KnowLedge to Navigate the Systems
Your Involvement and Education is Key!
I take great pride in being Kendall’s mom. My advocacy journey began when he was just 18 months old, and since then, I’ve dedicated myself to ensuring he has everything he needs to thrive and live his best life. Throughout this journey, I’ve gained valuable insights into the systems, people, and processes that support individuals with developmental disabilities in California.
My advocacy began with guiding Kendall through school, culminating in his receiving a bachelor’s degree from Fresno State. I have served on numerous nonprofit boards and committees, including the Tulare County Community Advisory Committee (CAC) for Special Education. For a decade, I was a member of the Board of Directors for PSW, a key service provider for the disabled community in Tulare County. Currently, and I serve as the President of the Board of Directors for the Central Valley Regional Center (CVRC). CVRC supports approximately 30,000 individuals with disabilities across six counties in Central California.
I don't pretend to know it all as it is a complex system. I do have a good basic understanding of systems and I am always learning more. Over the years, I have made some solid connections and can usually get answers when needed. Overall, I am deeply committed to empowering individuals and their families in our community!
About Kendall
Kendall is an autistic adult artist and filmmaker who has not let the struggles of socialization stop him from achieving life goals. He started school non-verbal in a severely handicapped class and is now a college graduate with a degree in graphic arts from Fresno State. Through his YouTube channel, Adventures With Kendall he takes you on weekly adventure while working to inspire others on the autism spectrum to focus on their God given abilities. As Kendall says, “May your gifts bless the world”.
This is obviously the over-simplified version as there were many hurdles and challenges getting Kendall through high school and then on to college. We are still working on Kendall's "job ready" skills, but have made tremendous progress. We constantly seek out the kind of specific training we knew would be the most beneficial for Kendall.
Throughout this process, Kendall has gained a confidence we never expected him to have. To see him handle social situations with ease makes your heart happy. There is nothing more satisfying than seeing someone thrive when they are taught they have serious deficiencies. GO KENDALL!!
My Commitment to Kendall
I noticed that Kendall was often unresponsive to verbal cues at about 18 months old. I started with the family doctor who was knowledgable enough to refer us to the regional center in our geographic area. That lead to a referral to a school speech therapist and a special education pre-school. At five, Kendall was official diagnosed with high functioning autism.
In the process of getting Kendall through the various levels of school, I took ever opportunity to get involved at school, attend training sessions and conferences open to parents, read books, etc. I served for many years of the Tulare County Office of Education Community Advisory Committee for Special Education, always served on the school site council, etc. I did all of this so I would know as much as possible about the services and rights Kendall had to a quality education. Later I joined the any related committee or board of directors that would have me. All to gain knowledge and insight into the processes that impacted his life.
Of course there were highs and lows, but I always knew he could do great things. We picked our battles and focused on the areas where change was likely to be successful and meaningful. I tried many times to teach him to tie his shoes before I realized he could live a full life without the ability to tie a knot. The bottom line was to love him unconditionally and encourage him to develop skills that made him happy.
This hasn't been an easy journey, but Kendall and I both hope to make it easier for you. Having other parents or autistic individuals to network with has been extremely helpful for us. This website is a continued commitment to Kendall and our way of helping others use their "gifts to bless the world".