MEET THE VELA TEAM
Maria P. Hernandez, M.A.
Executive Director & Founder
Maria P. Hernandez is the Founder and Executive Director of VELA, a nonprofit organization based in Austin Texas. Maria started the organization in 2011 to provide English and Spanish-speaking parents with hands-on courses, support and community so that all families could create the very best outcomes for their child with disabilities. Before creating VELA, Maria worked as bilingual speech and language pathologist across school and clinical settings providing services to children with special needs ages 0-21. Her incredible papa has multiple sclerosis and her brilliant brother has dyslexia- different has been her normal. In 2006, Maria completed a MA in Communications Sciences in Disorders at The University of Texas at Austin and has a BA in Hearing and Speech Sciences from the University of Maryland at College Park. She is originally from Bogota Colombia.
Imelda Rodriguez, LMSW
Program Coordinator
Imelda is a bilingual Social Worker who grew up in Harlingen, TX in the Rio Grande Valley. She started her career in Child Protective Services where she developed a passion for working with children and families from many different cultures. She switched gears and is now growing her administrative skills through program coordination and agency support. Imelda is married and has the most awesome son. She enjoys family gatherings and spending time outdoors. Imelda loves that VELA believes in endless possibilities for all children with special needs through parent support.
Nadine Rueb, LCSW
Clinical Social Worker
Nadine grew up in south Texas with parents from South America. Thankfully, they made her speak Spanish. She has been able to use her Spanish personally and professionally. First, as a kindergarten and high school Spanish teacher, and for the last 10 years as a social worker with families and their children in educational, medical and non-profit settings. She now encourages her young family to continue learning Spanish as they explore and have fun in Austin. She loves how VELA takes on the role of supporting the caregivers of children with special needs so they can support the ones that depend on them. She sees firsthand how this compassionate agency creates a community where caregivers know they are not alone, and that is enough to make a ripple effect of positive changes in the lives of everyone connected to the special needs child.
Rhonda Roberts
Parent Facilitator
Rhonda is the proud mom of beautiful twin boys with Autism. She is also an advocate for families and a Special Education Substitute Teacher. Prior to her current work with families, Rhonda worked as a medical assistant and as a medical billing and coding specialist for several physicians. Since her children's diagnoses, she has dedicated her time to learning all she can about Autism, ADHD, Anxiety, Eating and Sensory Disorders. Rhonda loves VELA because she gets to witness the change it is facilitating in the community of families with children with disabilities.
Jolene Sanders
Parent Facilitator
Jolene has been working with children and families for over 20 years, providing direct services, conducting research, training parents, and advocating for public policies that improve disability rights for children and adults. She is the parent of a child with autism and is passionate about special education and promoting inclusive opportunities early. In her spare time, she enjoys going to concerts with her husband and three sons, and eating all things pickled.
Natalie Ross
Lead Childcare Facilitator
Natalie has worked with children in various settings for the past 17 years. She has been a teaching artist as well as an aide in Montessori and Reggio-Emilia classrooms. Natalie believes in the magic every child possesses and is eager to learn what they teach her. She loves VELA because we treat the parents as the experts of their children, and that the kids can come here and feel like this is their space.
