Sometimes you meet people who are such an inspiration that it takes your breath away.

That’s what it’s like when you meet Ken and Terri Mate.

The Batavia couple is like a lot of parents you know. They have two adult daughters, Amanda and Melinda, and they have demanding, busy careers. But they also are remarkable trailblazers in the Batavia area.

When Amanda was growing up, schools and local organizations didn’t have the programs and services for individuals with special needs like we have today.

“My daughter was a shock to the system when we moved here in 1997,” Ken Mate said.

They couldn’t sit by without giving their daughter opportunities that others sometimes take for granted.

Terri Mate wanted a free program for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, lik

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