2024 HONORARY ENCOURAGE LEADER

Each year at S’Mores and Pours, Camp Encourage honors someone special in our community that exemplifies that which we believe is essential when supporting individuals on the autism spectrum.

We are delighted to announce that this year’s very deserving Honorary Encourage Leader is Sean Swindler.

Sean Swindler, M.S.Ed. has been Director of Community Program Development and Evaluation at The Kansas Center for Autism Research and Training (K-CART) at the University of Kansas.  Mr. Swindler has a Master’s Degree in Special Education and has worked in the field of developmental disability and Autism for over 30 years.

Mr. Swindler has been at K-CART since 2008.  In his role at K-CART, Sean has led the Autism Resource Center, assisting families and adults Autistics with system navigation, has been involved in multiple federally and state funded research and training projects, is the self-advocate and special education faculty for the KUMC LEND (Leadership Education in Neurodevelopment and Related Disabilities), has been involved in state policy advocacy related to Autism and I/DD and has had the pleasure of helping to facilitate the Johnson County Community College Neurodiversity Club.  Prior to coming to KU Swindler was coordinator for the Self-Advocate Coalition of Kansas, was a project manager at Social and Rehabilitation Services for the state of Kansas,  and has worked as a direct support professional and I/DD Waiver Targeted Case Manager.

Sean along with his wife, Jamie are the proud parents of a 23-year-old on the autism spectrum and learn new things every day from these experiences and from the families and Autistic friends and partners he has been lucky enough to work alongside. 

We look forward to honoring Sean Swindler at S’Mores and Pours on Friday, October 25, 2024 and hope that you can join us!