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Sharon Kirby
Parent Leader
Parents Anonymous^® of South Carolina Inc.

Sharon Kirby, a true parent voice in action, found the support she sought for parenting her two children, ages 2 and 14, on the playground. Boldly reaching out to other parents awaiting their child's turn on the slide and swings, she helped to establish the first Parents Anonymous^® Inc. in the Charleston Tri-County area in August 1999. A Parent Leader from the starting moment of her involvement, Ms. Kirby opened her home to be the initial gathering place for parents experiencing similar parenting concerns. In this respect, and much like Jolly K., Ms. Kirby partnered with the Group Facilitator to create her own support system. She served as the Parent Group Leader for three years and, subsequently, assumed a wide range of leadership roles in the organization, including initiating the first Sound Carolina Parent Leadership Team in 2000 and serving as co-chair of the 2007 Parent Leadership Month. As a co-presenter and trainer for Parents Anonymous^® Inc. programs, Ms. Kirby consistently shares her experiences as a parent in a way that engages professionals, as well as allows them to observe firsthand results of the Parent Leadership model. In spring 2006, Ms. Kirby found herself taking on a new parenting and leadership role, that of fearless advocate on behalf of her own child with special needs and parents of other children with special needs.

Award presented by:

Lisa Pion-Berlin, PhD
President and Chief Executive Officer
Parents Anonymous® Inc.
Claremont, California