Events & Speakers

Ivory Duncan is a proud mother of a neurodiverse child. Her experience spans Title I schools, postsecondary leadership design, and equity training, serving culturally and linguistically diverse communities. Ivory walked us through her Discovery → Acceptance → Embracing framework, the 90-Day First-Steps Handbook, and concrete strategies for advocating in IEP meetings: requesting evaluations, demanding SMART goals, handling denials with Prior Written Notices and Independent Educational Evaluations, and interrogating program placement.

Sarah Otto is the Managing Director of Targeted Case Management of Kansas. Case managers assist special needs individuals and their support network to identify, develop, select, obtain, coordinate, utilize and monitor paid services and natural supports. The goal is to enhance the person's independence, integration, productivity and community inclusion, consistent with the person's needs and lifestyle preferences as outlined in the person-centered support plan.

Colleen Mazzei is a special education teacher in the 18-21 year old program in Blue Valley. Speaker cancelled day-of; open Q&A session held instead covering 18-21yo IDEA programs and IEPs generally.

Round table discussion of successes and struggles from the previous month. Reflect on 1 Corinthians 1:26-29.

Holiday social in the parish hall. The holidays can throw off routines, which is especially tough for our special needs kids. Families shared strategies for helping loved ones navigate the season.

Mallorie Hurlbert is a Bishop Miege Alumni with over 10 years of experience in special education. Her program at Miege features a peer-mentor model and a tiered course system. Her commitment to welcoming and supporting every learner reflects the words of Romans 15:7.

Sara Garber is a Behavior Analyst with LR Consulting Solutions. Open discussion with Autism and ABA questions.

Samantha Shepherd, JD and Beth Boldt, JD from Assured Trust Company presented "Three Essential Legal Tools for Individuals with Special Needs: Special Needs Trusts and Trust Administration, ABLE Accounts, & Power of Attorney/Guardianship." They explained how a trust company can administer a trust after we are gone.

Jay Cross is Founder of Autism Resource Center of Kansas City. He has a son, Jackson, 24, who is nonverbal and autistic. Jay started ARCKC in his son's honor. Autism Resource Center is a program for autistic adults 18+ focusing on prevocational training, social skills, and health & wellness.

Jean Hoyt, the Chief Program Officer for the Children's Programs at Lakemary Center, discussed their K-12 accredited school for children with special needs, and their other children's programs.

Summer social in the Ascension Parish Hall. Moved from Coach's to the parish hall to accommodate children with childcare in the nursery.

Vicki Asher is the Head of School at Horizon Academy. Horizon Academy empowers students diagnosed with specific learning disabilities to become effective learners and confident self-advocates. Their staff is highly trained in the Orton-Gillingham Approach, Multisensory Math and the Strategic Instructional Model.

Kayla Hamner is the program manager of the KU Sensory Enhanced Aquatics program. Sensory Enhanced Aquatics is a swimming and water safety program for children with autism spectrum disorders. Swimming can be a great physical outlet and life-saving skill.

Jeremy Didier spoke about ADHD. Jeremy has 10 years of extensive experience working with children, parents, and adults with ADHD. This was Jeremy's second visit to our group.

Jamie Gold from Inclusion Connections. At Inclusion Connections, they are transforming the community one person, one business at a time through advocacy, education, and conversation, focused on bringing the needs of individuals with developmental disabilities to light and working together to increase access and opportunities.

Becky Meyers is an Occupational Therapist for Ascension Catholic School. She discussed why OT in a school setting is crucial, how school based OT goals and strategies differ from clinical OT, and what we can do in the home to reinforce the OT strategies used at school.

Holiday social at Coach's. Christmas is a great time to enjoy and catch up with friends and extended family.

Lois Bakley Furgeson spoke about the Medicaid IDD Waiver — why it is important, who qualifies, how to apply, what is required to maintain your spot on the list, and the new Community Support Waiver. Lois is an expert with Community Developmental Disabilities Organization.

Stephanie Coleman, Family Educator from the Kansas LEND program at The University of Kansas Medical Center and parent of a 29 year old son on the Spectrum. She shared an overview of supports and resources for transition to adulthood, while providing personal experiences navigating and advocating through the years.

Mike and Terri Kern started the St. Joseph Cupertino Program at Benedictine College. The goal of SJC program is to provide a post-secondary educational experience for young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in a Catholic college setting.

Amy Allison is the executive director of The Farmer's House. She shared their positive, structured approach that provides the foundation for Early Work Experience, Employment Services, Community Integration and Social Enrichment Programs. Participants include individuals with autism spectrum disorders, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, and other developmental and intellectual disabilities.

Summer social at Coach's.

Bridget Murphy is a mother to an adult son with Down syndrome. She shared her experience planning for adulthood and answered questions. The supports guaranteed under IDEA stop at 21 — it's important to start planning for adulthood now.

Debbie Nearmyer, Director of Prairie Star Ranch, and Vice President of Faith and Mission at St. James Academy, talked about the Special Needs Family Camp and her work with special needs.

Mike Wasmer is an advocate for developmental disabilities nationally. Originally a veterinarian in Prairie Village, Mike worked with parents of autism in Kansas to pass Kate's Law, compelling private insurance companies to pay for ABA and other autism treatments. He left his practice to join Autism Speaks as the Director of State Government Affairs.

Mitch Kelly, founder of The Aidan Project, spoke about providing access to early intervention therapy services for every child with a developmental delay. They connect families that do not qualify for state-funded early intervention with local clinics specializing in occupational, speech, physical and behavioral therapy.

Lindsay Krumbholz from Golden Scoop. Golden Scoop's mission is to provide meaningful employment for people with developmental disabilities; to foster an environment where employees are mentored, inspired, and equipped to succeed in their jobs and their lives; to offer amazing made-from-scratch products; and to provide an inclusive, joyful customer experience.

Holiday social at Coach's — a perfect time to come meet everyone!

Nichole Sagar is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and owner of All of Everybody, an ABA clinic in Kansas City. She discussed what ABA is, how it helps, goals of ABA, what to look for in an ABA company, criticisms of ABA with explanations, and how All of Everybody does things differently.

How Do Self-Regulation and Execution Functioning Skills Affect Academic Abilities? Regulation is the foundation for overall development. We need to reframe our way of thinking about behavior in order to help support a child's regulation. Emily is an occupational therapist and Brookes is a speech language pathologist. KCDT offers Speech, PT, OT, Psychological Services, Individualized Academic Instruction, Executive Functioning Services, Feeding Therapy and Parent Coaching.

Jeremy Didier discussed parenting strategies for children with ADHD. Jeremy is a Parent Coach at Impact Parents, Founder & Group Director of ADHDKC, Kansas City's Award Winning CHADD Chapter, CHADD Parent 2 Parent Teacher, and Graduate of ADDCA.

SOAR (Special Opportunities, Abilities, & Relationships) Special Needs was launched in September 2011 by Doc Hunsley. Doc is a retired pediatrician who developed a passion for individuals with special needs because of his son, Mark, who had Dravet Syndrome and autism.

Summer social at Coach's on 135th and Antioch.

A couple of families have been down the road of appealing insurance denials and learned a lot about what to avoid and how to advocate for your loved one effectively during the process.

Carlye Ehman and Mary Kate Hamilton discussed how to find a babysitter you trust with your special needs children. All caregivers and child sitters for our special needs kids are truly blessed in a way that they might not even realize yet.

Dr. Stuppy is a pediatrician specializing in ADD/ADHD. She discussed symptoms, treatments, misconceptions and parenting strategies for kids with ADHD.

Round table discussion of successes and struggles from the previous month. Reflect on 1 Corinthians 1:26-29.

Casey Connealy presented on Guardianship and Conservatorship, Special Needs Trusts, Practical Considerations for Everyone, and Questions and Answers.

Carlye Ehman discussed Autism and Disability waivers — how to get the state to assist in services for your loved one with Autism, Intellectual or Developmental disabilities. Services ranging from therapies, home care, needed equipment, respite and much more.

Holiday fellowship at Coach's. Holidays are a joyful time but they also represent schedule disruptions and challenges for our special needs kids.

Ivailo Grigorov talked about SSI & SSDI, Medicaid & Waivers, ABLE accounts, special needs trusts, and other important considerations to help family members better understand how planning for a child with special needs is different both legally and financially.

Kelly Rose led a discussion on effective ways to approach schooling for children with special needs including establishing a trusting relationship and team effort with educators.

Kim Hammers, new Executive Director of EMBRACE, shared her vision for Embrace in the coming years and was available to answer questions.