About Us

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Our Vision

Our vision is to create an all-encompassing environment, we host informational sessions and educational workshops. We also offer access to personal sensory experiences and  provide resources & opportunities for inclusive socialization.

Our Mission

To inform, empower, support and help advocate for families of children and young adults with disabilities within the Southeast Side of Chicago.

Our Story

In 2014, having worked directly with families in assessment and identification of disabilities, current Board members began discussing possibilities as to how we might be able to assist our families on the Southeast side in regards to the Special Education process and services.  We soon realized the need for assisting families within the private school setting, In navigating the process of the Referral and evaluation of Special Education.

At that time, a support group was formed to provide basic training to parents at a local Catholic school within the 10th ward.  Upon entering office in 2015, a connection was made with our 10th ward Alderwoman to discuss expansion to all Catholic schools within the area, to which we received an overwhelming amount of support.  We were further encouraged to perform community outreach throughout the 10th ward as a whole.  Along the way, by means of networking, chance encounters, and community relationships, Our Core group of organizers reached a total of nine phenomenal women,  of which all had knowledge and first-hand experience in the area of varying diagnoses and levels of severity, regarding varying disabilities.

With growing membership and increased need for opportunities to socialize within an inclusive environment, we then began the venture to become a non-profit organization in efforts to meet the needs of families with children and young adults with disabilities within the Southeast Side of Chicago.  As of March 2018, Parents of Extraordinary Children is recognized as a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization.  In our efforts to expand, we have secured a space housing a Sensory Gym and Resource Center on the Southeast Side of Chicago. Pexc continues to offer virtual informational workshops and engage in community outreach.


Board Members

Margaret R. Cortes

President & CEO

  • Licensed Speech-Language Pathologist ( MS,LIC-SLP)
  • Bilingual Certification
  • Private Practice
Joel J. Cortes

Secretary

  • Local 1 Ironworker
Maria Garcia

Treasurer

  • Dental Accounts Payable
Lucia Cortez

Director of Public Relations & Resource Development

  • Associates in
    Science
  • B.A. and M.A. in
    Education
  • Educational
    endorsements in
    Bilingual Education
    and Behavior Specialist
Amanda Montes

Director of Community Outreach and Engagement 

  • Level 3 Family Specialist
  • Level 1 ECE credentials
  • CPR certified
  • Pursuing Bachelors Degree in Child Development
Natalie Galindo

Director of
Programming

  • LARC(Adult Day Program) Director of Community Day Services
  • Pursuing Bachelors in Psychology
  • Associate of Applied Science in Medical Assisting
Angelica Sierra-Correa

Director of Special Event Planning

  • B.A. in BilingualEducation
  • B.A. with concentration in Music Education
Melanie Cuevas-Camacho

Director of Marketing and Social Media

  • Associates in Computer Science
Gaudhy Perez
 

Director of School Outreach

  • Associate of Science in Hospitality

Volunteer

If you are willing to donate your time volunteering* in various capacities, Please contact us to discuss available options.

*Volunteers maybe subject to background checks