About me
For nearly 15 years, Tavia Lorese Lawson has served as a devoted Parent Representative on the East San Gabriel Valley Special Educational Local Plan Area Community Advisory Committee (ESGV SELPA CAC). Tavia's journey navigating various systems, which began in her childhood, has uniquely equipped her to advocate on behalf of her son and support others in their journeys. She is a CAPTAIN Cadre Representative, nominated by the State and Federally Funded Family Support Agencies and part of the CAPTAIN C.L.I.C. Region. She has been a Family Resource Specialist for the past 10 years and, most importantly, is proud to be the parent of an amazing young man who is autistic, which fuels her commitment to this field.
She has become a tireless advocate, extending her support both locally and nationwide to families of neurodiverse children and adults. Tavia's commitment expands through her role as Chair of the East San Gabriel Valley Special Education Local Plan Area Community Advisory Committee (ESGV SELPA CAC), where she collaborates with special education directors, parents, students, and community members to implement strategies that promote successful outcomes for students. She finds this work deeply fulfilling, particularly in addressing special education challenges alongside parents, students, local educational agencies, and teachers.
Lastly, Tavia is an accomplished author and qualitative research collaborator for the Disparity Reduction and Equity in Autism Services Lab, or DREAmS Lab, at the University of Southern California. Her work embodies the values of collaboration, justice, and lifelong learning, aligning seamlessly with her commitment to the neurodiverse community.
Special Interests: Legislative Advocacy, Research, History, Music, Makeup, Sports, Wonder Woman, Reviewing and Testing Products for Best Buy, and a Love of Purple.
Other Affiliations: Member and Certified with the National Association of Special Education Teachers (NASET) and a Parent Member of the California Association of African American Superintendents and Administrators (CAAASA).
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