Her Story
About Dr. Vertongie
I founded Hezekiah Kids as CEO after my own journey raising my son who has autism. He's now in his twenties, and I've been publicly advocating for him for 15 years, though I started privately even earlier. My nonprofit began in April of 2016 because I found myself being lost as a mom, even though I was very well connected and educated in the human resources field. I didn't want any other parents to feel like they were alone in this process. I provide parents with safe spaces because parents felt that they didn't have any place to take their kids, any place to receive resources, and they didn't have a space to network with other parents. We're mobile, so we go to different cities, different counties, different spaces in Detroit, Livonia, Redford, and Dearborn, wherever the parents may feel comfortable. We have small conversations, one-on-one sessions, and I do workshops. My biggest achievement is giving parents the understanding that they have rights in the IEP and the 504 process, and I'm able to go over line by line with their child's IEP or 504 plan. Last year I hosted my big annual dance for the kids and the parents of kids with special needs where they were able to come in, enjoy a fashion show, dinner, and networking with each other. I also host the 313 Citywide Mental Health Forum where I bring 30 to 40 resource vendors, licensed psychiatrists, licensed social workers, a pediatrician, law enforcement, a minister, and a school social worker so that parents can see what it looks like in all aspects, from the church to the school to the community.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Dr. Vertongie
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my journey with my son, through trial and error. I attribute my success to my parents and God, for getting me through the journey that I've been assigned to. My son has autism, and trying to navigate through the process to get the resources that were needed for myself, especially when he was nonverbal, taught me so much. I was very well connected and educated in the human resources field, but I found myself being lost as a mom trying to navigate through this journey, which we call it the Blue Journey, with my son. That experience of being that parent who felt lost is what drives everything I do now.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I ever received is to go into jobs, put your best foot forward, work, stay on task, and complete your task. It's about showing up with integrity and following through on what you commit to do.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Patience is going to be your best friend. Patience and continuing your education. Working with families with special needs, you have to have a lot of patience, you have to care. It's not just about having the knowledge, it's about having the heart and the patience to truly support these families through their journey.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The opportunities I have are that I can give advice to parents, and then I can go into other spaces with the parents, with the community, and with the educators. The challenges that I face are getting parents to come out and be at rest without their child being there, or being at rest if somebody's watching their child. Most parents and grandparents and caregivers are uneasy when their child is not with them, or they can't see their child, because a lot of kids are severe. Like myself, my son was nonverbal and he was a runner, so unless he was with my mom, I was never at ease. So one of my biggest challenges is teaching the parents that it's okay to relax and take time for themselves.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The most important values to me in my work and my personal life are always being honest, honesty, and integrity. Those are two traits that I live by in everything I do.
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