McGowan Advocacy Group

What an incredible evening at the NCRC Peacemaker Awards! We were honored to be in the presence of so many individuals dedicated to building stronger, more compassionate communities through service, leadership, and advocacy.

A special highlight of the evening was the opportunity to meet Dr. Bernice King and hear her speak. Such a powerful reminder that meaningful change begins with courage, compassion, and a commitment to uplifting others.

We are grateful to have been part of such a meaningful celebration.

54 days of summer left, even if backpacks and busses head out early. As this exciting time begins for our students, remember to request a 30 day review with your child's IEP team; and, get it on the calendar as soon as you can. McGowan Advocacy Group wishes students and families a happy 'Back to School" season.

San Diego Unified School District just made history by appointing Dr. Fabiola Bagula as the district’s first Latina and third-ever woman Superintendent. As an all-women advocacy office that works with families from every background, including our Spanish-speaking families, this means so much to us.

Representation isn’t symbolic. It’s powerful.
It tells every little girl, especially girls of color, that their voice belongs at the head of the table.
When leaders come from the communities they serve, trust grows, change sticks, and kids feel what it means to belong.

Superintendent Bagula Permanent Appointment The San Diego Unified School District Board of Education today unanimously appointed Dr. Fabi Bagula to be the permanent Superintendent of the San Diego Unified School District.

Over 70% of incarcerated adults in the United States cannot read above a fourth-grade level, and just reaching a third-grade reading level dramatically reduces the likelihood of future incarceration.

Reading is the one skill that can interrupt the school-to-prison pipeline.

Education is not a luxury; it is a right.

Literacy is quite literally a tool of liberation.

Voices of Youth Justice: Literacy Intervention Pilot Program Sets San Diego Students Up for Success State of California

Nearly half of children with autism will go missing at some point in their lives.

Many of these wanderings are linked to sensory overwhelm or a deep fascination with water or traffic, and these environments can quickly become dangerous. The leading cause of death in missing autistic children is drowning.

The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children has created a beautifully thoughtful guide with practical tools—checklists, training modules, and response strategies—for caregivers, educators, and first responders.

If you have a child on the spectrum who elopes, please reach out to us and we can send you additional helpful resources.

Autism & Wandering Children with autism go missing under a variety of circumstances. They may seek out small or enclosed spaces. They may wander toward places of special interest to them. Or they may try to escape overwhelming stimuli such as sights, sounds, surroundings or activities of others.