Carmen joined the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) in 2006 after gaining 10 years of experience supporting families of individuals with disabilities in Fairfax County, Virginia. Prior to joining OSEP, she was the Family Resource Coordinator at the Fairfax Infant-Toddler Connection, connecting families to resources and each other, as well as helping them develop their advocacy and leadership skills. She also worked in the Disability Services Planning and Development Office in Fairfax County, responsible for connecting people with disabilities across the lifespan, and their families.  

As an Education Program Specialist in OSEP, Carmen serves as the lead for the parent program, which is comprised of parent training and information centers, community parent resources centers, and parent technical assistance centers throughout the country. These discretionary grants are mandated in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).  In addition, Carmen is the project officer for the Center on Appropriate Dispute Resolution in Special Education (CADRE), which supports States, local agencies, families, and youth in resolving disputes through informal and formal methods as outlined in IDEA.