Michelle Velazquez

I attribute much of my success to my mentor. He believed in me long before I believed in myself. There were moments when I felt overwhelmed, doubted my abilities, and questioned whether I could continue, and he consistently reminded me of what I was capable of. His guidance, encouragement, and willingness to challenge me to grow have had a tremendous impact on both my professional and personal journey. I truly do not know if I would be where I am today without that support.

I also attribute my success to my children. They are my inspiration and my motivation every single day. Watching them struggle, advocating for their needs, and ultimately seeing them succeed gave me a purpose much bigger than myself. They are the reason I started this journey, and their growth continues to remind me why this work matters.

The best career advice I have ever received came from my mentor. He reminded me that I do not need to carry the weight of everyone else's reactions. I cannot control what other people think, say, or do. What I can control is my preparation, my effort, my character, and how I respond when things do not go as planned.

He also taught me not to let mistakes define me. Every setback, every stumble, and every challenge is an opportunity to learn something new. Instead of asking, "Why did this happen?" he encouraged me to ask, "What can I learn from this?" That shift in perspective helped me stop fearing failure and start seeing it as part of growth.

To young women entering this field, I would say this: do not underestimate yourself.

There will be times when you feel overwhelmed, unsure of yourself, or question whether you belong in the room. There will be people who underestimate you, and there will be moments when you underestimate yourself. Do not let those moments define what you are capable of achieving. Celebrate every win, no matter how small it may seem. Too often, we wait until we reach some major milestone before allowing ourselves to feel successful. Growth happens in the small victories, the lessons learned, and the moments when you choose to keep going.

Do not be afraid of failure. Every setback, challenge, and mistake has something valuable to teach you. Some of the most important lessons of my career came from moments that did not go as planned. Learn from them, adapt, and keep moving forward. Most importantly, stay connected to your purpose. When your work is rooted in passion, service, and a genuine desire to make a difference, it becomes easier to push through the difficult days. Success is not about being perfect or fearless. It is about believing in yourself enough to take the next step, learning from the journey, and recognizing that you are often capable of far more than you realize.

One of the biggest challenges—and greatest opportunities—in education right now is helping school teams move beyond simply recognizing autism and ADHD and toward truly understanding the students behind those labels.

Too often, students are viewed through the lens of behavior, compliance, or academic performance alone. The opportunity is to help educators, administrators, and support teams better understand how executive functioning, sensory processing, emotional regulation, communication differences, and learning styles influence a student's daily experience in school.

When we take the time to understand students from their lived perspectives, we create more effective supports, stronger relationships, and better outcomes. The goal is not to lower expectations, but to remove barriers so students can demonstrate what they are truly capable of achieving.

I believe some of the most meaningful progress in education happens when we stop asking, "What's wrong with this student?" and start asking, "What is this student experiencing, and how can we better support them?"

We should never underestimate these kids' full potential. They're capable of far more than we often realize. 

Perseverance, mentorship, and service are the values that guide both my work and my personal life. One of the greatest lessons I learned came from my Nana, who always told me that success is measured by how people benefit from your efforts and how you help others—not by personal gain. That perspective has stayed with me throughout my life and continues to shape the way I approach my work.

I believe growth happens when we continue moving forward, even when the path is difficult, and I am grateful for the people in my life who have challenged, encouraged, and believed in me along the way. Their guidance has taught me the importance of investing in others and helping them recognize their own potential.

I am deeply committed to helping children and families feel seen, supported, and empowered. Whether I am working with parents, service providers, or school teams, I strive to lead with compassion, integrity, and a genuine belief in the potential of every child.

Outside of my work, my family remains my greatest source of inspiration. I also enjoy gardening, sports, and hiking, which help me stay grounded, maintain balance, and appreciate the simple moments that often matter most.