Kelly Vencill Sanchez

First Vice-President

Kelly Vencill Sanchez Contributes Firsthand Experience as a Parent, Social Worker and Freelance Writer to Lanterman’s Board

Although Kelly Vencill Sanchez was just recently elected as a member of Lanterman Regional Center’s board of directors, she has been involved with the regional center for several years, first as a social worker in maternity, labor and delivery, and the neonatal intensive care units at Good Samaritan and Huntington Hospitals, and then as a parent in Early Intervention when her son, Luke, was born prematurely in 2002. Luke, who is now 4, was later diagnosed with cerebral palsy and seizure disorder and is now a part of Lanterman’s Foothill School Age unit.

Vencill Sanchez has a bachelor’s degree in Spanish and literature from the University of California, Los Angeles, and a master’s degree in social work from California State University, Long Beach. She worked as a social worker with juveniles on probation and is currently a freelance writer and editor with Condé Nast Publications. She attended the Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disorders (LEND) Program offered by the University of Southern California University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD) from 2004 to 2005.

Committed to the full inclusion of people with developmental disabilities in school, extracurricular activities, work and life, Vencill Sanchez has volunteered to help out with the last two Perspectives Film Festivals. “Sometimes it seems like we have a long way to go before attitudes change about people with disabilities. Change is hard, inclusion can be complicated and messy, but the benefits are well worth the fight,” adds Vencill Sanchez, who is also a Lanterman Peer Support Partner.

Vencill Sanchez believes deeply in the ability of“ordinary” people to do extraordinary things and was moved and inspired by the grassroots efforts of parents 40 years ago who contributed to the founding of the regional centers. She says:“This is an especially challenging time for our clients and service providers, economically and politically, and I’m sorry that we do not have a champion like Frank Lanterman in the Legislature. But we do have clients, parents and others with knowledge, will and passion, and I believe that together our efforts can make a difference for those with developmental disabilities and their families. I have learned so much from those who have gone on this journey before us, and I have a lot more to learn, but I am in this battle for the long haul.”

Even though Vencill Sanchez is the parent of a young child, she is very much looking forward to learning about and understanding the challenges that face adults with developmental disabilities in the community, and advocating on behalf of Lanterman’s adult clients and those who provide services for them. “The board members of any regional center have a unique challenge in front of them in that they must be concerned with the diverse needs and issues relating to clients of all ages,” she adds.

In addition to Luke, Vencill Sanchez and her husband, Michael, have a 6-year-old son, Teo. As time permits, she enjoys traveling and anything to do with horses, particularly riding. Although she’ll go anywhere, her favorite destination is the American Southwest.

Updated December 6, 2007