diagnoses.

Besides her private practice, Resilience Facilitation Services LLC, where Carola offers Independent Facilitation Services for Self-Determination Program, she also worked at Autism Society of Los Angeles (ASLA) as Hispanic Community Moderator for their Multicultural Independent Facilitator (IF) training series, where she was in charge of creating training materials and providing training, in English and Spanish, to new IFs. She is currently the Leader of the ASLA Advanced Cross-cultural IF Training.

Carola is also a member of the LANTERMAN OFFICE OF ADMINISTRATIVEHEARINGS (OAH) ADVISORY COMMITTEE and Co-chair of the ELARC SDV LVAC advisory committee.