Kathie Snow

Opening Keynote

Kathie Snow is an author, public speaker, trainer, and consultant. Her interest in disability issues began in 1987 following the birth of her son, Benjamin, who was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at four months. Like most parents, she was bewildered and somewhat frightened; and, like most parents, she eagerly entered the world of disability services and interventions. She listened to what doctors recommended, she went along with all of the therapies. But then, when Benjamin was three, Kathie participated in the Texas Partners in Policymaking program and the experience was life changing. She learned many valuable life lessons, especially from the self advocates. She discovered that families of children with special needs could enjoy regular lives. Thus, when Benjamin was six, Kathie decided she didn’t want their life consumed with therapies anymore and called it quits. Since that time, Kathie has become a fierce advocate for the fact that disability is a natural as gender expression, ethnicity and and the many other traits that make us all human. The third edition of Kathie’s book, Disability is Natural: A Revolutionary Common Sense for Raising Successful Children with Disabilities, has recently been released.