Kelly Pence, District 3 Ally

My name is Kelly Pence, I am your district 3 Ally, serving the families in the Northeast corner of the state. My journey into the world of autism began six years ago when my son Steven, now 11, was diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome, and my son Nathan, now 9, was diagnosed with autism. Like most parents with newly diagnosed children, I engrossed myself with learning everything I could about autism. The thing that I learned very quickly is that there are a lot more families just like ours out there going through the same challenges that come with an autism diagnosis. Over the course of the next few years I became involved in several different organizations as an advocate, raising awareness and funds for programs for children with autism. Meanwhile, we also discovered that my dear husband is also on the Autism Spectrum, giving me a very unique perspective to offer other families with the challenges they face each day.

Prior to becoming an Ally, I worked in the healthcare field. I have a background in healthcare financing, medical billing and coding. I have been able to use that knowledge to help families navigate the options that are available in our state.

My passion and favorite part of being an Ally is teaching. I enjoy empowering the public with knowledge about autism, and how they can make a difference in those living with autism every day. I have had the opportunity to work with educators, health care professionals, social workers and employers to make our world a more accepting and understanding place for our loved ones on the spectrum. I look forward to every opportunity to teach the public about autism and to empower those on the spectrum to be strong self-advocates. I am excited about the work that our team is doing throughout our state to improve the lives of all those affected by autism in Indiana.