She was told to prepare for the worst. She built a plan instead.
Tina Jackson is a family advocate, speaker, and co-author of Suddenly Brave Together. She founded Kids Rare Care™ to mentor moms who are new to their child's medical journey, and to help the ones who feel stuck find their direction again.
A NICU, a diagnosis nobody could pronounce, and a mom who kept notes.
In 1995 Tina's daughter Tionna was born with Trisomy 8 Mosaicism, a rare genetic condition. Doctors didn't expect her to survive. Tina started writing everything down: the appointments, the questions she didn't get to ask, the things that worked.
She homeschooled both of her daughters for twelve years, Miss T included. The training she'd pick up along the way, from Social Security claims to CPR instruction to disability ministry, all came back to one question she never stopped asking: what happens to my child when I'm gone?
The answer she landed on became Kids Rare Care. Today Miss T lives in her own home with support, works, and shares the keynote stage with her mom.
Lived experience, backed by real training.
Tina holds a Bachelor of Science in Social Psychology and a Paralegal Certificate. She spent more than 22 years in the federal government, including nearly three years as a certified Title XVI Claims Specialist with the Social Security Administration, where she processed the same disability claims that families like hers depend on. She's a certified CPR instructor through both the American Heart Association and the Red Cross.
That mix is why her advice tends to be specific. She knows what a claims examiner is looking for, what a church needs before it can welcome a child with complex needs, and which task on a caregiver's list can be handed off first.
Boards, ministries, and the families in between.
Over 25 years Tina has served in the rooms where decisions about disability services get made, and in the ones where families need someone who's been there.
- Board Member, Missouri Department of Mental Health, Division of Developmental Disabilities
- Parent Representative, Board of the Children's Therapeutic Learning Center (CTLC), Missouri
- Peer Family Mentor, Missouri 2 Families
- Regional Church Disability Trainer, Joni and Friends International Disability Ministry
- Former Special Needs Coordinator for children, youth, and young adult Sunday school classes
- Caregiver Respite Event Planner for her church and community
- Trained in REST (Respite Education and Support Tools)
- Certified CPR Instructor, American Heart Association and Red Cross
She has trained disability organizations, providers, churches, and community leaders in disability awareness, inclusion, and family-centered advocacy, and she advocates at the legislative level to protect and strengthen services for people with disabilities.
From a Missouri statehouse resolution to the White House.
Tina's advocacy has been recognized with The Whole Person Individual Achievement Award and the Missouri Resolution Award, presented by Missouri Legislator Donna Pfautsch.
In 2015 she and Miss T were invited to the White House for the ABLE Act award ceremony, where they met then-Vice President Joe Biden. Miss T gave him a hug. Tina has been telling that story on stages ever since, because it's the shortest way to explain what a plan can do.
In 2026 Tina became a contributing co-author of Suddenly Brave Together, thirty letters from experienced caregiving moms to those just starting out. Hers is letter number two.
Signature topics.
Keynotes and workshops for caregiver conferences, disability organizations, hospitals, churches, and corporate teams. Tina and Miss T can present as a duo when Miss T is available.
Request the duo keynote →
Press and event organizers: everything on this page may be used for promotion. For the full speaker one-sheet, availability, or the duo keynote, contact her agent Jennifer Paire at jennifer@magneticmediamessaging.com.
Say hello.
Email tina@kidsrarecare.com, or find Tina and Miss T on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube.