Julie Lackey

Founder

Julie Lackey is honored to be the parent of a son who travels through life to the beat of his own drum. Her passion is advocating and working to overcome obstacles that pertain to those with disabilities similar to what her son is challenged with. She has worked with several school systems to implement social skills programs for students with Asperger’s Syndrome/Autism Spectrum Disorder beginning at the 6th grade through High School.

Julie served as co-leader of a support group for mothers of kids with Asperger’s/High Functioning Autism in the greater Tulsa area for many years as well as writing for the support groups blog. She received the 2012 Outstanding Board Member of the year from the Autism Center of Tulsa as well as the 2013 Parent Advocate of the Year from TARC and the 2018 Catalyst of Change award for Oklahoma from TARC.  

She is the Founder of LeadLearnLive, a non-profit, which has the mission of establishing fully integrated, comprehensive post-secondary programs in Oklahoma for students with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities as well as working to engage collaborators across the state to support these programs.  LeadLearnLive partnered with Northeastern State University to begin RiverHawks Scholar Program - the first comprehensive, fully integrated college program in Oklahoma for students with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities which began in August of 2018 as well as partnered with Oklahoma State University to begin Opportunity Orange Scholars in 2022.

Julie is the Director of the Oklahoma Inclusive Post Secondary Education Alliance, OKIPSE Alliance. She and her husband Tom and son Jacob are active members of First Baptist Church Owasso.