Gayle Slate, M.F.T.

As a parent and as a professional, Gayle Slate, M.F.T., was involved for more than 35 years with families of children with disabilities. For 15 years she was the director of an early intervention program for infants and toddlers with disabilities. Having pioneered the specialty of working with families of children with disabilities, she counseled hundreds of families, created support groups, and became an advocate for parental rights. In 1997, she founded Kids Included Together (KIT).

Gayle was recognized in the United States Congressional Record, and received awards from: March of Dimes - Mother of the Year, Salvation Army - Women of Distinction, and the Compass Family Center Star Award. She wrote and published Dana's Legacy, From Heartbreak to Healing. Dana's Legacy is a thoughtful book about children with disabilities; a mother's inspirational story of her first child born with cerebral palsy.

In private practice since 1979, Ms. Slate held a Master’s of Arts both in Psychology and in Marriage, Family, and Child Counseling. She spoke to many groups, and wrote numerous articles. Gayle passed away in 2020. She was survived by her husband Don who lives in Del Mar, California. They have two children, Scott Slate and Heidi Levin, and 6 grandchildren. If you would like to support KIT in Gayle's memory, please click here.