Jessica Aguilar champions culturally responsive disability support for Latino families

Jessica Aguilar, co-founder of Grupo Poder y Esperanza, is building family-centered disability support for Latino communities in North Carolina. Her work focuses on navigation, advocacy and culturally relevant resources for families raising children with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Why it matters: - Latino families navigating disability services often need language access, trusted guidance and culturally relevant support. - Jessica Aguilar’s work aims to close that gap by connecting families with specialists, resources and advocacy. - The approach centers family voice, which can improve access to services and reduce isolation for caregivers.

What happened: - Jessica Aguilar is the co-founder of Grupo Poder y Esperanza, a family support organization serving Latino families in North Carolina. - Aguilar has a bachelor’s degree in business administration and economics from Universidad Centroamericana José Simeón Cañas. - Since 2018, Aguilar has worked in the disability field across North Carolina. - Aguilar has served on multiple advisory committees and has provided direct referral and navigation support for families.

The details: - Grupo Poder y Esperanza connects families with specialists, resources and educational materials. - Aguilar’s advocacy includes transition-to-adulthood planning, financial management support for families, sexual education for people with disabilities and access to culturally responsive resources. - Aguilar is the parent of twins with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including autism and ADHD. - That lived experience shapes her focus on family-centered advocacy and practical support. - Aguilar’s professional background also includes project management, nonprofit governance and program development. - Her training includes certifications in ACEs education, sexual and reproductive health education, and community health education.

Between the lines: - Aguilar’s profile reflects a broader shift toward disability support that is culturally specific rather than one-size-fits-all. - Her emphasis on trust, empathy and navigation suggests many families need help understanding systems before they can use them effectively. - Her message about self-care underscores the strain that emotionally demanding advocacy work can place on community leaders. - Aguilar identifies stigma, bias and limited resources as major barriers for people with disabilities.

What’s next: - Aguilar plans to keep building support networks that help families and community members have a voice in services and policy. - She continues to push for greater awareness and education to create more inclusive systems. - Her work through Grupo Poder y Esperanza will remain focused on helping families avoid navigating disability services alone.

The bottom line: - Jessica Aguilar is using personal experience and professional training to make disability support more accessible, culturally responsive and family-centered for Latino communities in North Carolina.