Staff: Deyanira Isassi-Velasco “Deya Velasco”

Deya was born in Mexico. After graduating and getting married she moved to Austin, TX where she has lived for the past 36 years. Deya holds a BSc degree in Engineering and a master’s degree in human services as well as a Certification in Advanced Mediation. Deya is a mother of two individuals with ASD, and grandmother of five children.

For more than 25 years Deya has served her community through various community service organizations dealing with education and disabilities, both as an employee and as volunteer. As a team member of the Arc of the Capital Area, Deya advocated for individuals with disabilities and their families of low socio-economic means in the public educational system, promoting special education rights, supervising emotional support groups and training sessions for families of children with disabilities and supporting collaboration between schools and parents. At CASA of Travis County, Deya supervised volunteers appointed to represent in court the best interest of children in the foster care system.

Deya has published disabilities related work in Mexico and with the Safe Alliance’s “Promotion of Justice - An Essential Resource Guide for Responding to Abuse Against Children with Disabilities”, a document intended to provide essential knowledge of autism for first responders and the judicial system.