She Is Known As 'The Child Whisperer': Orange County Local Hero

ORANGE COUNTY, CA — When times are tough, heroes emerge. We all know someone who's making a difference right now as we live through unprecedented and changing times.

Here at Patch, we've launched an initiative to help recognize these heroes making a difference in their communities. We’re working to let all your neighbors know about these outstanding people and their stories.

This submission comes from Carrie Williams-Freitas who nominated Debbie Eclevia of Orange County.

Local hero’s full name

Debbie Eclevia

Local hero’s home state

California

Local hero’s Patch

Orange County

How do you know the local hero?

Work colleague

What does the local hero do?

Works with special needs kids and adults

Why do you believe the local hero should be recognized or honored?

Debbie Eclevia, Administrative Assistant for Speech and Language Development Center’s transportation department, is a strong nominee for Patch's Local Hero Award. For more than 20 years, five days a week, Eclevia has ensured that more than 100 children and adults with special needs throughout Orange County (and beyond) are transported safely each day from their homes to SLDC in Buena Park, where they receive innovative and customized education, enrichment and skills building instruction that will allow them to achieve their fullest potential. Eclevia’s role is critically important to students, parents, teachers and staff and it’s a duty she takes seriously and embraces passionately. Her position requires her to work as dispatcher — creating the morning and afternoon schedules for SLDC’s 20 vans — and she also works with parents and school districts at the beginning of each school year to map out the van routes for the year. She also is charged with managing all outside vendors related to school facility issues, is the fleet manager for SLDC’s vans to ensure they are maintained, clean and fueled, serves as the parents liaison for any transportation changes, manages all timesheets and schedules for the school’s drivers, and is in charge of all paperwork in relation to these functions. Eclevia consistently works beyond her job description, and then some. She is integral in helping with the intake of new students, and drives the vans when drivers are out for vacation or sick days. Even more importantly, Eclevia is known as “the child whisperer” at SLDC. Once when an SLDC van got flat tire in Los Angeles, Eclevia drove there after school hours to pick up the students from the bus and drive each of them safely home. She has a special connection with all of the students, across all age ranges and no matter their disability. She is often the first team member called when a student is having a behavioral emergency and has an incredible way with students. Not only can Eclevia deescalate a student’s behavioral crisis, she can help that student get back into a positive mindset. In fact, she is so beloved by students that they work hard all day to be awarded the chance to be her official “helper” in the office for 15 minutes. Parents of former students continue to have her take care of their children with special needs during vacations and school breaks.

What's one thing you want everyone to know about the local hero?

Debbie makes sure that more than 100 children and adults with special needs throughout Orange County are transported safely each day from their homes to Speech and Language Development Center in Buena Park, where they receive innovative and customized education, enrichment and skills building instruction that will allow them to achieve their fullest potential. Debbie always goes the extra mile and is so passionate about caring for students with special needs

Thank you for all you do, Debbie Eclevia!

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Know someone making a difference in town?

Nominate them here.