Receiving the Diagnosis in Puerto Rico
When the doctor said, “Caridad, your baby has tested positive for Bardet-Biedl Syndrome,” everything around me seemed to fade. I went into shock. I felt paralyzing fear and deep uncertainty. I never imagined that my precious baby—with his beautiful, deep sky-blue eyes—would be diagnosed with a rare genetic condition.
Bardet-Biedl Syndrome is a complex, multisystem genetic disorder that can affect development, speech, and vision. It may also be associated with childhood obesity, polydactyly, kidney complications, musculoskeletal differences, and autism, among other symptoms.
While we were living in Puerto Rico, it was relatively easy to communicate Jayden’s needs with doctors and therapists. At Fort Buchanan, the Educational and Developmental Intervention Services (EDIS) program provided early intervention, including occupational and speech therapy, as well as service coordination. Jayden’s occupational therapist, Maria Ortiz, played a key role in helping us enroll in the Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) and ensuring he had an Individualized Education Program (IEP) in place during his time in preschool on base.
The Beginning of New Challenges
After three years in Puerto Rico, our family received orders to move to Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington state. We arrived hopeful—expecting access to a large military hospital, specialized autism services, and a supportive school system on base.
Instead, we encountered unexpected barriers.
Therapy services such as speech, occupational, and physical therapy were not available on base for new pediatric patients. Off-base providers had waitlists of six months or longer. The autism clinic we had hoped for had not yet opened. Most concerning, the school where Jayden was supposed to receive a free and appropriate public education based on his IEP became a place where he experienced negligence and mistreatment.
Advocating for Jayden became even more difficult in a different language and within a different cultural system. Communicating his needs and asserting his rights was overwhelming. These challenges deeply impacted our daily lives and our overall well-being as a family.
When Everything Began to Change
Exhausted, unable to sleep, and searching for answers, I found a nonprofit organization in Washington that changed everything.
They guided me step by step—helping me understand how to navigate both the medical and educational systems. They taught me how to communicate effectively, document concerns, and advocate for Jayden’s rights in a structured and confident way.
The process was not quick, but for the first time, I felt supported and validated.
I was so eager to learn that I absorbed everything I could. Over time, that knowledge turned into purpose. Eventually, I was hired by the organization to help other Hispanic families facing the same challenges my family had experienced.
A Message for Hispanic Military Families
Military life brings unique challenges for all families—but those challenges can be even more complex when raising a child with special needs.
Frequent moves, long waitlists, and navigating unfamiliar systems can feel overwhelming—especially when language and cultural differences add another layer.
My hope is that every Hispanic military family has access to the resources, information, and support systems they need to advocate for their children and navigate these challenges with confidence.
You are not alone—and with the right support, change is possible.
About the Author
Caridad Vazquez has been a passionate advocate for children with special needs for over 10 years, with a focus on supporting Spanish-speaking families.
She began her work in California, helping low-income families access health insurance. She later worked as an interpreter in Washington, a teacher’s assistant in a special education school in Utah, and an elementary ESL teacher.
Currently, Caridad works at a private school in Florida as a Spanish teacher and curriculum coordinator. She is also part of the Pierce County Coalition for Developmental Disabilities (PC2) in Tacoma, Washington, where she trains families to understand medical and educational systems and supports them in securing services for their loved ones. 📧 cary@pc2online.org
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