IDEA Advocate, April Bennett, is a 2000 graduate of Partners in Policy Making and 2002 graduate of the Partners in Education Advocacy (PEA Pods) program. Also in 2002, April received her Passport to Advocacy Learning. April has been a tireless advocate for children with disabilities after her son was diagnosed with Tuberous Sclerosis. When the opportunity arose, April was eager to take on the challenge of becoming an advocate for all children. In January of 2006, April started IDEA Advocate. Over the last four years she has traveled all over Eastern Oklahoma, advocating for kids of all ages.  April was born in Kansas City, Missouri. She was welcomed by a big sister and brother. Before she started school her family moved to Peculiar, Missouri. After graduating from Raymore-Peculiar (Ray-Pec) High School in 1985, April moved to San Jose California for a few years. In the fall of 1988 she returned to Missouri where she met David W. Bennett. A move to Bartlesville Oklahoma in 1989 brought new job working for Phillips Petroleum Company. On June 29, 1990, David and April married and started their lives together. Phillips sent them to Houston in 1992 where Ethan would arrive a few years later. Friday, May 3, 1996, changed their lives forever. At a routine one year check up, Ethan was diagnosed with tuberous sclerosis. Infantile Spasms, a type of seizure, is what triggered this diagnosis. At birth, Ethan had obvious white birthmarks all over. Too many to count. With these spots and seizures the pediatrician knew it was TS. It was also this date that April began her journey into advocacy. Since 2003, April has been working towards her Bachelors degree in Liberal Arts. She is being optimistic that she will complete this degree in May of 2011. In 2005, with the support of the Bartlesville Uptown Civitan Club the Civitan Community Accessible Park the dream of a park accessible to everyone became a reality in Bartlesville. Selecting an advocate is a personal decision. April has a distinct style and it may not be for every parent. She works to maintain the delicate relationship between the school and parent. If you are considering hiring April please feel free to ask for references. |