Model Christina Mendez, in addition to her photo shoots has focused a lot of her energy on supporting the organization Autism Speaks. This cause has taken on a special meaning because her son was diagnosed with severe psychological autism when he was just two years old.
Mendez, a resident of Jamaica, first got involved in the world of modeling as a high school student and then continued to model as a student at Morris Brown College in Atlanta, where she studied business management.
It was during her sophomore year in college that Mendez became pregnant with her son, Damian, who is now 11 years old. When he was only two, he was diagnosed with autism at a time when few facts were known about the disorder.
“Even the doctors didn’t know about it,” Mendez said. “The doctor told me that I ‘could put him in a home’ like he was some kind of vegetable or something.”
Refusing to accept that kind of idea, Mendez left her job so that she could focus on caring for her son. Damian, who has attended a specialized school in Harlem for most of his life, has now been re-diagnosed as having mild autism and Mendez attributes early intervention for the result. What concerns Mendez now is what will happen to her son when he turns 18.
“There isn’t an autism college,” she said.
Although Mendez had put her modeling aside, she has come back to it again even while also working full-time as a project manager for Verizon. She is currently a model for PZI Jeans, which makes jeans for women with curves. Mendez said that she believes in the brand and would not model it if she did not.
“The kind of model I am is different,” said Mendez, who although she has appeared in magazines and on television never saw modeling as a full-time career. “I’m a model with responsibilities, with a son, with a 9 to 5 job.”
In 2006 and now in 2009, Mendez has been on the planning committee of the NYC Walk Now for Autism Speaks. She got involved in order to help others in her situation since, when her son was first diagnosed and she began to learn about it, there was nothing like the walk.
“My being involved in the walk is my way of giving back,” she said. Mendez also said, “There isn’t a cure for autism, but with early intervention a child is helped a lot and as a parent you should hold yourself responsible for getting your child help.”
Jena Greco, the NYC/NJ Walk Director for Autism Speaks, said that it has been wonderful working with Mendez and that Mendez is really helping to raise awareness, which Greco said the organization is grateful for.
For the 2009 walk, which will be held on June 14 and is celebrating its fifth year, Mendez has launched the “Team Mendez Incentive.” This year, Verizon has pledged to match Mendez’s pledges up to $5,000.
Greco said that the organization is excited about Verizon’s pledge. She said that having corporate companies match donations is not only a great way to increase the “much-needed funds,” but also shows that a company stands behind its employees.
The money raised during the NYC Walk Now for Autism Speaks will be used for mission-based activities, such as research, family services, awareness and advocacy.
For more information on the walk, visit www.walknowforautism.org/nyc. To find out more specifically about Team Mendez, visit www.walknowforautism.org/nyc/teammendez.
