About Special Kids, Inc
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 had children with unique needs. They were faced with the obstacles many parents faced of getting the educational services their children needed to be successful in school and in the community in which they lived.
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 22 years.
The people behind Special Kids, Inc.:
Rose Ferguson, Current 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 foster child who came to her with autism. 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 State of Texas Committee on Disproportionality, Surrogate Parent for HISD, and is a Children’s Protective Services MAP Trainer. Rose was appointed the Director of Special Kids, Incorporated (SKI) after the passing of her dear friend, Agnes Johnson, in 2006. Her desire is to continue to implement the mission of this project and carry on the work that she and Agnes began over 22 years ago.
Agnes Johnson, Late Executive 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 with autism and an intellection disability. She was diagnosed at the age of 2. 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. Her loved for children prompted her to adopted her youngest daughter, Agnes, who from birth demonstrated she is a survivor. Agnes was diagnosed with ADHD and speech impairment in first grade. She later learned that her second daughter, who struggled through most of her academic career, had dyslexia. Agnes’ effective advocacy skills was the driving force that allowed this daughter to go on to receive a degree at Houston Community College.
Agnes was instrumental in expanding SKI’s 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. Agnes’ belief in empowering and educating children prompted her to found and launch Camp OMBC in 2000; a faithbased summer camp that provided inclusion for children with or without disabilities.
Sadly, Agnes Johnson passed away in August 15, 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. 22 years later, her vision of SKI programs continues to grow as SKI relentlessly provides services to families of all children in our community and beyond.
SKI’s Accomplishments!!
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. 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. In 2008, we also assisted displaced of Hurricane Ike and launched the SIPS program (SKI in Public Schools).
We are incredibly proud of the impact that SKI has had on the communities in Houston and surrounding areas. 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!