'Passionately Dedicated' To OC's Special Needs Students: 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 her dear friend Adrienne Kessler of Orange County. Kessler was nominated for her passionate dedication and commitment to children and adults in Orange County with special needs.

Local hero’s full name

Adrienne Kessler

Local hero’s home state

California

Local hero’s Patch

Orange County

How do you know the local hero?

Friend

What does the local hero do?

Adrienne leads the Speech and Language Development Center, a school and therapy center for kids and adults with special needs based in Buena Park

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

For 27 years, Adrienne Kessler has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to kids and adults in Orange County with special needs. She has worked tirelessly to ensure the development of, and access to, leading edge disability services, education and therapy for these residents of OC and statewide. She has devoted the entirety of her career to supporting individuals of all ages to develop skills to live their fullest life and continues to do so as CEO of the innovative Speech and Language Development Center in Buena Park. She also has served as the architect for district-wide programs for students with autism spectrum disorders both in Capistrano Unified and Orange Unified School districts. During her prior tenure at Easter Seals Southern California, she was tasked with growing the Autism Therapy service line from inception into dynamic program opening 10 clinics serving San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Ventura, Kern and Los Angeles counties, up to several thousand clients and approximately 700 clinicians within 3 years. Now she leads Speech and Language Development Center in Buena Park, leading a dedicated and talented team of teachers, therapists and staff to build bright futures for kids and adults with special needs.

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

She is passionately dedicated to ensuring that kids and adults with special needs in Orange County live their fullest, most rewarding lives.

Thank you for all you do, Adrienne Kessler!

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Know someone making a difference in town?

Nominate them here.