Nilda Colgrove

Nilda is the current Vice President of the CSAAC Board of Directors. Nilda holds a Doctor’s degree in Veterinary Medicine from the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo and a Doctor D’Universite de Sciences from the University of Paris VII. She served as the Director of the Division of Immunology and Biologics Production in the Dominican Republic’s Central Veterinary Laboratory and taught bacteriology in the University Pedro Henriquez Ureña Veterinary School, until she moved to the United States in 1981.

When her son Michael was diagnosed with autism at the age of two, Nilda interrupted her career to become Michael’s full time educational advocate. This led to Nilda’s second career working with Montgomery County Public Schools as a Parent Community Coordinator, initially in the Special Education Parent Information and Training Center. Among other things, she conducted workshops in Spanish and English on the special education process. She served as a resource for families, assisting them in understanding the special education process, getting engaged in their children’s education, and becoming effective advocates for their children. She received training from the Maryland State Department of Education, Division of Special Education, and the Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center of Virginia. Nilda retired from the MCPS Office of Community Engagement and Partnerships in 2015.

Nilda has been volunteering in CSAAC for 30 years, serving in various capacities including more than 20 years as a Board member. Her son Michael has received residential and supported employment services from CSAAC for many years.