Center for Students with Disabilities Holds Autism Walk
El Paso, Texas, April 16, 2025 – El Paso Community College (EPCC) Center for Students with Disabilities Project Higher held the third annual Walk for Autism Awareness on Wednesday, April 16, 2025, at the Valle Verde campus. Many participants wore blue in honor of Autism Awareness Month, and the event was free and open to all students and the general community.
Participants walked from Building C at the Valle Verde campus to the AST Building. Most made signs and received Autism Awareness Month pins as a thank you for attending.
“I have friends who are autistic, so I enjoy walking every year to support them,” EPCC student Yvette Gonzalez said. “So, it’s very important to walk for everyone, friends and family, with autism.”
“I also have friends here and it’s fun because we get to create posters to show our support for everyone,” EPCC student Sabrina Guerrero said.
Project HIGHER is an innovative program that assists individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (ages 18-25) in El Paso County to complete a level-one certificate at EPCC and find employment in their area of study.
“It’s really important to support because we want the community to know that we can provide services to everyone that wants to come to college, they get an equal opportunity as everyone else,” Center for Students with Disabilities Director Maria Lopez said. “We’re very happy to do this walk again.”
Project HIGHER is a unique supported educational model based upon supported employment models which includes collaboration between EPCC, CSD, Master of Rehabilitation Counseling Program at the University of Texas at El Paso, TWC’s Texas Workforce Solutions – Vocational Rehabilitation Services (TWS-VRS), Volar Center for Independent Living, Education Service Center-Region 19 and other community partners to help participants succeed in post-secondary education and ultimately, achieve employment. Project HIGHER partners collaborated on this innovative project given the challenges traditionally faced by students with disabilities wanting to attend EPCC and gain employment in El Paso County.
For more information on the EPCC Center for Students with Disabilities, please visit: https://www.epcc.edu/Services/csd
Photos courtesy: EPCC
Participants take part in the 3rd annual Walk for Autism Wednesday at Valle Verde campus
Participants in the 3rd annual Walk for Autism arrive at the AST building Wednesday
EPCC students Sabrina Guerrero, left, and Yvette Gonzalez took part in the 3rd annual Walk for Autism Wednesday
Tejano Jack helps lead the 3rd annual Walk for Autism around Valle Verde campus Wednesday for Autism Awareness Month
