Our Coat of Many Colors: Celebrating Rosalía Fajardo, a Champion for Latino Disability Rights
Years of Advocacy, Leadership, Compassion, and Service to the Latino Community
This Hispanic Heritage Month, Virginia LULAC proudly celebrates the remarkable individuals whose lives, experiences, sacrifices, and contributions have helped shape the history of our Latino community across the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Inspired by Dolly Parton's Coat of Many Colors, our Hispanic Heritage Month theme reflects a powerful truth: the beauty and strength of our community come not from our similarities alone, but from the many different stories, identities, struggles, and experiences that bind us together.
Every thread represents a story. Every color represents a life. Every contribution helps create the fabric of a stronger, more inclusive community.
Some threads represent the immigrant families who came to this country seeking opportunity. Others represent the educators who opened doors, the parents who sacrificed for their children, the civil rights advocates who demanded equality, and the community leaders who spent years fighting to ensure that future generations would have opportunities they themselves were denied.
And among those threads are the stories of Latinos with disabilities and their families, whose struggles for accessibility, dignity, inclusion, and independence are an essential part of our community's history.
Today, Virginia LULAC proudly recognizes one of those extraordinary threads in our community's fabric: Rosalía Fajardo.
A Career Dedicated to Latino Families and Disability Rights
For more than 30 years, Rosalía Fajardo has devoted her career to advocating for Latino families, individuals with disabilities, immigrant communities, educational opportunity, and civil rights throughout Virginia and beyond.
A Colombian-born attorney, mother, immigrant, community advocate, and longtime member of Virginia LULAC, Rosalía has worked to ensure that individuals who are too often overlooked have the resources, protections, and opportunities necessary to live fulfilling and independent lives.
Her commitment to disability advocacy is deeply personal. As the mother of a daughter with learning disabilities, Rosalía understands the challenges families can encounter when navigating educational systems, accessing disability services, and advocating for their children's futures.
For many Latino families, these challenges are compounded by circumstances that extend far beyond disability itself.
Parents may struggle to communicate with schools because of language barriers. Families may be unfamiliar with the laws protecting their children's educational rights. Others may face financial hardship, limited transportation, immigration-related concerns, or difficulties accessing culturally appropriate services.
Rosalía has spent years helping families confront these challenges, understand their rights, and advocate for the services and opportunities they deserve.
Her work is rooted in a fundamental belief: disability should never determine a person's worth, limit their dignity, or exclude them from participating fully in society.
Throughout her career, she has worked to build connections between families, schools, government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and community advocates to ensure that Latino families have a voice in the decisions affecting their lives.
Her leadership reflects the importance of empowering individuals not simply to receive assistance, but to understand their rights, advocate for themselves, and shape their own futures.
The Disparities Facing Latinos with Disabilities
The importance of Rosalía's work becomes even clearer when examining the challenges facing Latinos with disabilities across the United States.
Millions of Latinos live with disabilities, representing an essential part of America's social, economic, and cultural fabric. Yet significant disparities persist in access to employment, education, healthcare, independent living, and essential support services.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, in 2024, only 36.9% of working-age Latinos with disabilities were employed, compared with 71.9% of working-age Latinos without disabilities. Source: https://www.dol.gov/agencies/odep/research-evaluation/statistics
That represents a 35-percentage-point employment gap.
The unemployment rate among working-age Latinos with disabilities was also 9.5%, compared with 4.9% among their counterparts without disabilities.
These statistics demonstrate the broader challenges surrounding employment, accessibility, economic independence, and opportunity for individuals with disabilities.
For Latino families, language barriers, socioeconomic inequality, and difficulties navigating public systems can create additional obstacles to accessing the services and protections that already exist under the law.
Behind these numbers are parents seeking appropriate educational services for their children, young adults preparing to enter the workforce, and individuals seeking the independence and opportunity to participate fully in their communities.
Every day, Rosalía fights tirelessly to ensure that Latinos with disabilities, particularly those disproportionately affected by barriers to services and opportunities, are not forgotten, overlooked, or excluded.
Her advocacy seeks to ensure that every person has the opportunity to pursue an education, obtain meaningful employment, live independently, and enjoy the same dignity and freedoms afforded to others.
She understands that equality cannot exist simply because rights are written into law. Those rights must also be accessible, understood, respected, and meaningfully enforced.
Disability Rights Are Latino Civil Rights
At Virginia LULAC, we recognize that disability rights are inseparable from the broader struggle for Latino civil rights.
The fight for equality does not end with representation in government, access to education, or economic advancement.
It must also include the right of individuals with disabilities to live independently, participate in civic life, access public services, receive appropriate educational support, and pursue their ambitions without discrimination.
For years, Rosalía has worked to bridge the gap between the rights individuals possess and the resources necessary to exercise those rights.
Her advocacy has helped bring attention to the experiences of Latino parents raising children with disabilities, immigrant families navigating unfamiliar institutions, and individuals seeking greater independence and economic opportunity.
She has also helped challenge cultural misconceptions surrounding disability, emphasizing that individuals with disabilities are not defined by their limitations but by their humanity, aspirations, abilities, and right to determine their own futures.
Her work reminds us that true inclusion is not simply about providing assistance. It is about respecting individual autonomy, removing barriers, and ensuring that every person has the opportunity to participate as an equal member of society.
A community cannot claim to have achieved equality while some of its members remain excluded from the opportunities and protections others take for granted.
For Virginia LULAC, Rosalía's work demonstrates that disability inclusion must remain an essential part of the conversation surrounding Latino equality.
Bienvenidos Todos: Ensuring Every Family Belongs
Rosalía Fajardo fights tirelessly to ensure that members of Virginia's Latino community understand their rights, have access to accurate information, and receive the resources and support they need to live independently and with dignity.
Throughout her career, she has worked to bridge the gap between Latino families and the institutions responsible for providing educational, healthcare, and disability services.
She understands that having rights under the law means little when individuals and families do not know those rights exist or face barriers that prevent them from exercising them.
Building upon this commitment, Rosalía helped lead the development and establishment of the Bienvenidos Todos (Everyone Is Welcome) Disability Inclusion Project through the ENDependence Center of Northern Virginia (ECNV).
The initiative, supported by the Virginia Board for People with Disabilities, seeks to expand access to disability rights, services, and opportunities for Latino Virginians with disabilities and their families, particularly those who experience language barriers, socioeconomic challenges, and difficulties navigating public systems.
In 2024, the Virginia Board for People with Disabilities awarded ECNV a $300,000 grant to support the development of culturally and linguistically appropriate disability information and strengthen outreach to Latino communities throughout the Commonwealth.
Under Rosalía's leadership, Bienvenidos Todos has developed a network of community organizers and advocates serving Latino families in Northern Virginia, Virginia Beach and Hampton Roads, Richmond, Roanoke, and Harrisonburg.
Through this network, community organizers work directly with Latino individuals with disabilities, their families, and caregivers to provide information, connect them with available resources, and strengthen their ability to advocate for themselves.
A central component of the initiative is making disability-related information accessible to Spanish-speaking communities.
Bienvenidos Todos produces informational briefs in English and Spanish that explain disability rights, educational protections, available services, and other important topics in clear, culturally relevant language.
Recognizing that access to information must extend beyond written materials, the initiative also hosts monthly educational webinars in both English and Spanish.
These presentations address disability resources, legal protections, public services, and the unique challenges faced by Latino families, including how different immigration and residency statuses may affect eligibility for certain programs.
The project also works directly with the organizations and professionals responsible for serving these communities.
Through a specialized provider seminar series, Rosalía shares her extensive experience in disability advocacy with service providers seeking to deliver more culturally responsive and accessible assistance to Latino individuals and families.
These seminars emphasize the diversity of Latino communities, the importance of language accessibility, the experiences of families navigating disability systems, and the need for institutions to understand the cultural and socioeconomic circumstances affecting the people they serve.
What makes Bienvenidos Todos especially meaningful is that it does not simply expect Latino families to navigate complicated systems on their own. It works to bring information, education, and support directly into the communities that need them.
For a mother struggling to understand her child's special education rights, this can mean finding someone who speaks her language and understands her concerns.
For an immigrant family unfamiliar with disability services, it can mean learning what resources are available and how to access them.
For an individual with a disability seeking independence, it can mean understanding the protections, accommodations, and opportunities available under the law.
And for service providers, it means developing a deeper understanding of the communities they serve so that assistance becomes more accessible, equitable, and effective.
Rosalía's leadership reflects a fundamental principle of civil rights advocacy: information is empowerment, and no one should be denied the opportunity to exercise their rights simply because they do not speak English, lack financial resources, or are unfamiliar with the systems intended to serve them.
Through Bienvenidos Todos, Rosalía continues to turn that principle into action, helping build a Virginia where Latino families are informed, individuals with disabilities are empowered, and every person has the opportunity to participate fully in society.
Bienvenidos Todos is more than an initiative. It is an expression of Rosalía's continued commitment to ensuring that every member of our community is seen, heard, informed, and included.
Breaking Language Barriers: Expanding Multilingual Access Through ECNV en Español
Rosalía understands that one of the greatest challenges facing Latino families is not simply the availability of services, but ensuring that individuals and families know those services exist, understand their rights, and can access the information necessary to exercise them.
Throughout her career, she has worked to break down linguistic, cultural, and socioeconomic barriers that prevent Latino families from accessing disability services, educational resources, healthcare information, and essential community support.
Building upon this commitment, Rosalía worked alongside Jimena Barron, ECNV community activist and Northern Virginia organizer, to help advance the development and launch of ECNV en Español, an effort to strengthen Spanish-language accessibility and ensure that Latino families can more easily obtain information about available services and resources.
Their collaborative work reflects a shared commitment to making institutions more accessible, culturally responsive, and welcoming to the communities they serve.
The launch of ECNV en Español was celebrated during Hispanic Heritage Month, with representatives from the Fairfax County Health Department joining the celebration and recognizing the importance of accessible information and community partnerships.
Together, Rosalía and Jimena have also contributed to the work of the Bienvenidos Todos Project, helping connect Latino individuals with disabilities and their families with bilingual educational resources, community advocates, informational webinars, and opportunities to better understand their rights.
Their collaboration reflects an important understanding: meaningful language accessibility requires more than translating written materials.
It requires building trust, strengthening relationships, and ensuring that families feel comfortable asking questions, seeking assistance, and advocating for themselves.
For many immigrant families, approaching an unfamiliar institution can be intimidating. Language differences, cultural misunderstandings, and concerns about immigration status can discourage individuals from seeking information or accessing services.
By strengthening Spanish-language outreach, Rosalía and Jimena are helping make these institutions more approachable and responsive to the communities they serve.
Their work also demonstrates the importance of collaboration among community advocates, nonprofit organizations, public health institutions, and families themselves.
Through their leadership and collaboration, Rosalía and Jimena are helping ensure that language is never a barrier to dignity, independence, or equal opportunity.
For Virginia's Latino community, multilingual accessibility is more than a matter of convenience. It is a matter of equity, civil rights, and meaningful participation in society.
Their efforts reflect the meaning of Virginia LULAC's Coat of Many Colors: a community strengthened by individuals who bring their unique experiences, talents, and compassion together in service of others.
By helping make disability services and information more accessible to Spanish-speaking families, they continue to weave a stronger and more inclusive fabric for Virginia's Latino community.
National Recognition: LULAC Women's Hall of Fame
Rosalía's outstanding service has also received recognition within the national LULAC community.
She has been recognized through the LULAC National Women's Hall of Fame, honoring her commitment to Latino leadership, civil rights, and community service.
This recognition reflects a career dedicated to helping families overcome barriers and expanding opportunities for individuals whose needs have too often been overlooked.
Her contributions exemplify the important role Latina leaders have played in shaping community institutions, strengthening civil rights advocacy, and creating opportunities for future generations.
For Virginia LULAC, Rosalía's recognition also serves as a reminder of the extraordinary leaders who have emerged from our Commonwealth and contributed to the broader national movement for Latino equality.
Her work reflects the importance of women whose leadership is rooted not only in professional accomplishment, but in service, compassion, and an enduring commitment to the communities they represent.
International Recognition: The Alfonso García Robles Award
Rosalía's commitment to human dignity and civil rights has also earned recognition beyond the United States.
On November 20, 2024, Rosalía Fajardo, serving as ECNV's Director of Disability Equity and Strategic Partnerships, received the Alfonso García Robles Recognition at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) in Mexico City.
The recognition, presented under the leadership of Rector Leonardo Lomelí Vanegas, honored her outstanding advocacy on behalf of migrants and her commitment to advancing their social and economic inclusion.
Named in honor of Alfonso García Robles, the Mexican diplomat and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, the recognition reflects the values of peace, freedom, human dignity, and respect for fundamental rights.
Rosalía was recognized for her tireless work advocating for the decriminalization of migration, approaching migration through a human rights framework, and supporting the humane and effective inclusion of migrant communities.
This international recognition highlights another important dimension of her work.
Her advocacy has never been limited to a single issue, institution, or geographic boundary.
Whether supporting a child with disabilities, helping an immigrant family navigate unfamiliar systems, or advocating for greater social inclusion, Rosalía has consistently worked toward a society in which individuals are treated with dignity and respect.
Her recognition in Mexico demonstrates the reach of her contributions and the significance of the issues she has devoted her career to addressing.
It also reflects the interconnected nature of the challenges facing immigrant communities, particularly when language, disability, economic circumstances, and immigration-related barriers intersect.
Rosalía's work reminds us that the principles of dignity, inclusion, and equal opportunity transcend borders.
The Meaning of Our Coat of Many Colors
This Hispanic Heritage Month, Rosalía's story reflects the deeper meaning behind Virginia LULAC's Coat of Many Colors.
Dolly Parton's song tells a story about dignity, love, family, and the understanding that a person's value cannot be measured by wealth, appearance, or the judgments of others.
That message resonates deeply with the experiences of many Latino families.
Our community is made up of people from different countries, generations, backgrounds, languages, and circumstances.
Some came to the United States seeking economic opportunity. Others came seeking safety, education, or the chance to build a better future for their children.
Some have devoted their lives to public service. Others have built businesses, raised families, strengthened neighborhoods, or quietly supported those around them.
And some, like Rosalía, have spent years ensuring that individuals whose experiences are too often overlooked are given the recognition, resources, and opportunities they deserve.
Our community's coat is not complete without the stories of Latinos with disabilities, their families, and the advocates who stand alongside them.
Their experiences are not separate from Latino heritage. They are part of it.
Their contributions are not secondary to our community's history. They help define it.
Their dignity is not conditional. It is inherent.
Just as the different pieces of fabric in Dolly Parton's song come together to create something meaningful, the many experiences within our Latino community contribute to a shared identity built upon resilience, compassion, family, and belonging.
Rosalía's work reflects the importance of ensuring that no thread is overlooked or excluded simply because it is different.
Her advocacy reminds us that inclusion is not achieved by expecting everyone to have the same experiences, abilities, or opportunities.
It is achieved by recognizing those differences, removing barriers, and ensuring that every individual has the freedom and support to pursue their own future.
The mother advocating for her child's education, the immigrant seeking information in their native language, the individual with a disability pursuing independence, and the community organizer working to make services more accessible all contribute to the fabric of our shared community.
Every thread has value. Every color has meaning. Every person belongs.
Rosalía's story reminds us that the strength of our community lies in our willingness to recognize, respect, and support every thread that forms our shared fabric.
Honoring Years of Service
As we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, Virginia LULAC proudly recognizes Rosalía Fajardo for her years of leadership, advocacy, compassion, and service.
We recognize the mother who understood the importance of fighting for her child's future.
We recognize the immigrant who dedicated her career to helping other families navigate unfamiliar systems.
We recognize the attorney and advocate who has worked to expand access to disability rights and educational opportunity.
We recognize the dedicated Virginia LULAC member whose advocacy continues to strengthen Latino civil rights, community empowerment, and equal opportunity throughout our Commonwealth.
We recognize the leader who helped advance Bienvenidos Todos and expand access to information and resources for Latino families with disabilities.
We recognize the advocate who worked alongside community organizers such as Jimena Barron to strengthen Spanish-language accessibility and make services more welcoming and responsive.
We recognize the national honoree whose leadership has been celebrated within LULAC.
And we recognize the internationally honored advocate whose work on behalf of migrants reflects a commitment to human dignity that extends beyond borders.
But above all, we recognize the countless families and individuals whose lives have been touched by her service.
Rosalía's legacy is not measured solely by the awards she has received, the organizations she has served, or the institutions that have recognized her contributions.
It is also reflected in the parents who better understand their children's rights, the individuals who gain confidence to advocate for themselves, the families who find resources and support, and the communities that become more welcoming and inclusive because of her work.
Every thread in our community matters. Every family deserves to belong. Every person deserves dignity.
At Virginia LULAC, we believe that disability rights are Latino rights, that immigrant families deserve dignity and respect, and that our community's strength depends on ensuring that no one is left behind.
Rosalía Fajardo continues to put those principles into action.
Her work reminds us that the true measure of leadership is not simply the recognition we receive, but the barriers we remove, the opportunities we create, and the people we empower along the way.
This Hispanic Heritage Month, Virginia LULAC proudly honors Rosalía Fajardo as an extraordinary thread in our Coat of Many Colors and an important part of Virginia's Latino civil rights history.
Gracias, Rosalía, por tu liderazgo, tu valentía, tu compasión y tu incansable lucha por nuestra comunidad. Gracias por recordarnos que la dignidad no tiene fronteras, que la discapacidad no define el valor de una persona y que todos merecemos un lugar en nuestra sociedad.
Our stories are different. Our colors are many. Our community is one.
Virginia LULAC — Hispanic Heritage Month 2026
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About Virginia LULAC
Virginia LULAC is the state chapter of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), the nation’s oldest and largest Latino civil rights advocacy organization. Our mission is to advance the economic condition, educational attainment, political influence, health, housing, and civil rights of Hispanic Americans in the Commonwealth of Virginia and beyond.
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