Alyssa Dominguez
A founder of The Clever Crew Organisation, a supportive community for mothers of children with special needs.
A mother of two myself, married to a Naval Officer,
nurturing a vibrant 5-year-old son with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Our journey took us to Camp Lejeune when he was 3. In these new surroundings, I found myself longing for
companionship and understanding from those who could truly empathize with my experiences. I wanted to find friends who knew what I was going through. Someone to
talk to, pray with, or cry with, and who would understand me without any judgement. I was looking for sister-love, someone who would be there for me, and I'd be there for her too. I wanted us to help each other out, especially when our husbands were on deployment, and we had no family nearby.
Raising children with special needs requires a lot of effort and resilience, especially when we're frequently on the move without the support of friends or family. Like any
parent, we too need to recharge and have moments of peace, yet such opportunities are rare. It was from this shared need I founded this group, transforming simple
playdates for our children into a haven of solidarity and support for us, the mothers behind the scenes.
As an officer’s spouse, I have witnessed some of the unique challenges faced by enlisted spouses with children with special needs. To me, she is not just another
spouse, she is my military sister, no matter what her husband’s rank. But, even if the uniform did not unite us, I see her as a mother with a special child, just like me.
We stand together, united by the roles we play and the support we can give to one another,
military and civilian. I believe moving this dream from concept to reality begins today with you all.