The Power of Parental Engagement
Ms. Yetta Myrick is the mother of a teenage son with special needs. She is the founder and president of DC Autism Parents (DCAP), a non-profit organization. At DCPA, Yetta has created programs for children diagnosed with autism and their families and oversees the daily operations of the organization. Yetta serves as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s Act Early Ambassador to D.C. In this role, she promotes developmental monitoring and assists families in getting the help they need to access services for their children.
ED: How did you begin your work in early childhood?
My work in early childhood actually started through my experience as a parent of a child with special needs. I have a 16-year-old son who was diagnosed with autism in 2007, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in 2013, and an intellectual disability in 2015. My learning to support and advocate for him placed me in a unique position to learn about early childhood development and the education system, specifically special education.
ED: What efforts have you been involved in to improve the quality of early childhood programs and services?
In 2009, I was invited by my son’s psychologist to serve as [...]