Welcome

Welcome to the Ken-Ton SEPTO(Special Education Parent Teacher Organization). I'm so excited to get started on this journey with all of you.

My passion is Advocacy. As the mother of 5 active boys, 2 with IEP's I know exactly what it feels like to be at the start of the journey that is Special Education. I began Advocating when I was in College. My brother had been diagnosed as non-verbal Autistic and our life changed. I watched as my mother scrambled to find resources, she had no idea who to talk to or where to turn. I watched her struggle to find doctors, neurologists, therapists and an educational setting that was inclusive and supportive. It took many years for her to find all the resources to support my brother and to support her as his parent and caregiver. As I sat back and observed my mothers struggles, I would have no idea that my own son would be diagnosed 20 years later and I would find myself in a very similar situation.

The Ken-Ton SEPTO came to be after I saw a need for parent to parent support in our district for those families with Special needs children. I sat down with the then Superintendent and the Director of Special Education to discuss my thoughts, concerns and to tell them my intentions for forming our support system. I wanted every parent to feel like they had all the information they needed to make an informed decision about their child's education. My hopes for this group is to be a support system for families in the Ken-Ton School district; offering support to parents, students and teachers who need us. We will be sharing resources that help our families in their day to day lives. Please let me know if you have information you would like to share with the group.

Dawn Stinner

Director, Ken-Ton SEPTO