Our Story: A Place Where Families Belong
It all began with a playdate—and a dream.
What started as a simple conversation in a backyard, wondering how we could better support our community as our children grew and aged out of school, became the seed that would eventually grow into Find Your Tribe. As women raising and loving family members with special needs, we knew firsthand that our kids needed more—and so did we.
Over the years, we built friendships, found support, and created meaningful connections that helped us navigate what can often feel like an overwhelming journey. We quickly realized how powerful it is to have people in your life who truly understand. That sense of community became something we wanted to share with others—to pay forward what had meant so much to us.
In 2012, we created Special Education Parent Network, which grew into a community of over 14,000 members. As the group evolved, so did our vision. By 2025, we recognized that the name no longer reflected the heart of what we had built. We wanted families to know that beyond resources and information, what truly matters is connection—finding your people, your support system…your tribe.
And so, Find Your Tribe was born.
Today, we are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting families of individuals with special needs. Through support groups, social events, respite opportunities, and access to resources, we are committed to building a strong, inclusive community where families can connect, grow, and thrive—together.
Because no one should have to navigate this journey alone.
Jennifer Keisner- President
Jennifer Keisner is the President and co-founder of Find Your Tribe, driven by both personal experience and a deep commitment to supporting families of individuals with special needs. She is the proud mother of a beautiful young woman with special needs, whose journey has shaped Jennifer’s passion for advocacy, connection, and community building.
Jennifer dedicated 17 years to helping grow Longwood SEPTO into the strong, supportive organization it is today. As her daughter transitions out of the school system, Jennifer was inspired to broaden her reach beyond the Longwood community and support families throughout Long Island.
Professionally, Jennifer is a self-direction broker, currently serving over 115 families throughout Suffolk County. She works closely with families to help them navigate services, access resources, and build individualized supports that meet their unique needs.
In addition, Jennifer serves as the Long Island representative for Autism on the Seas and volunteers her time with organizations such as Family Autism Network and Challenger Athletics. Her work—both professionally and personally—reflects her unwavering commitment to helping families feel supported, informed, and connected.
Jennifer’s mission is simple: to ensure that no family feels lost or alone the way she once did in the early stages of navigating this journey. Through Find Your Tribe, she hopes to create a community where families can find guidance, friendship, and a true sense of belonging.
Dawn Rindone -Vice President
Dawn is a proud mom of three amazing boys—ages 18, 13, and 11—each with their own unique strengths and personalities. Her oldest is preparing to graduate high school, a milestone that reflects years of growth, perseverance, and dedication.
As both a parent and an educator, she brings a deep understanding of the diverse needs of children. Two of her sons have received support through special education, and these experiences have shaped not only her perspective as a mother but also her approach as a teacher. She currently teaches in an inclusion classroom, where she is committed to supporting students of all abilities and helping every child reach their full potential.
Like many families navigating different needs, building connections hasn’t always been easy. While others often form friendships early on, her journey to finding a sense of community has taken a different path. This organization has given her a place where she feels like she truly belongs—where understanding, support, and shared experiences bring people together.
She is excited to continue meeting new people, building meaningful connections, and creating opportunities for my sons to form friendships of their own.
Ashley Depasquale - Vice President
Ashley has been connected to the special needs community since before she was even born. Her journey began with her Aunt Tiffany, who had Down syndrome, and continued through her close relationship with her cousin, Kaitlyn, who has an intellectual disability. Today, her connection is even more personal as she is married to a man with Asperger’s, giving her a well-rounded and deeply rooted understanding of the community.
In recent years, Ashley has become more actively involved in supporting and advocating for individuals with special needs, helping to plan and create meaningful opportunities that positively impact their lives. Professionally, she serves as a Training Manager at Nestlé, where she brings strong leadership, organization, and strategic thinking skills.
Ashley is a passionate and driven individual who brings fresh ideas, thoughtful strategies, and a genuine commitment to the mission of Find Your Tribe. She is excited to be part of the organization’s growth and looks forward to helping expand its reach and impact within the community.
Jennifer Barretta- Vice President
Jenn is a mom of an active autistic 18 year old young man who attends DDI at the Children’s Day Program Smithtown Campus, a 14 year veteran and board member of the Longwood Special Needs PTO, and a proud co-founder of Find your Tribe Long Island.
She can so clearly remember a day sitting with a mutual friend and special needs mama in her backyard strategizing on how we wanted to change the world for our kids. We had pretty big audacious plans. We talked about building a community for our families where they would thrive, be included and accepted. We talked about providing supports for other families where no one felt isolated or felt as though they were on this journey alone. We wanted to teach parents the best ways to advocate for their kids, the intricacies of navigating special education, and the importance of self care. This was how Find Your Tribe was born.
As special needs parents there are just so many mountains we need to move that it often feels overwhelming, stressful and lonely. Especially in the beginning. We have all been there.
Find Your Tribe’s board is comprised of moms and family members whose children widely vary with their needs, level of supports, and where they are on their journey through navigating the world of special needs. Some of us have young children just embarking on their journey, some are right in the middle, and several of us have older children-collectively we have experienced and seen it all! Each phase of being a special needs parent, teacher or caregiver has its own unique set of challenges both academically and socially. We are here to guide and support you through all of them.
Our goal with our activities is to promote inclusion and social opportunities for our kids to engage with each other in a safe, supportive, caring environment. It’s amazing how this relieves so much of the stress parents feel when venturing out into the community with their family. This is so important.
The women on this board that have served along her throughout the years have become like family. She doesn't know how she would have faced all of her son’s challenges without them. And as much as she loves and cares for my friends with “typical” children, they will never fully understand the life of raising a child with special needs. Full stop. This journey in and of itself can be very isolating without a support system. A soft place to land when things are tough and overwhelming. This, in her opinion, is the most important reason to get involved with our group. It has become her life’s work to advocate, support and facilitate making life long connections for families/caregivers of special needs children. She can’t say it enough…
Find your tribe. Lean on them. Lean on us.
You are not alone.
Stephanie Kuhn - Treasurer
At 37 years old, Stephanie is a dedicated professional in the commercial insurance industry, but her true passion lies in the special needs community—a path that began with the birth of her cousin, Kaitlyn. Through her, I was introduced to a perspective on life that many people don’t often experience—one filled with joy, authenticity, and a beautiful absence of judgment.
Inspired by Kaitlyn and supported by her aunt, she became deeply involved in creating meaningful experiences for individuals with special needs and their families. Over the years, she has proudly contributed to a variety of events and initiatives, including annual special needs proms, family fun days, trunk-or-treat celebrations, and the Miss Exceptional Beauty Pageant, among many others.
This work is more than volunteerism—it is her purpose. Being part of this community has shown her the importance of connection, inclusion, and celebration of every individual’s unique abilities. She is passionate about bringing families together and helping them find their “tribe,” because support, understanding, and shared experiences can make all the difference.
Through her continued involvement, she strives to create spaces where everyone feels seen, valued, and uplifted—and where doing good for others becomes a shared mission.
Nicolle Krongel - Secretary
Nicolle is a devoted mother to her adult son with Autism and his neurotypical twin sister, and a lifelong advocate for the special needs community. Since 2012, she has been an integral part of the Suffolk County Girl Scouts, serving as both a Service Unit Coordinator and Treasurer within the Longwood School District. Her commitment to supporting families extends further through her role as Treasurer of Longwood SEPTO, a position she has proudly held since 2021.
Nicolle’s passion for volunteering and her dedication to helping others are truly unmatched. She consistently goes above and beyond to support families, build connections, and strengthen her community. When the opportunity arose to join this new organization, she eagerly embraced it—recognizing the chance to expand her impact. By bringing her experience, knowledge, and compassion, Nicolle is committed to helping grow resources and support for the entire special needs community across Long Island.
Tammy Squillace - Activity Coordinator
Tammy is the Activity Coordinator for Find Your Tribe. She is the proud mom to two incredible sons—Vincent, 23, who has autism and epilepsy and is actively involved in the community, and Logan, 18, who is neurotypical and serves in the Army Reserves. Her greatest achievement is being their mom.
She has always believed in the importance of connection and making sure her children had opportunities to socialize and build relationships. With Vincent especially, she made it a priority to connect with other families and foster meaningful friendships.
As someone who loves to plan and bring people together, she was truly excited when Jennifer Keisner asked her to take on this role. The mission of Find Your Tribe is deeply meaningful to her—not just as a parent, but as someone navigating the unique paths that come with special needs.
Her goal is to create fun, engaging opportunities for these amazing kids and young adults to connect, explore, and build friendships. She is always looking for new and exciting ways to get out into the community and make lasting memories. She looks forward to this journey and to meeting many wonderful new friends along the way.
