College of Education Directory

Short Bio

Maria Gutierrez is the Family Navigator for the Auburn University Regional Autism Network. She serves a liaison for families – especially Spanish speaking families – to help them access AURAN training and services as well as understand all resources available to them as they seek professional intervention for a family member diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder or other developmental disorder. Ms. Gutierrez is the parent of a young adult with an autism spectrum disorder. She was a founder member of a local non-profit organization Lee County Autism Resource and Advocacy which provided resources, workshops and support for families affected by autism spectrum disorders in Lee County. Ms. Gutierrez has served as a community member in the Alabama Medicaid Working Group-Governor Appointed, and ADAP’s Protection & Advocacy for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities (PADD) Advisory Council. At the present time, Ms. Gutierrez was selected to participate in the 2022-2023 cohort of Partners in Policymaking Alabama (PIPA). PIPA is a leadership training program designed for individuals with developmental disabilities (DD) and their family members. She worked as a Parent Mentor in California under The Family Focus Resource Center and currently working on the implementation of a grant awarded by the Alabama Council on Developmental Disabilities for Hispanic Outreach Grant for families impacted by intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD).