Ready, Willing, and Able
Maria Vasquez has been in a motorized wheelchair since she was 7. Born with severe cerebral palsy, her speech is slow and slurred. Her fingers can’t hold a pen or navigate a keyboard. Yet these constraints haven’t stopped Maria, who is 46, from becoming the first of five siblings to go to college. Graduating with honors from Fairfax High in 1993, she immediately enrolled at Santa Monica College — taking one course per semester. “I wasn’t sure I could handle more than that,” she recalls.
Then in 2000, she met her future husband, Antonio Saba. Soon, Maria became a mother and put her college plans on hold. When their son, Antonio Jr., reached middle school, Maria returned to SMC to finish what she’d started. From a certificate program in Early Childhood Education, she segued into the Associate degree track in Social Welfare.
Everything required extra effort. “Many days I had second thoughts — moments where I was going to throw in the towel,” she said. Maria composes documents by typing with her nose on an iPad. “When I had to write an essay, it would take me all night,” she said. In lectures, she relied on a notetaker. For exams, she headed to the Center for Students with Disabilities, where an aide would fill in her answers from dictation.
“My message to the next generation is to remind them to never give up,” she said. “Accomplish your goals, no matter what life throws your way.”
Though Maria has no immediate plan to transfer, her ambition is to become a social worker advocating for the disabled. For now, she’s looking into a human resources job with the City of Los Angeles.
2025 Transfer Story
I'm a person with Cerebral Palsy and I began my journey at SMC in '93. At the time, I wasn’t sure which path to take. I started with the mindset of taking one class per semester, unsure of my goals due to the challenges that came with my disability. My college journey was on and off for years as I searched for direction.
Then life took an unexpected and beautiful turn — I found out I was going to become a mother. I made the decision to step away from school to focus fully on raising my son and I have no regrets. Becoming a full-time mom was the most important role I could ever take on, and I gave it my all. There were moments when I had second thoughts about continuing my education, but with the support of my husband, who encouraged me to keep going, I found the strength to return and finish what I started.
Years later, I knew it was time to return to school and pick up where I left off. This time, I came back with a clear goal: to complete my general education and earn my A.A. degree in Social and Behavioral Sciences.
English classes gave me anxiety, and taking five units per semester was a challenge, but I was determined to push myself and see what I was capable of. I stayed committed and motivated, and little by little, I began to believe in myself. After successfully completing my general education, I became even more motivated to continue my education and transfer to CSUN, to earn my B.A. in Social Work.
Today, I am proud to say that I have overcome my fears, achieved my goal, and am officially graduating. Even more, I am the first of five siblings to attend a university. This milestone means so much to me — it is a testament to perseverance, family support, and the power of never giving up.
Shoutout to the professors and staff who allowed me to overcome my obstacles and follow through with my classes, and to all the staff members from DSPS.
No matter if we are disabled or not, young or old, nothing is impossible.