Special Kids Foundation

Valerie was born and raised in The San Francisco Bay Area. She moved to San Mateo and graduated from Hillsdale High School. In 1990, she met and married her husband Rick and they made their home in Redwood City, CA. They ran and owned S&R Produce. Valerie also did retail merchandising and catering on the side. The Castaldis sold their business in 1999 and moved to Oakley so they could live more comfortably, as Valerie became a stay-at-home Mother to her two children, Ashley and RJ.

In 2001, their son RJ was showing signs of being nonverbal with nonsocial behavior. He was later diagnosed with Autism. It was then Valerie realized that their son would require special help to succeed in school. Valerie dedicated her life to seeking solutions that would allow RJ to stay in their local public school. In doing so, she found assistance from teachers and programs that cultivated RJ's high level of intelligence. RJ is currently a fourth grader and has the mathematical skills of an eighth grader. He is also tutoring second grade students in math. Valerie realizes that all cases of Autism are not the same and has volunteered her time to help other parents with special needs children navigate through the emotions, educational curriculum and programs that helped her to cope with RJ's Autism.

She is also involved in TOPSoccer and school functions. Valerie is currently employed with The Oakley School District as an instructional Paraprofessional. Through this role she communicates with parents about their child's progress and parents are comfortable expressing to Valerie, situations with home and daily routines. In her rare spare time Valerie likes to buy and sell on EBay, read a good book and garden. Valerie is dedicated to helping special needs children and their families in any way possible.

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