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Hollister’s Autism Pathways and Connections serves as a family resource center that works to bridge gaps that families often face after receiving a diagnosis, by providing guidance, support, and connections to resources.
Founder Roxanne Holguin said she became interested in offering these services because of the struggles she faced after her daughter, Evelyn, was diagnosed at the age of three and had to wait six months to get into the San Andreas Regional Center.
Holguin said her organization works with a wide age range, from babies to teenagers, as well as with some adult families. Autism Pathways and Connections helps parents understand how an Individualized Education Program can support their goals.
“We all have had different goals from everyone,” Holguin said. “We have a lot of people who don’t understand that autism is a spectrum—that everybody has a different obstacle that they are facing, some nonverbal.”
She said that dealing with an autism diagnosis can be overwhelming, with many things to understand and navigate. She said people often need help in discovering what resources are available.
“You can search for anything on Google,” she said, “but the process isn’t clearly broken down for many families, especially those who are facing language barriers.”
Holguin said they have been holding “Coffee and Connections” informational meetings for first responders to help them understand how to communicate with someone with a disability.
Hollister resident Tabitha Rodriguez said Autism Pathways and Connections has been helpful in suggesting activities for her eight-year-old daughter, Serenity.
“We were just less overstimulating.” Rodriguez said. “We took her to see the superheroes at Kids in the Park, and there were bubbles everywhere. And even though it was a new place, she was less angry and had fun things to see.”
Rodriguez said Serenity loved the superheroes, and afterward they went to a nearby park.
“I got to meet some autism moms,” she said. “I just heard them talk about how it’s affected their career. I’m a stay-at-home mom, so I felt guilty for not working, but my child needs me right now.”
Rodriguez said she was thankful for the opportunity to be with her daughter and to help by going into the school and volunteering. She said it’s also helped to see how other people’s careers were affected, as hers was.
“It was helpful that I wasn’t alone,” she said.
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