Chendo Chavarria and Lorena Valentini are parents and advocates for neurodivergent individuals. They are residents of Miami-Dade County. Their journey through autism began almost 20 years ago, when their only son was diagnosed as a toddler. Since then, both have been committed to advocating for integration and acceptance of people with autism in society and in the workplace.
Chendo is a Vice President at VISA, where he serves as the Miami chapter co-chair of the Viable employee resource group for people with disabilities. He is a CARD Constituency Board member and Chair of the VISA Miami Neurodiversity and Autism Group. Disappointed by the standards of therapeutical and other care available to expatriate families during a work-related three-year stay in Singapore in 2011, Lorena and Chendo created a blog to assist families impacted by autism to navigate life in the country and locate useful resources.
Most recently, they have written and published “USUAL, a Ghost Most Unusual”, a picture book conceived to help school children identify and understand the behaviors children with autism often present, and their underlying drivers.
They have been proud CARD constituents since 2014.
Juan Fernandez is a dedicated healthcare professional who is passionate about leveraging technology to improve patient care. Alongside this role, a Constituency Board Member for CARD, advocating for inclusive education and empowering individuals with autism.
Natalie Fernandez, his wife, is a compassionate teacher’s aide who nurtures young minds and creates an inclusive learning environment at a local school. They are proud parents to Jonathan, their 7-year-old son with autism, whose journey led them to seek support from CARD.
As a family, they remain committed to advocating for individuals with autism in their community, working humbly and tirelessly to ensure access to resources and opportunities for those in need. Their shared experiences have shaped their dedication to making a positive impact and helping others reach their full potential.
