About Us
Stephanie and Matthew John
When Stephanie’s son Matthew John was diagnosed with autism, their journey became the heart of Advocacy Forward — a grassroots effort breaking barriers and empowering families to move forward with hope.
Stephanie Coleman
Stephanie Coleman is a passionate grassroots advocate and educator based in Kansas, dedicated to supporting families of children with autism and related developmental disabilities. Drawing from her own experiences as a parent, Stephanie founded Advocacy Forward, an initiative created to empower families to understand their rights, access services, and build strong community connections.
In addition to her advocacy work, Stephanie serves as the Autism Family Education and Outreach Manager in the Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics at the University of Kansas Medical Center and as the Family Discipline Mentor for the Kansas LEND program. In these roles, she mentors families and professionals, helping them strengthen their leadership and advocacy skills through programs she helped develop, including the Kansas LEND Family Education Series and the Childcare Provider Training on autism and developmental disabilities.
Stephanie’s work is rooted in personal experience, professional dedication, and a deep belief that informed families are the strongest advocates for their children.
Conference Speakers
Stephanie and her son, Matthew John, are traveling and sharing their powerful story, “Guardianship: He Didn’t Need It!”, through Advocacy Forward. Together, they’re opening hearts and minds across the country—showing what’s possible when families trust in self-determination, inclusion, and the belief that every individual deserves a voice in their own future. Their journey is breaking barriers and empowering families to rethink what independence and advocacy can look like for people with autism and related disabilities.