About Special Kids, Inc
Special Kids Inc. is a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering, assisting and supporting families of children with disabilites. Founded in 1989, our primary goal is to ensure that your children are getting the appropriate care and education needed for a happy, healthy and productive life. Special Kids, Inc. is a Community Parent Resource Center, funded by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services . We are here to serve and assist parents at no cost.
We provide training resources and a supportive community. Special Kids, Inc. travels to Washington to educate parents on laws that matter most to you and stays current with all regulations that affect parents of children with disabilities in the Houston Independent School District . We pass this information on to you so you can be prepared and confident for your Individualized Education Plan (IEP) or Admission Review Dismissal (ARD) meetings.
SKI is incredibly grateful to our wonderful supporters, volunteers and families who truly make our organization and mission possible. We invite you to participate in our training events, join a Parent Support Group and read through our on-line resources to empower yourself with the specialized knowledge you need to ensure your child is getting the education and support they deserve. Read our SKI testimonials to learn how we have touched the lives of the beautiful people in our organization. Did we miss your great story? Contact us today!
History of Special Kids, Inc. (SKI)
Special Kids, Incorporated (SKI), a Community Parent Resource Center, was founded in 1989 by two frustrated, take-action parents: Agnes Johnson and Rose Ferguson. At the kitchen table, Agnes and Rose started the SKI project because they both children with disabilities and were faced with the obstacles of getting the educational services their children needed to be successful in school.
They found they were not alone and decided to form Special Kids, Incorporated. Like Agnes and Rose, many parents were struggling with the school systems, state education agencies, and the federal government to get programs that meet the needs of their special needs children. SKI received its 501(c)(3) non-profit status in 1990 and has been serving Houston and the surrounding areas for over 17 years.
SKI has grown to five staff members and serves over 300 families per year through one-on-one consultations, advocacy, training, news & events, and family support. In 2005, we provided assistance to 56 families affected by Hurricane Katrina. We helped them find apartments, food, social services, transportation and HISD enrollment. Today, we continue to help these and many other wonderful families. It is a true privilege to serve them. In 2006, SKI opened the Agnes Johnson Computer Technology Center to provide Special Kids families access to the internet and computer technology.
We are incredibly proud of the impact that SKI has had on the special needs community in Houston. Our lives have been forever changed by the beautiful families and children we serve. They are truly a blessing. Read our Success Stories to hear about the impact that SKI has had!
The people behind Special Kids, Inc.:
Rose Ferguson, Executive Director
Rose Ferguson is a retired Registered Nurse of 25 years and co-founder of Special Kids, Inc. Her passion for children with disabilities grew while caring for her disabled foster child. Rose has touched the lives of hundreds of families in Harris and the surrounding counties. Mrs. Ferguson has sat on the various boards including the Harris County Mental Health Board and the HISD Board of Parents as a Liaison. She also serves Surrogate Parent for HISD and is a Children’s Protective Services MAP Trainer. Rose was appointed the new Director of Special Kids, Incorporated (SKI) after the passing of her dear friend, Agnes Johnson. Her desire is to continue to implement the mission of this project and carry on the work that she and Agnes began over 20 years ago.
Agnes Johnson, Former Project Director
Agnes Johnson, mother of six daughters and legal secretary, was a Co-Founder and Director of Special Kids, Inc. In 1982, she was blessed with Shannon, a child who had special needs. In her own words, “The idea to form my own parent support group was germinated outside the school district while I was carrying a picket sign that said ‘HISD Won’t Talk to Parents, Only the News Media.’” Out of frustration and determination, she and her close friend, Rose Ferguson, started Special Kids, Inc.
Agnes was instrumental in expanding SKI goals from only providing parent support to providing training and information. She developed partnerships with other advocacy organizations throughout the country as well as co-directed of the Grassroots Consortium on Disabilities (Opens in a new window). Agnes sat on various boards throughout the City of Houston; Neighborhood Centers, Inc., Head Start Health Board, People in Partnership, and the Anne E. Casey Foundation. Her grant writing expertise allowed SKI and Grassroots to be funded by the Department of Education for many years. Through her efforts and the Department of Education funding, SKI is still providing services to families in our community and beyond.
Agnes Johnson passed away in August 2006. Her legacy lives on as she has imparted her knowledge to many by empowering families of children with disabilities to get the services their children rightfully deserve. Agnes’ daughters, Helen, Diona, Adondria, and Quisa, continue to help run the Special Kids, Inc. organization along with taking care of their sisters Shannon and Lil’ Agnes.