Kristen Stratton, J.M.

Kristen Stratton has dedicated the past two decades of her professional and personal life to advocacy work. First in her role as a consumer advocate for maternal healthcare and then as a special education advocate.
 
As a public speaker, she most frequently presents on topics such as special education, communication rights of disabled children, parenting children with disabilities, advocating for compliance and civil rights in the public school system, and informed consent rights of children with disabilities in healthcare. Having grown up with a bilateral severe hearing loss, for many years without the benefit of hearing aids, sign language, or accommodations, she synthesizes these experiences with her expertise as a professional advocate with an educational background in law and compliance to present compelling and informative content.

Kristen attended undergraduate school at California State University, Long Beach where she obtained a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science with a Concentration in Political Theory and a Minor in Sociology. She holds a Juris Master Degree in American Legal Studies from Liberty University School of Law. She completed the Special Education Law and Advocacy Certificate program at the University of San Diego School of Law.

She is currently pursuing a Doctorate in the area of Law and Public Policy.
 
Kristen served as a law clerk for Disability Rights California and as an educational advocate with Morton Advocacy Group. She is also a frequent collaborator with NorCal Services for Deaf & Hard of Hearing.

As a volunteer, Kristen serves on the Deaf Steering Committee for the California Department of Developmental Services. She also serves on the Executive Board of California Hands and Voices as the Director of Deaf Plus Education and Support Services.

Kristen's first language is spoken English and her second language is American Sign Language.