Jessica Ruvalcaba’s interest in working with young people with disabilities began early. In high school, she volunteered with Best Buddies, which builds friendships between people with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities. She also spent summers caring for her cousin with autism, taking him to appointments and finding opportunities for him to socialize.
After high school, Jessica held several jobs, including working at call centers. When she saw an opening for an administrative assistant at what was then Raising Special Kids, it sounded like a good fit. She joined the organization in 2019.
Jessica responds to calls and inquiries from parents seeking support. Often one of the first people a family encounters when contacting Encircle Families, she provides a calm, reassuring presence while gathering information so a Family Support Specialist can follow up. She provides this support in English and Spanish.
Jessica’s role has expanded over the years. She assists staff, prepares materials for community events and helps with bookkeeping, including entering donation information and making sure funds reach the appropriate accounts. She also recently joined the committee that plans staff events.
Encircle Families’ mission has also touched Jessica’s own family. She and her husband, Eduardo, have two daughters. When they became concerned about one daughter’s speech delay, Jessica turned to her colleagues for guidance. With their help, she requested an assessment from the school. Her daughter continues to receive speech support.
Away from work, Jessica loves to bake for staff, friends and family, especially for birthdays and baby showers. Her daughters often join her in the kitchen, making baking a family activity.
