Seattle's Child

Your guide to a kid-friendly city

Unsung Hero: Corrine Vargas sees determination pay off as her son thrives

 

Seattle's Child is proud to once again sponsor the Unsung Heroes being honored in February by the Department of Children, Youth and Families Strengthening Families Washington. 

Every day this month we'll present an Unsung Hero.

 Nominations are accepted from around the state and include biological parents, grandparents, foster and adoptive parents. Some volunteer at local schools; some have started nonprofit organizations; some mentor others in their communities. All honorees are true heroes: outstanding caregivers doing important work on behalf of children. 

 

Corrine Vargas, Yakima

Corrine Vargas is a busy mom to two boys: Sebastian who will be 8 in January, and David who will be 6 in February.

Sebastian and David attended Blossoms Early Learning Center for preschool. Corrine is an effective advocate for her children. When the family first came to Blossoms, Corrine had begun the process of having David assessed through Children's Village, where he was later diagnosed with autism.

Her organizational and advocacy skills helped her navigate the referral and assessment process through the Village and then Yakima School District for special-education services where David qualified for an IEP. He soon began splitting his day between Blossoms, where he was supported by a one-on-one classroom aide, and Yakima School District's developmental preschool program.

We saw tremendous growth in David. He went from being nonverbal and distressed in the classroom to being a happy, well-adjusted 5-year-old with increased verbal skills. Our team now follows David's adventures on Facebook. We love to see him smile. His mother's determination and follow-through made a huge difference for her son. Her initiation of early-intervention services from the beginning made such a difference in David’s kindergarten readiness. We are so happy for him and admire his mom for her tenacity and resilience. She truly is an unsung hero.

 

Nominators: Stacie Marez & Connie Zaragoza

 

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