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Director, Office of the Apostolate with People with Disabilitiesirodriguezdpvd.orgIrma was born and raised in Puerto Rico, she is the oldest of seven children. She received a BS in Industrial Microbiology, Mycology at the University of Puerto and also completed post graduate studies in Molecular Microbiology and Medical Technology. She worked at a Clinical and Immunology research lab for 25 years at Memorial and Miriam Hospitals, along with Brown Univ. She specialized in STD’s and new technologies, treatment and vaccine development, specifically HIV. Collaborating in many projects with Yale, and Harvard Universities. Irma has been the coauthor or collaborator in many scientific publications. She was a trainer for Brown University International program for sixteen years, which is geared to train science professionals from South Asia, China, India and Africa.
Irma and her husband Eric of 36 years, live in North Smithfield and have two boys, Kyle and Christian. Irma’s’ passion for her work with people with disabilities was born with the diagnosis of their son Christian with autism and other disabilities. Irma and her husband became very active in the community; Co-chair of NS Special Education Advisory Committee, Co-Founder and Past Board Member of FEAT of RI and Past Board Member of RI Autism Project; Instrumental on the creation of ABA programs at Groden Center and the creation of ABA Program Pathways at Trudeau Center, Warwick. Past Member of RIDE Special Education Committee and Autism Society of America, Advocate for creation of New Alternative Learning Programs for Children with Disabilities in NS and RI. Irma enjoys camping with her family, going to the movies, gardening, daily participation in the Sacred Mysteries and Eucharistic Adoration.
Irma has always been active in her church life. At fifteen years of age she was a youth retreats organizer and speaker in Puerto Rico. She was a catechist at her parish for many years. Irma and her husband wanted their boys to have an active participation in the life of the church and to receive the sacraments, this led them to SPRED (Special Religious Development). Irma felt deep in her heart this was her real mission, that God had called her to help families to know how much Jesus loves them and their family member with disabilities, to facilitate them to receive the sacraments and also fulfill their own mission. Irma retired from the Clinical work and join the Office of Apostolate with People with Disabilities in 2005 and currently serves as Director of the Office. “This has been the most meaningful job I have ever had. I am so blessed!” Irma trains catechists to work with people with disabilities, organizes trainings, retreats, visit the parishes and other faith filled events. She is a resource to families, Pastors and Catechetical Leaders.
She is an active parishioner of St. Theresa’s of The Child Jesus Shrine in Nasonville and a Leader Catechist in the parish SPRED Community. Irma was trained on the SPRED method in the Archdiocese of Chicago. Irma was a member of the V Encuentro Diocesan team and at Advisor to the National Ministerial Team: Ministry Among People with Disabilities. National Catholic Partnership on Disability, 2018. She was also a Panelist in the V Encuentro session 24 “Pastoral with people with Disabilities and the DEAF Community”. She is also board member of the Hispanic Council of the Diocese of Providence.
Irma is passionate about her mission, and she wants to invite all people specially the wounded to a deeper relationship with Jesus our savior!
