Community Events

Adapted Mass for children and adults with developmental disabilities and their families. Features R.E.A.C.H. music and Children's liturgy. Hosted by Fr. Bill Bruning and the parish council of Queen of the Holy Rosary. Social follows each Mass. All are welcome!

This is a recurring event. Check for updated dates →

Monthly religious education for all children and adults with diverse abilities and their families. Welcoming, adaptive activities in a Catholic setting. The program can also help prepare individuals to receive the Sacraments of First Reconciliation, First Communion, and Confirmation. All are welcome!

This is a recurring event. Check for updated dates →

A one-day sports camp for girls and boys ages 6-21 of all ability levels. Each camper is paired with a trained volunteer buddy and rotates through modified sports stations, with lunch provided and an awards celebration at the end of the day that families are invited to attend. Cost is $25 per camper and scholarships are available; space is limited to 100 campers. Optional ice rink activities require a separate waiver. Contact Jodie Karsak at [email protected] for more information.

Monthly social club for adults 18+ with special needs and lower support needs (able to participate without 1:1 assistance). Each gathering includes a shared dinner, games, themed activities, and unstructured social time with friends. Parents typically drop off and pick up, which doubles as two and a half hours of respite. $20 per person covers dinner, activities, and staffing. Space is limited; registration required. Two locations: Kansas (SOAR Office, Lenexa) on the 2nd Tuesday and Missouri (Oakwood Baptist Church, Kansas City) on the 1st Tuesday. Contact [email protected] or 816-782-SOAR (7627).

This is a recurring event. Check for updated dates →

A seven-week online course for parents, ministers, and teachers who care for young people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). From a Catholic perspective, the course covers the scope and sequence of a comprehensive human sexuality program -- vocation, anatomy, reproduction, relationships, hygiene, and personal safety -- along with practical teaching approaches, connections to the Catholic faith, and the moral and ethical questions unique to individuals with IDD. Includes video lectures and facilitator-moderated chat sessions; written assignments are optional. $99 to enroll (partner dioceses, including the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas, receive discount codes). Church ministers who complete the course receive free access to the video lectures and a facilitator's guide for local use.

Monthly social club for teens ages 12-17 with special needs and lower support needs. Not therapy, not school, not structured programming: just a judgment-free place to hang out, eat dinner together, and build friendships through game nights, movie marathons, and themed parties. Parents typically drop off and pick up. $20 per person covers dinner, activities, and staffing. Space is limited; registration required. Two locations: Kansas (SOAR Office, Lenexa) on the 3rd Tuesday and Missouri (Oakwood Baptist Church, Kansas City) on the 4th Tuesday. Contact [email protected] or 816-782-SOAR (7627).

This is a recurring event. Check for updated dates →

A virtual space for Kansas families to connect, explore, and plan for the future together using the Charting the LifeCourse framework. Whether you're navigating a new diagnosis, exploring supports while on a waitlist, planning for transitions, supporting an adult child, or simply looking for community, Good Life Groups offer a welcoming space to share ideas, stories, and tools with other Kansas families and explore what a "good life" means now and in the future. Each monthly session covers a life domain — remaining 2026 dates are Oct 30 and Nov 20 (topics to be announced). Register once and Zoom sends the meeting link for every monthly gathering.

This is a recurring event. Check for updated dates →

Respite program for caregivers and parents — a chance to take a break while your child enjoys a fun time with friends. Skilled volunteers and trained staff including nurses, a special education teacher, occupational therapists, a physical therapist, and speech therapists. First-timers are welcome to attend with their child. Final 2026 date: Nov 14 (Fiat Center, 1-4 PM).

This is a recurring event. Check for updated dates →

A sensory-friendly Santa's Village for children and adults with autism, sensory processing differences, anxiety, or physical disabilities. No long lines, loud music, or flashing lights. Sit beside Santa, keep your distance, or wave from across the room, and take all the time you need. Santa and his helpers are trained in special needs and communication differences, with quiet spaces, low-lighting options, and visual schedules available. Includes a photo with Santa, holiday crafts, sensory-friendly music, hot cocoa and treats, and a take-home photo. Free for families (donations appreciated). Contact [email protected] or 816-782-SOAR (7627).

This is a recurring event. Check for updated dates →