The Monterey County School Boards Association (MCSBA) will honor Special Kids Connect, an organization that serves families with loved ones that have disabilities, with the “Excellence in Education” award at its annual dinner and organizational meeting on Friday, April 12 at Hartnell Community College in Salinas.
Special Kids Connect was selected from a list of 35 nominees, established by Monterey County School Districts, to be honored with the “2024 Excellence in Education” award for having a transformative and significant impact on the lives of children and youth in our community. “The MCSBA was so impressed with the mission of Special Kids Connect, to connect parents who have children with developmental disabilities with community resources and empower them to become effective self-advocates for their children's needs,” said County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Deneen Guss. “Our school leaders are very thankful for the wide range of programs and services that Special Kids Connect provides to meet the ever-changing needs of Monterey County's special needs community,” said Dr. Guss.
Founded in 2007 by parents of children with developmental disabilities, Special Kids Connect raises awareness and provides support to children and their families by offering parent workshops, resource fairs, educational conferences, recreational programs and a variety of other opportunities to help parents navigate the often complex landscape of services available for children with developmental disabilities.
School governance team members from throughout Monterey County will attend the dinner event, with Special Kids Connect Executive Director Lori Luzader accepting the award. “We are thrilled to receive this recognition from the Monterey County School Boards Association. This award is a testament to the hard work and passion of our team, the resilience of the families we serve, and the amazing children we have the privilege of supporting,” said Luzader. “Through this recognition, we hope to shine a light on the importance of full and meaningful inclusion. Our vision is to see that every child, regardless of his or her abilities, is not only fully included but is warmly welcomed into their communities and that they, and their families, are made to feel that they truly belong.”
“We are extremely grateful for the collaborative efforts of Special Kids Connect, helping to ensure that parents with special needs children are well-informed and empowered to effectively access and leverage available resources, and are warmly embraced into our community,” said MCSBA President David Gaboni. “We are proud to recognize them with this year’s Excellence in Education award.”