Valeria Gonzalez
Before joining FRN, I served as grant-maker, program director and senior consultant for organizations such as the Kellogg Foundation and the Global Fund for Women. When my son got sick, our FRN navigators were a light in the dark. As a Navigator, I am studying the intricate system to support children with disabilities and learning how to better serve families.
I am a Hard of Hearing family advocate with training and experience with IEPs. FRN is host to some of the most passionate and helpful team members I’ve ever seen in the disability world. I also rely on them for support! I’m honored to be part of this team. Family empowerment is my goal for you. Disability is normality!
I started working at FRN as an Administrative Assistant in 2014. In my free time, I like hiking and traveling the world to see different places by exploring and understanding other cultures and customs.
In Iran, I spent my summers taking care of my cousin with Muscular Dystrophy. Then in the US, I was the primary caregiver for my brother with a Traumatic Brain Injury. My most profound training comes from parenting two kids with disabilities. I am passionate about providing support to other families so they don’t feel alone.
Bio: I am the mother to a cheerful 6-year-old girl who enjoys the outdoors. My journey with FRN began as a client, when my daughter was turning 3 and about to start pre-school. I found great value in the help I received from my navigator, and I knew that one day I wanted to pay it forward and help other families too. On my free time I enjoy long hikes with a nice view, caring for my plants, or crafting with my Cricut.
As the parent of an adult man with autism, I have dedicated myself to providing support and advocacy to other parents since 2001. I love being part of the FRN team and teaching parents how they can be the best advocates for their children.
I am a mom of two boys and first came to FRN as a parent. My goal is to provide support and guidance to acquire all the resources available for their children. Besides being a strong advocate for my son, my other passion is teaching. I like spending quality time with my family doing outdoor activities, watching movies, playing board games.
I studied democracy and human rights and I am an advocate for women. I love helping others and making more people aware of the services and resources they can be provided with, especially Arab people because I come from the same background as them and want to guide them in the right direction by providing them with useful resources.
My son Santi, who is 10 years old, has autism. I attended an FRN support group and from day one I felt welcomed, understood, and started to know about resources for my son. My goal is to help families by connecting them with the system to make their journey a little easier.
