The Owen Foundation

12/09/2025

We are a proud partner of this event! Thank you to Jeremy & Gabe Ferguson of Ferguson Barber Co for coordinating this event out of awareness and love for our autism community!

Ferguson Barber Co is teaming up with Kiamichi Tech - Durant, The Owen Academy, The Owen Foundation, Mighty Moms Podcast, and The Sensory Safe Solution to offer a free training session for barbers, stylists, and students.

Join us on Monday, January 12, from 10–12, for the Sensory Safe Certification class. There’s no cost to attend, just scan the QR code or use the link below to sign up.

If you or someone in your circle works behind the chair and wants to feel more confident serving clients with sensory sensitivities, this class is a solid place to start. You’ll walk away with practical tools to create a more welcoming, inclusive environment for every client who sits in your chair.

Let us know if you have any questions.

https://form.jotform.com/253005524127144

12/08/2025

“Listen to autistic adults.” I agree. But… listen to all of them.

Every time I talk about ABA, someone jumps in with:
“Listen to autistic adults who had bad experiences!”

Okay. I do.
And their stories matter.

But here’s what frustrates me:

No one ever says:
- “Listen to autistic people who benefited from ABA.”
- “Listen to autistic adults who are RBTs and BCBAs.”
- “Listen to the parents who’ve watched thousands of hours of therapy and actually know what’s happening because their children can’t communicate it.”

It’s like only one narrative is allowed, the horror-story one, and everything else gets erased.

I don’t have a problem acknowledging that some people had bad experiences.
I DO have a problem with people taking those experiences and turning it into:
“ABA is abusive. All of it. Everywhere.”

If we’re talking about real inclusion and acceptance, shouldn’t we include the voices of people who had positive experiences too?
The ones whose lives improved?
The families whose kids gained skills, safety, and independence because of therapy done ethically and compassionately?

You can hold two truths at once: Bad providers exist. Most therapists are good. They’re people. ABA itself has also evolved tremendously over the last few decades. Not every therapy that helps a non-speaking child communicate is “trauma.”

Some people want a villain so badly that they stop listening altogether. There’s no nuance.

If your advocacy only includes voices that agree with your narrative, it’s just not advocacy, it’s censorship 🤷🏻‍♀️

12/07/2025

Funds went to Special Olympics ☕️ 👮‍♀️ 👏🏻

12/04/2025

This is so cool 😎

John Cronin Named to Forbes 30 Under 30!
I’m thrilled to share something extraordinary:
My son and business partner, John Cronin, has been named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 Class of 2026 in Social Impact.

He is officially the first person with Down syndrome ever to receive this honor.

This isn’t just a proud Dad moment, it’s a milestone for disability leadership, inclusive entrepreneurship, and the belief that ability is something we should expand, not limit.

Here are just some of the reasons John earned this recognition:

-Co-founded John’s Crazy Socks, a social enterprise with a mission to spread happiness.
-Created dozens of jobs, most held by people with differing abilities.
-Donated over $800,000 to the Special Olympics New York , the National Down Syndrome Society, and other partners.
-Co-founded Abilities Rising , a disability-owned family of ventures focused on publishing, coaching, workplace inclusion, and mission-driven e-commerce.
-Launched Abilities Rising Publishing, giving voice to authors with differing abilities and sharing stories that change expectations.

John sees this award as fuel, energizing him and enabling him to reach more people to champion inclusive hiring, disability-owned businesses, and entrepreneurship as a path for families like ours.

I’m proud of the work we did at John’s Crazy Socks and even more excited about what we’re building now with Abilities Rising.

We’ll keep traveling the country delivering keynotes, workshops, and coaching that show one simple truth: When you give people a chance, they rise.

Please join me in congratulating John. This honor belongs to him, but the impact belongs to everyone who believes in what people with differing abilities can achieve.

12/02/2025

11/30/2025

How about broaden your vocabulary to not include derogatory slurs that attack the most vulnerable of our society?

11/28/2025

11/25/2025

11/24/2025

At The Owen Foundation, every donation, no matter the size, directly supports children with autism and extra needs across Texoma.

Because of generous hearts like yours, we are able to host inclusive sports camps, our annual 5K, safety initiatives, and programs that bring joy, confidence, and life-changing experiences to hundreds of families.

This video is a glimpse into why we do what we do… and why your support matters more than ever. 💙

If you feel led to give today, you can donate online at www.theowenfoundation.org/donations

Your generosity helps us continue building a community where every child is seen, supported, and celebrated.

Thank you for standing with us. Thank you for giving.
And thank you for making a difference that truly lasts.

11/21/2025

11/20/2025

We are grateful to Texoma Swim Academy for inviting our Board to their appreciation dinner this week. It was an honor to hear firsthand about the incredible milestones their ASD swimmers achieved this summer—progress made possible, in part, through The TOF Blazing Fun Run & 5K support of their inclusive swim program.

Thanks to this collaboration, children with autism from five counties received specialized swim instruction focused on life-saving water safety skills. Every swimmer met major goals, including:
• Safely jumping into the water
• Floating and swimming to an exit while fully clothed
• Swimming, floating, and swimming to safety independently
• Learning essential safety routines and rituals before entering the pool

We are proud to support programs that equip children with critical skills and empower families in our community.

A heartfelt thank you to Swim Angelfish for providing ongoing education and training to ensure these swimmers receive the highest level of care and instruction.

When we work together, everyone achieves more.

Texoma Swim Academy