In 2008 I married my husband, Ricardo Lagos. We met when we were both on a rock climbing trip to Joshua Tree, California. Our love of rock climbing brought us together. Ricardo is a software engineer at Google. He loves photography and playing poker and is very good at both. We both are foodies and love to explore the food scene of Seattle. We also love to go swing dancing.

In the fall of 2013 our lives were transformed when our son was born and we began the incredibly joyful and challenging work of parenting. When our son was sixteen months old, he was diagnosed with a rare genetic condition called Phelan-McDermid Syndrome. This condition causes developmental delays, challenges with communication and intellectual disability. Many people with this condition are also autistic. You can learn more here. www.pmsf.org. When we learned of his diagnosis, we learned that he would have an intellectual disability throughout his life, and that he would need support for daily activities throughout his life. We realized that he might not ever speak, and if he did it would be with a limited vocabulary. My husband and I went through an intense period where we let go of our previous vision of our parenting journey, and embraced an unknown and unclear future. We have come to a place of parenting our son with deep gratitude, joy and acceptance of our reality.

Carlos is five years old, autistic and nonverbal. He loves to run outside. I think this might be his favorite activity! When he runs his face lights up with joy and he is completely present and happy in the moment. He also loves toys that light up and play music, bath time, swimming and watching cartoons. Each week he attends preschool for 20 hours and also participates in 6 hours of behavioral therapy at home. He is a sweet, curious, energetic little boy and he has brought more joy into our lives than we knew was possible.

Parenting a child with a disability has made me a more resilient person. My husband and I encounter challenges on our parenting journey constantly, and I have confidence in my ability to remain grounded and present through those challenges. Parenting my son has also increased my commitment to working for the rights of disabled people in the world. My own learning has enabled me to have conversations about the importance of avoiding ableist language and making programs for the community accessible to and inclusive of all people.