our work

Not Without Us (formerly "snkids.org") was initiated in December 2017. The mission & vision for Not Without Us is better outcomes for all kids with disabilities through inclusive, child-centered, strength-based practices. We educate stakeholders, we encourage political action, we promote leadership opportunities (especially for allies and members of the community of persons with disabilities), and we advocate in all places for systems improvement, transparency and accountability, so that ALL kids will be provided equal opportunities to reach their highest potential and to find joy and success in their lives.
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2021
  • continuing to develop partnerships and connections with local organizations to begin the process of breaking down silos and to make key information more readily available to the public
  • continued membership and participation in the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA) with alignment and solidarity with their mission of "Protecting Legal and Civil Rights of Students with Disabilities and their Families."
  • ​Creation of a Statewide education association - the "California Education Association" (CEA) - dedicated to prioritizing the education of All Learners in California and partnering with other Statewide organizations (such as CSBA, CCBE, ACSA, CSEA, CTA, CFT, and more) to build the knowledge of Educators & Leaders around the laws, rights, responsibilities, systemic gaps, biases, and needs for improvement in educating students with disabilities in our schools in order to create more opportunity for success and better outcomes. CEA's mission is to make it easier for Educators and Leaders to know more so that they can do more to move effective policies forward, to put better practices into action & to help ensure accountability for educating All Learners. Momentum is building around this, which is very exciting! Contact us if you're interested in finding out more!✨

2020
  • participated in community outreach to ensure that parents of students with disabilities had information necessary to obtain services during the Pandemic
  • delivered presentations, including Demystifying Running for Local Office
  • participated in Podcasts to promote the work of the organization
  • developed partnerships and connections with local organizations to begin the process of breaking down silos and to make key information more readily available to the public
  • continued service to the County of San Mateo on the Commission on Disabilities
  • Executive Director, Chelsea Bonini, was elected in November to the San Mateo County Board of Education to continue her advocacy on behalf of all kids

2019
  • completion of Special Education Attorney Training by Chelsea Bonini, through COPAA (Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates, Protecting the Legal and Civil Rights of Students with Disabilities and their Families)
  • drafted California Democratic Party (CADEM) Platform amendments addressing critical issues for persons with disabilities in the Education, Disabilities AND Criminal Justice planks, which were passed by the State Party Delegates in November 2019 at the Fall Endorsing Convention in Long Beach, CA!
  • began rolling out our Supports and Services to train and support individuals and organizational leaders with hopes of improving outcomes for persons with disabilities locally, statewide and nationally (Fall 2019)
  • received IRS notification that Not Without Us is officially a tax exempt 501(c)(4) nonprofit (!!) (Fall 2019)
  • launched The Forgotten Fifth initiative (Summer 2019)
  • launched our Deliberate Democracy Initiative (Summer 2019)
  • held our first two Candidate Training Forums for local elections in the Summer of 2019
  • created a MODEL School Board Resolution for Inclusive Practices & the Creation of  “Special Education District Advisory Committees” &  proposed this to the San Mateo-Foster City School District’s Board of Trustees
  • established our Advisory Board (Spring 2019)
  • forged relationships with SELPA CAC members statewide in Sacramento
  • joined the San Mateo County SELPA in Sacramento, California with the SELPA Association to lobby our legislators (May 2019)
  • appointment of Not Without Us, co-founder, Chelsea Bonini, to the San Mateo County Commission on Disabilities (Feb 2018)

2018
  • filed our IRS application for tax exempt status under Section 501(c)(4) in November 2018
  • initiated tracking & officially re-addressing resolution of issues raised at SMFCSD Board Meetings regarding special needs kids on our Calendar (as of October 2018)
  • organized a Successful Postcard Campaign for the San Mateo-Foster City School District’s Measure V Parcel Tax by recruiting over 500 volunteers (parents, students, community members, elected officials, SMFCSD Board Members, Teachers, Staff and Administrators) to write TEN THOUSAND (10,000!!) personal postcards to voters to encourage them to support this $10 Million Parcel Tax! (September/October 2018)
  • Endorsed the San Mateo-Foster City School District’s Measure V Parcel Tax (August 2018)
  • organized the first SNPRIDE EVENT (September 30, 2018)
  • launched Membership and Benefits structure (July 2018)
  • hosted our first  Membership Meeting (June 7, 2018)
  • hosted a virtual candidate forum for the San Mateo County Sheriff’s race between Carlos Bolanos and Mark Melville (May 2018)
  • helped get Students with Disabilities added to both the San Mateo-Foster City School District Budget Assumptions and LCAP (May 2018)
  • joined the San Mateo County SELPA in Sacramento, California with the SELPA Association to lobby our legislators (May 2018)
  • requested that the San Mateo-Foster City School Board appoint 5 members to the San Mateo County SELPA’s CAC-Resource Parent Committee (appointments were made, April 2018)
  • hosted a virtual candidate forum for the current San Mateo County Superintendent of Schools election (April to June 2018)
  • incorporated Not Without Us as a California nonprofit mutual benefit corporation so we can lobby and endorse candidates on disabilities issues and initiatives (original name – snkids.org – April 2018)
  • organized a Summit for Special Needs Parents (February 2018)
  • launched our website and Facebook community

2017
  • held a San Mateo-Foster City School Board Candidate Forum (September 2017)