Fish Dreams: A Mother’s Journey From Curing Her Son’s Autism to Loving Him as He Is
By Irma Velasquez, Deep Living Lab Board Co-Chair
Deep Living Lab is proud to publish this first-hand account of deep living in action.
When her son was diagnosed with autism at the age of three, Irma Velasquez was devastated. It was the pre-internet era of the early 1990s, and both information and experts were hard to find. Desperate for answers, she sought out therapists and educational programs designed to teach Aaron how to become successful in school and in life. But those early years ended up teaching Irma more than they taught Aaron. Irma realized her desire to “fix” her son had been a masquerade to fulfill her own needs, and she began to love him just as he was: perfect.
All proceeds from this book will be directed to these non-profit organizations, which have guided Aaron’s and deepened Irma’s life:
Irma Velasquez serves as the Board Co-Chair of Deep Living Lab. She was born and raised in El Salvador and immigrated to the San Francisco Bay area in the early 60s. Her son’s unexpected diagnosis of autism moved her to address a gap in the education system and in social services for underserved youth. She launched a school for children with autism and designed creative programs for young adults of different abilities. Her memoir is inspired by her love for her son, her dedication to her community, and her passion for art.
