Meet Krystal Giraldo

Hi Krystal, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
When my son was diagnosed with Autism my feelings were all over the place. I wasn’t necessarily sad – but I wasn’t happy either. I can’t say that I felt a sigh of relief either. My son was resuscitated at birth and since our days in the NICU, we were advised to keep a mindful eye on him and his developmental milestones and they mentioned that Autism could come from his traumatic birth.

Because I am such a type-A person and planner by default (I am a coordinator for a living), it was time to dive into the world of the unknown, get all the services and therapies the neurologist suggested, and get to work.

Autism was going to be a part of our life – but I was determined to not have it paralyze my child’s life. When the world shut down in March 2020, I took to social media to feel closer to friends and family. I am an extroverted person who cannot stand being in one place or alone for too long. So needless to say, the pandemic was a hard time- but behaviorally and mentally, it affected me.

Little by little, I was contacted by companies and brands who wanted me to showcase their products or online events. I met some local moms who also had a child or children on the spectrum.

And in October 2022, my IG face: @theinclusivemama was born. I wanted this platform to be a place where all moms, special needs or not, could come and find resources, products, local attractions, restaurants or events in South Florida that would not only promote and instill inclusiveness but also fun for families. Or just self-care and love for MOMS.

It’s only up from here and I’m so excited to see what comes from this platform and community.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Not at all. I think being a mom in general comes with challenges and obstacles. Add being a stepmom and a child with special needs in with that title and you could find yourself more defeated than most.

I think blending a family while learning and living with an autistic child is a struggle all in itself. I find myself constantly looking for resources, finding outlets, and fighting for my child’s medical and educational NEEDS. All while running a home in Miami, a full-time job, and a generation of blended families.

None of it has been smooth. But I think I have finally found my balance of healthy outlets. And serving as a healthy outlet to other moms and families within South Florida has been a source of joy and therapy for me.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I have a full-time job working for the 11th Judicial Circuit Court in Miami, Florida. It’s brought me a ton of knowledge and wisdom from the legal perspective. And because of my professional role, I am trained and know how to remain a neutral party to almost any circumstance or event.

I love that I can focus on a person or product or thing without having to taint it with religion, gender, pronoun, race, color, political view, or personal belief. I see people, places and things for who they are: not what they’re registered as. I think that is what sets me apart from most platforms today. We deal with those stressors enough within our daily routines.

I think that alone sets me aside from the others. Because I want inclusion for not just my son- but for those like him, those moms like me, and families and individuals who have to work harder just to be accepted in this world.

Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
I think anytime a person is advocates – it’s a risk. We’re living in a world that demands change but is complacent to traditions and traditional views. Where “normal” doesn’t have a definition but is ignored when it’s not within the terms of their normal. Where we have to beg for basic rights to education and medical necessities.

So every day I put my face on social media and fight for my son, it’s a risk. Every time I share a new resource, it’s a risk. It’s a risk because you never know how people are going to respond or if you’re going to upset anyone. We live in a world where Autism is still being viewed as a mask for disobedience. Where really, ignorance is what is truly being ignored.

But for my son, who hasn’t found his voice yet, I will run the risk. Because if I have learned anything from advocating its that:

1. “The squeaky wheel gets the oil”
2. You can’t get what you don’t ask for
3. You can’t promote awareness if people aren’t aware
4. The more you go, the more you know.