The blondes’ first guest of Season 2 is Maria Jacobo, founder of HAAPE, Helping Adults with Autism Perform and Excel. Based out of Weston, FL, HAAPE (pronounced HAPPY) works to create and implement innovative approaches in education, development, and support to address autism’s unique challenges for sustaining employment. Maria addressed the blondes’ need for a great selfie app and, oh yeah, showed them her mama bear attitude which is nothing short of contagious. Maria’s story of helping her son reach his full potential is inspiring. Angel is now 21.

  • Armani / Jovani the Disorderly Blondes are so dense they thought Maria worked as hard as she did as a teen just to afford Armani; she actually said “our money;” coincidentally, Maria’s mom adored designer Jovani back in the day; as if Countess Luann put him on the map- pfft #putyourArmaniwhereyourmouthis #feelinjovani
  • Asperger’s Syndrome some considered an Asperger’s diagnosis a form of “high functioning autism;” In 2013, the DSM-5 replaced Asperger’s Syndrome and other pervasive developmental disorders with the umbrella diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder.
  • Bill 101 aka the Charter of the French Language (1977); made French the official language of government and of the courts in the province of Québec, as well as making it the normal and habitual language of the workplace, of instruction, of communications, of commerce and of business; translation: Maria Jacobo’s son Angel would receive therapies in French if she chose to remain in Québec- ¡coño, NO!
Oh, Canada, what were you thinking?
Sweet. SUCCESS!
  • Cypress Bay High School Kristi’s old stompin’ grounds (she built its state-of-the-art library media center and purchased every piece of electronic equipment under its roof, but that’s not important right now); located in Weston, FL; Kathleen Gorman-Gard, SLP (Speech Language Pathologist) co-teaches a Social-Personal Skills course, oversees College and Career Transition (CCT), and sponsors a HAAPE club; go Lightning!
  • Inclusion Films Joey Travolta’s film school and summer camp; Joey teaches filmmaking to individuals with developmental disabilities in five dedicated production studios throughout California; the blondes are TOTALLY moving #californiadreamin
“Before he made it on the big screen, Joey worked as a
special education teacher in New Jersey” (inclusionfilms.com/team)
  • mathematics / matemáticas the Disorderly Blondes have no idea what these words mean, in either language
Can’t means won’t, so we won’t.
gif credit: giphy.com
  • neuroplasticity aka brain plasticity; the idea that the brain is malleable or changeable as in response to learning or experience or following injury; Maria mentions her son attending therapies at this center; the blondes aren’t sure why their brains are stuck in park
That’s what she gets for drinking Chardonnay.
gif credit: giphy.com
  • PDD-NOS Pervasive Development Disorder Not Otherwise Specified; an old skool diagnosis given to those (like Kristi’s J.R.) who did not display every symptom of “classic autism” (also a defunct term); in 2013, the DSM-5 replaced pervasive developmental disorders with the umbrella diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder.
  • regressive autism a condition in which a child appears to develop typically but suddenly begins to lose speech and social skills; typically occurs around 19 months; both Maria Jacobo and Brenda report this about their boys #knowthesigns
The blondes sure love them some Macs! Fancy!
image credit: happe.org