EFE Launches New Latino Advocacy Project

Consuelo Puente Returns in Expanded Role

A familiar face is back at EFE full time. Consuelo Puente, who has provided training to more than 700 members of the Latino community for EFE part time since 1999, has returned as full-time Manager of EFE's new Latino Advocacy Project, which will do outreach to the Latino disability community, and assist and represent Latino students with special education needs.

"I am delighted that Consuelo has returned to our organization and will be able to devote all of her efforts to the Latino disability community in Chicagoland, including legal advocacy for Latino students with disabilities," says President and CEO Zena Naiditch. "Over time, I am hopeful that our Latino Advocacy Project will expand to include other bilingual, bicultural staff to address the unique challenges facing the Latino disability community."

Consuelo Puente, EFE's Latino Advocacy Project Manager

The initial goals of the Project as it undergoes development are to provide outreach to the Latino community about available services at EFE, training seminars on disability rights, and one-on-one special education self-advocacy assistance and representation for Latino students with disabilities.

Puente previously worked for two years, from 1997-1999, as a staff attorney for EFE. She has also been a human resource consultant for HR Strategies and a bilingual consultant for Parent Educational Network. While working part time for EFE's Training Institute, she also held a position at Northern Illinois University on an Educational Access Project for DCFS.

An attorney admitted to practice in Washington, D.C., Illinois, Oregon and Pennsylvania, she worked in that capacity for the Illinois Department of Human Rights and the Chicago Housing Authority, and in private practice before coming to EFE in 1997.

Puente's commitment to helping Latino children with disabilities sounds a very personal note. She is the parent of two sons with special needs and has been attending IEP meetings for 14 years on behalf of her older son, who was diagnosed in the autistic spectrum when he was 3. Her younger son was identified with speech delays at 18 months and also falls within the autistic spectrum.

"I always share this information with the parents at my training sessions on special education rights and the importance of early childhood intervention," says Puente. "It's amazing how quickly rapport is established when they know I understand." =

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