From its Neiva campus, the María Cano University Foundation continues to strengthen its commitment to community engagement and the promotion of scientific knowledge in service of social well-being. On this occasion, Mercy Torres Quintero, coordinator of the Speech Therapy program, actively participated in the First Regional Congress on Neurodiversity and Autism, an event organized by the Familias Azules Foundation in the city of Neiva.

During her presentation, Professor Torres Quintero delivered a lecture titled “The Importance of Early Intervention in Communication”, a highly relevant topic that sparked great interest among parents, teachers, support educators, and professionals from various fields. Her presentation emphasized how early detection and intervention in communication difficulties during the first years of life can make a significant difference in the overall development of children, particularly those on the autism spectrum or with other neurodiverse conditions.

Professor Torres Quintero highlighted that early intervention not only supports language acquisition but also strengthens social, emotional, and cognitive skills, fostering more effective communication and better adaptation to family and educational environments. She also underscored the importance of parents and teachers recognizing the early warning signs in communicative development, encouraging interdisciplinary collaboration between health and education professionals to ensure comprehensive support.

The event provided a valuable space for dialogue and reflection on inclusion, empathy, and the recognition of diversity—fundamental pillars in building fairer and more compassionate communities. María Cano’s participation in this congress reaffirms its commitment to the training of humanistic, ethical, and socially responsible professionals, as well as its ongoing contribution to social transformation through science, education, and collaborative work with the community. #MásMaríaCano