El Grupo Vida began with two determined mothers, Ellie Valdez-Honeyman and María Castillo, who shared a vision: to make sure no Spanish-speaking family facing disability would ever feel alone. In the early 1990s, they gathered a small group of parents who understood the challenges of raising children with special needs while navigating language barriers and unfamiliar systems. What started as a handful of families meeting around a kitchen table quickly grew into a movement rooted in love, resilience, and mutual support.

By 1997, El Grupo Vida hosted its first educational conference conducted entirely in Spanish — a groundbreaking event that marked the beginning of its transformation from a local support circle into a respected nonprofit organization. As the community’s needs evolved, so did El Grupo Vida’s reach, expanding programs, partnerships, and resources to support families across Colorado and beyond.