Board Members

Jaime Shelton was raised in Oceanside, CA and moved to Los Angeles in 1999 where she worked in retail management prior to becoming the proud mother of two beautiful boys with autism, Nathan and Dylan. She is the co-founder and CEO of AUPTIMISM, an organization she has taken tremendous joy in creating and building, not only for her own sons but for all who have found it difficult to feel entirely comfortable and truly accepted on family outings in the “typical” world. 

Adriana Alvarez was born and raised in the San Fernando Valley. She attended cosmetology school and worked in the beauty industry until she had her first born. She is a mother of two beautiful boys, Adrian and Andy. Her eldest son, Adrian, was diagnosed with Autism at the age of 3. Since then, she and Adrian's father have made it their mission to ensure that Adrian receives every necessary service available for a happy and successful life. Her number one goal for her boys is for them to never let anything hold them back, and for them to know that there is no limit to what they can achieve. Adriana is excited to be a part of Auptimism, highly anxious to help make an impact in the special needs community! 

Syrenthia Farris is the mother of an adult son Stephen Farris who is on the Autism Spectrum. She is also the Founder & CEO of Parents of Children with all Special Needs (POCWASN), an organization in the special needs community that bridges the gap between diagnosis to resources for parents and caregivers of individual with all abilities. She is also a host for (A) Moms Happy Hour, a weekly podcast that brings enlightenment and a fun conversation about special needs families to the masses. 

Jessica Furlow is a Texas native who recently moved to Los Angeles from Atlanta in 2016. She studied Communication at Marymount Manhattan College in New York and has developed a successful career in entertainment research, specializing in quantitative online panel research. As a mother of a child with autism and cerebral palsy, she is tremendously passionate about helping children and families of affected by autism, and is especially passionate about reach out to single mothers of special needs children. She currently resides in Glendale with her fiance and son. 

LaTanya Sanders was born and raised in the San Fernando Valley, CA. She worked as a recruiter in the insurance industry, until becoming a full time SAHM to care for her autistic son, Mikey. She is currently studying Psychology, and wants to make a difference in the way the people view ASD.  “You have to take your rose colored glasses off to see the true beauty of autism, and how it can be a gift instead of a burden.”