Carina Morillo

Social entrepreneur

Carina Morillo is an advocate for the social inclusion of people with autism. She is Founding Member and President of Fundacion Brincar por un autismo feliz (www.brincar.org), a non-profit organization in Argentina that works since 2010 for a better quality of life of people with autism and their families. Autism is a lifelong developmental condition that affects how a person communicates and relates with other people, and how they experience the world around them. Autism is present in 1 of 68 children, and is more frequent than pediatric cancer, diabetes and aids combined. Every 11 minutes, a new case is diagnosed. Autism’s most-obvious signs generally appear between 18 to 30 months, being the lack of eye contact the most distinctive red flag. Carina started Brincar, inspired by her son Ivan, who is currently 16 years old and has autism, because she strongly believes, that altough life with autism can be challenging, as a family they have the right to be happy (Fundacion Brincar’s motto is “for a happy life in autism”). But this requires permanent learning as a family, and also teaching others about autism. In spite of its high prevalence, most people still don’t know what autism is about, or how to help someone with autism. This is how Carina felt that information needed to be accessible. More information means more inclusion. The Foundation offers support services and training to families and professionals, awareness community programs and arts, skills and adult-life programs for children, youth and adults in the spectrum. Fundacion Brincar has trained more than 15.000 professionals and families, and currently offers support services to more than 3,000 families throughout Argentina. Its free virtual library monthly reaches 400,000 people per month throughout Latin America and Spain. Fundacion Brincar is also founding member of the Argentina Network of Autism, and has become one of the leading autism references for both families, health professionals and teachers in Argentina and Latin America. Currently, Carina is actively working on the creation of an adult life platform. Like many parents, her main concern is who will take care of her son during his adult life. Around one third of people with autism remain nonverbal, and one third have an intellectual disability, requiring 24/7 support throughout their life. Existing facilities and services in Argentina and Latin America are limited to school age, with no residence nor occupation solutions from 18 years onward. Carina feels that with the right support, everyone can be an active member of the community. Being able to look at someone from the perspective of their potential and not of their difficulties, is the first step to inclusion. We don’t need to be experts, we just need to be able to look at the person beyond autism. Carina started her professional carrer in the financial communications sector. She was Conference Director for LatinFinance Magazine, Euromoney Group and Commercial Director of Financial Publishing for the Southern Cone for Thomson Reuters. Prior to starting Fundación Director she was the Executive Director of Fundacion Crear vale la pena in Argentina, a non profit organization working the social inclusion of children in poverty contexts. Carina has been awarded the 2016 US Ambassador in Argentina Entrepreneur Prize and the 2014 Argentine Solidarity Prize. In april 2017, Fundacion Brincar was declared of Social Interest by the Congress of the City of Buenos Aires for its open community services. Carina holds a B.S. in Business Administration degree of Babson College.

People. I believe in the power of people. Of the human touch. In talking face to face, listening to each other. Looking at each other in the eyes. Giving a hug. Smiling. There are no limits, no ceilings. There are simply other ways of getting there. Daring. Fear paralyzes you and takes you no where. If you want to change something, start by the first step. Make it happen.

We don't need to be experts nor do anything heroic to include someone. We just need to be close, to make others feel we are available. The best way to do so is by making eye contact, being able to look at eacher in the eyes. This small gesture, inmediately makes us feel acknowledged, included. To many people, this can mean the world.

Business Planning, Entrepreneurship, Fund-raising, Nonprofit Organizations, Social Inclusion

Dancing, cooking, impersonating, rope skipping