We Are the Tucksons
At first glance, we might look like any other family. We laugh, we enjoy each other's company, we celebrate milestones. We also occasionally argue and get frustrated with each other. Overall, we show up for one another in ways that families do.
But our story has been shaped by something that changed everything about how we relate to each other and taught us what it truly means to be heard.
"Our daughter, McKenzie,
was diagnosed with Rett Syndrome at age five."
When We First Heard
When we first heard that diagnosis, it didn't come with a roadmap. It came with lots of questions and lots of tears. It also came with limitations that other people began to place on McKenzie before she even had a chance to defy the odds. We were told what she might not do, what she might never be able to say, and what we should expect from her life.
But from the beginning, we made a decision. We were not going to let a diagnosis define our daughter. We were going to learn how to understand her. McKenzie was going to be heard.
"Then we realized McKenzie did have a voice..."
McKenzie's Voice
For a long time, McKenzie could not speak with her voice. And when a child cannot speak, the world often assumes there is nothing to hear. But that assumption is wrong. But we began to discover that McKenzie was communicating all along. Through her eyes. Through her expressions. Through the way she responded to the world around her.
We were thrilled that McKenzie had thoughts, opinions, humor, preferences—everything any child has! Except one thing.
"The road to access..."
"What she did not have was access..."
At first, it was difficult to convince others that McKenzie could talk. But when we were introduced to AAC—Augmentative and Alternative Communication—it changed everything. You see, the communication devices didn’t give McKenzie something she didn’t have. But what they gave her was a way to express what was already inside of her.
For the first time, McKenzie could tell us what she needed. What she wanted. What she was thinking. For the first time, the world could begin to hear her.
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"Here's why we told our story..."
MCKENZIE CAN TALK
Even though McKenzie was making strides in her communication with the AAC devices, people still would ask, “Why can’t McKenzie talk?”
Instead of continuously being frustrated that others could not see what I saw, I realized something: If we told our story, perhaps people would understand that their assumptions about what was valid or invalid communication kept them from seeing the unique ways that others communication in their own world.
So, McKenzie and I wrote McKenzie CAN Talk and McKenzie Can Cheer, with beautiful illustrations showing the many ways McKenzie talks. And do you know what? People began to understand that communication doesn’t always look the way you expect it. But if you listen with the right set of ears, you can understand.
Our family wanted other families to know that there are options for their non-verbal children. There is hope. Their child’s voice does matter—even if it doesn’t come through spoken words.
Because every child has something to say.
"We are the Tucksons..."
Why Mission2Advocate Exists
Over time, other parents began reaching out to me. They were overwhelmed. Confused. Trying to understand systems that were never clearly explained to them. Trying to advocate for their children without knowing where to start. And we recognized their experience. Because we had been there.
Mission2Advocate was born out of that understanding. It exists to help families:
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Understand their rights
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Navigate educational systems
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Advocate with confidence
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Ensure their children are seen, heard, and supported
We are the Tucksons, and we believe that every child has a voice. We believe that communication is a human right. We believe that when children are given the tools to express themselves, their lives—and their futures—change.
And we believe that parents, when equipped with knowledge and support, can change systems. Because no parent should have to figure this out alone.
McKenzie Speaks is a nonprofit organization committed to serving individuals with communication challenges and their families. All donations are used to support programs, outreach, and advocacy efforts. McKenzie Speaks does not provide medical or therapeutic advice. Resources shared are for informational purposes only.
© 2026 McKenzie Speaks. All Rights Reserved.