
Foundation's Legislative Work
#MyWhy Beads & Sparkly Shoes
Every advocate has a reason they advocate. When MoDE advocates walk the capitol halls advocating for better laws regarding special education, we are walking on behalf of the over 115,000 Missouri students who receive special education services. There are no large lobbies representing these students. We, the parents, teachers, and friends, are here for Missouri’s children.
This year, some of our MoDE advocates will be wearing sparkly mint green shoes in honor of our children. On our shoes will be beads which represent specific students for whom we are walking the halls. They are #MyWhy Beads–why we do what we do. It is an enormous privilege and responsibility to represent these students and we want to make sure that our focus stays on them. They are WHY our legislative advocacy matters. Parents of the children will also be wearing beads on their shoes as a reminder of why they advocate at their schools and communities.
.png)
Our Whys
While we are representing all of Missouri's special education students as we advocate in Jefferson City, MoDE families have submitted names of their children for us to represent specifically in Jefferson City. These are the children with beads on our shoes. Submit a name and add a bead to our shoes below.
Northern Missouri
Adalyn
Trevin
McLain
Charlotte
Brody
Chase
Peyton
Isaac
Lawson
​
.jpg)
Southern Missouri
Ella
Victoria
Izzi
Briella
Isaac
Anne
Carson
Claudia
Caydence


Western Missouri
Gunner
Leo
Jace
Matthius "Matty"
Drace
Thomas
Maria
Kadie
James
Vincenza
Brian
Alexander
Hunter
.jpg)
Eastern Missouri
Amelia
Braden
Hunter
Lily
James
Timothy
​

Central Missouri
Morgan
Logan
Elliot
Lilly
Nathan S.
Julianna
Amelia
Jensen
Corban
Will
Colton
Jonathan
Margaret
Emily
Nathan C.
Clayton M.
Antoine
Oliver
Eliza
Riley
Blake
Reagan
Maria
Xavier
Clayton F.
Landon
Declan
Jovon’te
Terry Jr.
Karleigh
Elijah
Xander
Eleanor
Olivia
William
Hadley
Logan
SJ
Grayde
Grace Lynne
Gavin
​
Add a Bead
We would love to add more beads to our shoes. We will be accepting names through May 2022. Use the link below to submit the name of a student in special education in Missouri. We will wear a bead in honor of that student. We are no longer sending out beads but encourage you to wear beads on your shoes in honor of your student and other children in Missouri.