Kansas Council on Developmental Disabilities

?? Join KCDD’s Advocacy Coordinator, Lola Kernell, for the Change Agent Program: Advocating for Change Webinar! This one-hour training will help you: ? Build relationships with policymakers ? Share your story to influence change ? Continue advocacy beyond the legislative session As a Change Agent, you’ll: ?? Complete Self-Advocacy 101 ??? Provide testimony at the Capitol ?? Meet with legislators & recruit advocates Ready to take action? Join us! ?? [04/29/25 at 6:30 pm] ??https://lnkd.in/gHmKeEzy #AdvocacyMatters #ChangeAgentProgram #SelfAdvocacy

?? Have you or a loved one with IDD used hospice or palliative care? Are you a provider of these services? KCDD wants to hear from YOU! We're working to improve care for individuals with IDD by: ? Increasing provider training ? Educating families about care options ? Improving access to respite & rehab services Take a quick survey and help shape the future of care: ?? Providers: https://lnkd.in/gdkXksTY ?? Individuals & Caregivers: https://lnkd.in/gGvSZEtS #IDD #PalliativeCare #HospiceCare #HealthEquity #DisabilityInclusion #KCDD

The KCDD team had an amazing time at the 39th Annual Shrimp Peel hosted by our incredible partners at Special Olympics Kansas! The event brought together advocates, athletes, families, and community leaders to celebrate inclusion and empowerment. We had the opportunity to network with others, reconnect with people (including legislators), participate in the silent auction, and, most importantly, hear from self-advocates who shared how Special Olympics Kansas has positively impacted their lives. Their stories were inspiring and a powerful reminder of why inclusive opportunities matter! A huge thank you to Special Olympics Kansas for hosting the event! At KCDD, we are proud to work alongside you in advocating for a world where everyone gets to belong and thrive!

Recently, Allyson and Whit had the incredible opportunity to present to a class full of future social workers at the University of Kansas! They shared about the mission and values of KCDD, the work we do to advocate for individuals with IDD, and the origins and purpose of the We All Matter Support Group. A huge thank you to Kelly Jones for inviting us to speak! Kelly isn’t just a professor… she’s also the amazing mental health professional who facilitates We All Matter each month. Her compassionate guidance has made a lasting impact on the people who attend, and we are so grateful for her commitment to KCDD and our support group! Whit and Allyson truly enjoyed the opportunity to connect with future social workers and share why supporting individuals with IDD is so important. We hope to see many of them choose careers that help create a more inclusive, accessible world where everyone belongs and thrives!

The Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS), Behavioral Health Services Commission, announced the release of a Request for Applications (RFA) to support Kansans with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD), and co-occurring behavioral health needs. Community Developmental Disability Organizations (CDDO) and IDD Service Providers are eligible to apply. Grantees awarded funds under this RFA shall receive one 12-month contract, representing the grant period for State Fiscal Year 2026: July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026. Applications are due by 11:59 p.m. April 18, 2025 Award announcement by April 23, 2025 RFA Overview (PDF): https://lnkd.in/geAXV8Pm RFA Application (PDF): https://lnkd.in/gg85Cqxy

Are you an individual with an intellectual or developmental disability (IDD) looking for a safe, supportive space to talk? We All Matter is a peer support group designed just for you! At We All Matter, we offer a welcoming environment and a safe space to talk about mental health challenges. Our meetings are led by a licensed mental health professional. Registration is easy! Just go to bit.ly/kcddSupportGroup. After you register, you will be given a link for our meeting. We meet on the first Friday of every month, at 4:30pm, on Zoom! You deserve support. You deserve to be heard. You matter. ??? April 4 at 4:30pm ?? via Zoom #WeAllMatter #MentalHealthMatters #SupportGroup #InclusiveCommunity #MentalHealthSupport #CommunityCare #DisabilityAwareness #LetsTalk #MentalHealthForAll #IDDSupport #InclusiveSupport #TogetherWeThrive #MentalWellness #SupportiveCommunity #IDDInclusion

This is a great documentary (the short won an Emmy) and really challenges people to think differently about adulthood for people with complex needs. KUCD is hosting a free screening on April 28 at 4:00 in Lawrence ???? Visit https://lnkd.in/gwJM-RCy to register for free!

“It’s disappointing that we are pinning Kansans with disabilities against rates for providers,” Hart Weir said. “We should be working together to increase funding for all aspects of the disability system.” https://lnkd.in/g9k5Psyd #EliminateTheWait #ksleg

Urgent Action Alert! Today, the Kansas Legislature will vote to strip money previously targeted to the Intellectual/Developmental Disability (I/DD) Waitlist! Tell them to RESTORE these funds!!! https://lnkd.in/gGdnBiRG

Recently, Rachel Barkley of the National Center for Public Policy Research featured part of Whit's story in a piece about the crisis in Medicaid. Whit originally shared her experience in the Kansas City Star, detailing the heartbreaking toll of spending eight years on a waitlist for home and community-based services. While waiting, Whit endured endless emergency room visits, psychiatric hospital stays, and crisis after crisis. Rachel Barkleys article mentioned that today, nearly 700,000 people with disabilities across the U.S. remain on waitlists for home and community-based services (HCBS), often waiting years for the care they need to live independently. In Kansas, many individuals, like Whit once did, face overwhelming barriers while trying to access support. Medicaid was meant to be a lifeline for people with disabilities. At KCDD, we believe in a future where no one is forced to wait years for critical services. We believe in a future where home and community-based care is a priority for the people who need it, and where people with disabilities are seen, valued, and supported. To read Rachels article, visit this link: