When Adrianna was born in 2022, she went through all of the basic screenings that newborns undergo. It was during these routine tests that her parents discovered she was born with bilateral hearing loss. “The hearing test set off a red flag to have her evaluated to see if there was anything else that might be going on with her,” said her mother, Leticia. The team at MountainView Regional Medical Center referred her family to Aprendamos Family of Services for additional evaluations. “Originally, I thought that because of her hearing loss, we would just be working with a Speech Therapist,” said Leticia. “But after her initial evaluation, the team told me she was delayed in all aspects of her development.” Aside from bilateral hearing loss, Adrianna was also diagnosed with 8-P Inverted Duplication Deletion Syndrome, a rare chromosomal abnormality. Adrianna, who goes by Adri, began receiving early intervention services through Aprendamos. She was soon surrounded by a team that included a Speech Therapist, Occupational Therapist, Physical Therapist, Nutritionist, Social Worker, and Family Service Coordinators. “We didn’t know what to expect because we had never been around anyone receiving early intervention services,” said Leticia. “I didn’t know this was a thing until Adri was born so I thought, well, if they can help Adri, then it’s a win in my book.” Soon after, Adri began thriving. She met the milestones set for her and her parents watched her transform into an independent toddler who is now talking, crawling, and playing with books, toys, and dolls. Adri’s father, Eligio, shared, “With the assistance from Aprendamos, it's been nice to let Adri be herself and learn those skills we worked hard on. She is her own little human, throwing tantrums, and saying hi and bye.” Leticia added, “Adri has become her own person – a sassy little girl who knows what she wants and is clear about what she doesn’t like.” After three years, Adri will soon be graduating from early intervention and continuing on with outpatient services from Esperanza Children’s Therapy. Leticia and Eligeo said, “We absolutely love everyone that has been a part of our team. They have proven so much to us and done so much for us, and they shared their concerns for our kid. We could see how much they wanted Adri to succeed.” When we asked them what advice they would give to parents considering early intervention programs for their children, they said, “Be strong advocates for yourself and your children and to find the right team for you because they are so important and will be intertwined into your whole life.” We look forward to welcoming Adri and her family into additional Aprendamos Family of Services programs and seeing Adri grow, thrive, and reach her full potential!
In 2007, Dolores Ramos joined Aprendamos Family of Services as a Billing Specialist — a role she continues to hold today with pride and dedication. Over the years, her path at Aprendamos has been anything but routine. Early in her career, she expanded her impact beyond the office by becoming an infant massage instructor, spending hands-on time with families before eventually returning full-time to billing. Reflecting on the early days, Dolores describes them as a time of discovery. “It was a very fun time learning what child therapies were all about,” she recalls. “Now, 17 years later, I am still learning.” That sense of continual growth and purpose is part of what’s kept her committed to Aprendamos for nearly two decades. Throughout her time here, Dolores has witnessed Aprendamos evolve to meet the growing and changing needs of the community. “When Aprendamos started, the need was big,” she says. “But now with all the different things happening to our moms, our services are very much needed.” She believes that ongoing training and support allow team members like her to grow and stay connected to the mission in meaningful ways. One story that has stayed with Dolores is from her time teaching infant massage. She worked with a young couple whose infant son wasn’t progressing as expected. After a month, they received a diagnosis: Muscular Dystrophy. “With all the help from Aprendamos, he is doing great,” she shares. “I still keep in contact with the family.” It’s that lasting connection and the ability to make a difference that makes her work so meaningful. When asked why she’s stayed with Aprendamos for so many years, Dolores doesn’t hesitate: “I enjoy what I do, and I continue to learn.” She also shared immense gratitude for her long career with our organization, stating, “I would like to thank God and Abel for giving me this opportunity.” We thank Dolores for her incredible service, compassion, and dedication throughout the years. Her impact continues to be felt across our entire Aprendamos family.
When Noah was a toddler, his grandmother Dolores—affectionately known as Gamma—was at a doctor’s appointment with him at First Step when a team from Aprendamos noticed something. They gently approached her and asked a few questions. “That’s how we first heard about Aprendamos,” she shared. From that moment on, the journey began. Noah was referred to early intervention services, and his team soon recommended testing for Autism based on observed developmental delays. “We agreed,” said Dolores, “and once he was officially diagnosed, the therapists could really begin to understand how to help him.” That diagnosis became the key to personalized care strategies that would shape the course of Noah’s future. The early days weren’t easy. “It was chaotic… unknown,” Dolores recalled. She, her husband, and her youngest daughter reorganized their lives so one of them could always be present during Noah’s therapy sessions. “We tried to keep the three of us on the same page,” she said, “because we knew we needed to give him the best shot.” That decision led to over 14 years of continuous support through multiple Aprendamos programs—including Early Intervention, Esperanza Children’s Therapy, and Mariposa Autism Service Center (MASC). Now 16 years old and preparing to enter his senior year of high school, Noah has made incredible strides. “People tell me, ‘He doesn’t look Autistic,’” said Dolores. “But what they don’t see is everything we’ve worked on—the way he’s learned to self-soothe, the way he handles crowds, and how far he’s come in school.” Despite ongoing challenges with changes in routine and overstimulation, Noah is thriving. Throughout the years, many team members have left a lasting impact, including Lydia, who was there in the beginning, and his current Esperanza therapy team—Monica (OT), Kathleen (PT), and Karah (SLP), who has been a consistent figure in his life. And then there’s Camp Amigos, which Noah attended from age 5 to about 12. “He loved it,” said Dolores. “It gave him joy, community, and structure. We still remember those summers.” Looking back, Dolores says they never imagined how much Aprendamos would come to mean to their family. “They’ve gone above and beyond our expectations. Aprendamos changed Noah’s life—and ours.” To families just starting their journey, she offers this advice: “Don’t give up. Don’t be afraid. Be patient. It will help you—and most of all, it will help your child with their journey in life.” Today, Noah is a Pokémon expert, a loving grandson, and a young man preparing for graduation in 2026. As Dolores puts it, “He might not learn in the ‘normal’ way, but he’s learning in his way—and that’s all we ever wanted for him.” Here’s to Noah, and to 14 incredible years of partnership, progress, and love.
