Rotary After Hours - Guest Barbara Knighton

Join the Rotary Club of The Woodlands After-Hours monthly guest speaker meeting with Barbara Knighton, who will be discussing "When Life Redirects: Why Compassion and Community Matter"

Barbara Knighton is currently a Family Leader and co-founder of the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired (TSBVI) Family Lynx family organization (hybrid PTO/PTA). She is also a governor appointed council member for the Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities. Her son is 20 years old and is in the 18+ EXIT program. He has attended the school for 6 years. Joshua has multiple impairments aside from his low vision. He has been in the public special education system (Conroe ISD) since he was 8 months old. Barbara is an avid advocate for students being served by the special education system and for individuals with intellectual disabilities. She has been involved with family engagement for many years. Barbara enjoys connecting with families and helping them find the resources they need to assist and advocate for their students and to become involved in their communities and schools. 

Join us for a powerful and personal presentation from Barbara Knighton — Shell retiree, mother, full-time caregiver, and passionate advocate for children with special needs.

In 2004, Barbara’s life changed forever when her son Joshua was born prematurely due to medical negligence. Forced into early retirement at just 31, she traded boardroom meetings for medical appointments and professional goals for survival strategies. What followed was a journey she never planned — one filled with financial hardship, emotional resilience, and tireless advocacy.

Barbara will share the unspoken reality many families face when raising children with disabilities — the sacrifices made, the systems navigated, and the critical need for programs that provide a lifeline to stability and care.

The Rotary Club of The Woodland would like to extend a special thank you to The Tournament Course for hosting this evening's event. Rotary After Hours relies on community support for meeting locations. Some locations require a minimum spend of $400 to $900 to use their space. Our meeting budget is $150 for appetizers and gratuity. We deeply appreciate businesses that waive their minimum spend requirements, allowing us to use their space. We encourage our attendees to support these businesses during our meetings and in their daily lives.

Rotary After Hours of The Woodlands meets on the first and third Tuesdays of each month from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at various locations within The Woodlands. Guests are always welcome, and it is an excellent opportunity to meet like-minded individuals who believe in ‘Service Above Self.’