Kodey Toney, director of the Pervasive Parenting Center in Panama, was named the Parent advocate of the Year for 2015 by TARC, the Tulsa Chapter of an organization dedicated to helping those with disabilities.
The winners are nominated by their peers in the field of advocacy for people with disabilities.
Toney was presented with the award during a ceremony on Dec. 3 in Tulsa.
Toney was recognized for his work and dedication in helping his family and many others in eastern Oklahoma deal with developmental disabilities such as autism. Among the many programs he has helped to bring to this part of the state are training for parents and professionals, Sibshops, parent support groups, conferences, and awareness of existing resources.
“This is an extreme honor,” said Toney. “This is not something I feel I deserve. There are so many others that have helped me to achieve this award that deserve this just as much as I do, including my wife, Jennifer, who helps with all aspects of my advocacy work, and the many mentors that have helped me along the way. I am honored and hope to continue to help people in our area more in the future.”
In addition to his work as the director of the Pervasive Parenting Center, Toney has 12 hours of training in special education law through Wrightslaw, completed the William and Mary Law Institute on Special Education Advocacy, is a 2013 graduate of the Partners in Policymaking program through the Oklahoma Developmental Disabilities Council, a member of the local NAMI chapter, co-director of the eastern Oklahoma Sibshop, the author of a weekly column titled “Pervasive Parenting” which runs in several publications and online websites, and is employed by the Oklahoma Family Network as the eastern Oklahoma regional support navigator. He was appointed by the governor to the Oklahoma Developmental Disabilities Council in 2015.
Toney is a guidance counselor at the Carl Albert State College Sallisaw Campus.
Toney’s son Konner has autism. Konner’s diagnosis of autism at the age of three sparked his father to do many of the things he has to help bring awareness to the rural area of eastern Oklahoma.
Sally Maxwell, Senior News Director
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