Kansas LEND

03/13/2026

Emerging Leaders of Kansas LEND...

Annie Chung... I am from Tulsa, OK, but have visited family in Kansas City my whole life – my advisor lives just a couple blocks from where my Dad grew up!

Studying Clinical Child Psychology (Year 3 of a roughly 6-year Master’s + PhD program) I love Clinical Child Psychology because it allows me to work directly with children and families as a therapist in training to function better NOW, while also making space to ask bigger questions about why health behavior change is so difficult or why only some people can access life-changing treatment with my research work

Something fun about me is that I love to play board games and my current collection is over 60 games.

I really enjoyed meeting with legislators at the capitol as part of the KCDD event. It was impactful to share space with self-advocates and family advocates. This let me see support systems in action, while advocating for better support for all.

My current clinical intensive is on an EEC clinic with Dr. McGovern. We work with toddlers to assess for developmental delays and autism. I enjoy working on this interdisciplinary team by contributing my observations and assisting with play-based assessments.

I am also working on a dissemination capstone project. I am preparing materials to communicate findings from Dr. Davis' research on feeding tube intervention and rural health to a range of audiences (i.e., parents/individual stakeholders, medical providers, policymakers).



picture description: smiling white woman with very short brown hair wearing a black top and burgundy sweater, standing outside in the sunshine.

03/11/2026

Our friends at Children's Mercy are having an Autism Parent and Caregiver Conference on Monday, April 6th at the Kauffman Foundation Conference Center! Come see us there!!

Registration: cmkc.link/autismlearning2026

03/10/2026

📣 Now recruiting LEND trainees!

Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and related Disabilities (LEND) brings together graduate students, professionals, individuals, and family advocates from different disciplines to build leadership skills and improve systems of care for children with disabilities and their families.
If you're passionate about advocacy, interdisciplinary collaboration, and making a difference, we’d love to hear from you.

Learn more and apply: https://shorturl.at/Fo317

Picture Description: flyer with LEND information that can be viewed at the link provided.

03/05/2026

Our next Kansas LEND Family Education Session on Thursday, March 12th 6-7pm will be delivered in Spanish! It will be a presentation by two parents who have gone through the OASIS Parent Training program at Kansas Family Support Center! Please share appropriately!! Thank yoU!

OASIS para padres: la historia de una familia
Como padre o madre con un hijo diagnosticado con autismo o una discapacidad relacionada, so sabemos lo que no sabemos. El Programa de Educación de Liderazgo en Neurodesarrollo y Discapacidades Relacionadas de Kansas (Kansas LEND) del Centro Médico de la Universidad de Kansas ofrece sesiones sobre temas relevantes para la vida diaria de las familias con discapacidades intelectuales y del desarrollo a lo largo de la vida con la Serie de Educación Familiar.

Nuestra próxima Serie de Educación Familiar de Kansas LEND: OASIS para padres, la historia de una familia, con Bertha Guillen, entrenadora de padres de OASIS del Centro Médico de la Universidad de Kansas, y Verónica Fernández, líder emergente de Kansas LEND, se llevará a cabo el jueves 12 de marzo de 6:00 a 7:00 p.m.

Acompañe a dos madres que han estado en plena búsqueda de servicios terapéuticos para sus hijos con autismo. Ambas utilizaron la capacitación para padres de OASIS para aprender estrategias de ABA y así apoyar mejor a sus hijos.

Para registrarse: https://redcap.kumc.edu/surveys/?s=ECAH9N7JAMX7K4A7

Aunque estas sesiones están diseñadas pensando en padres y cuidadores, son gratuitas y están abiertas a todos. Si tiene alguna pregunta o inquietud, comuníquese con Stephanie Coleman a scoleman3@kumc.edu.¿No puede asistir a la sesión en vivo? No se preocupe, ¡estará archivada en nuestra página de YouTube! ¡Suscríbase hoy mismo! ¡Pronto habrá una lista de videos en español!

03/02/2026

LEND faculty members Stephanie Coleman and Mildred Oligbo had an incredible time at the Community Health Improvement Program for Intellectual Disabilities Talent Showcase on Saturday in Kansas City! 🎉

We were blown away by the amazing talent on display — from singing and dancing to piano performances, drawing, cup building, and so much more. The energy in the room was inspiring! 🎶🎨✨

A special highlight was visiting the vendor hall, where local artists proudly showcased their creative work. What a wonderful celebration of talent, community, and inclusion! 💙

02/25/2026

From our partners Kansas University on Disabilities:

We need to hear from families about self-determination! If you are the family member of a student in elementary school, we would like to talk with you for 30-45 minutes about your thoughts on self-determination for a research project. See the flyer for more information!

02/23/2026

Earlier this month, Kansas LEND proudly joined the Kansas Council on Developmental Disabilities for Advocacy Day at the Kansas Legislature!

Together, we met with legislators to discuss important bills that support individuals and families with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities across Kansas.

Our Emerging Leaders had an incredible opportunity to connect directly with policymakers, observe the work happening on the House floor, and see committees in action. Experiences like this empower the next generation of advocates to make a meaningful impact in our state. 💙

02/20/2026

Emerging Leaders of Kansas LEND...

My name is Fernanda Rodriguez and I am a first generation student earning my Masters degree in Social Work at the University of Kansas. While I grew up in the Kansas City area I was born in Mexico City, MX! My education and background have influenced my interest in working with vulnerable families and kids.

LEND has given me the amazing opportunity to turn my passion into practice. I’m currently working with my supervisor to support families stuck in the long gap of autism evaluation waitlists. I’ve been fortunate to engage in everything from specialized workshops to observing clinical evaluations firsthand. These experiences have fueled my current project: creating a comprehensive toolkit for families on the autism evaluation waitlist.

With wait times often stretching into years, many parents feel lost and unsupported. Our goal is to turn that period of waiting into a period of empowerment, ensuring families know that help and community are available to them from day one, diagnosis or not.

As a student social worker, I am very grateful with the experiences LEND has given me to learn from families, parents, and individuals with lived experiences who can tell us firsthand what it is like to live with a developmental diagnosis. Through LEND, I have deepened my understanding of the systemic and societal challenges that neurodivergent individuals face and how these barriers influence their mental health, development, and overall well-being.

I have also gained a greater appreciation for the strengths and unique perspectives that neurodivergent individuals contribute to their families, schools, and communities. This knowledge has encouraged me to approach my work as a social worker with greater empathy, cultural humility, and a commitment to promoting equity and acceptance for all individuals.



picture description: smiling young woman with brown hair wearing a white dress and blue graduation gown standing in front of a rock wall.

02/12/2026

We’re grateful to the Life Span Institute for highlighting the work we do through our Kansas LEND Family Education Sessions! 💙 These sessions are designed to empower and inform parents about the many supports available for their children with autism and other developmental disabilities. It’s an honor to walk alongside families and provide education, resources, and connection that make a meaningful difference.

Safety on the spectrum: From playground elopement to police encounters Based on a parent survey, about half of autistic children and youth were reported to wander, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported. Adobe Tue, 02/03/2026 author Christina Knott Share Share by Email Share on Link...

02/12/2026

Our partners at Kansas Family Support Center are going to spend time sharing what they do and what they offer to families in the state of Kansas. Register to learn more! Can't watch in real time? They too have a YouTube page where they archive their webinars.

https://www.youtube.com/

Have you ever wanted to learn more about what exactly KFSC offers, and how we can help you? On Thursday, February 26th @ 12pm CST you'll be able to do just that! Sara Diaz de Villegas and Kit Hynson will be presenting "KFSC and How We Serve You".

Attendees of this webinar will:
- Learn more about KFSC services
- Discover how to use resources and sign up for trainings
- Explore the intake process for requesting specific help/resources

Sign up for this event here: https://redcap.kumc.edu/surveys/?s=NEF8XH3RMCJLCATN

02/10/2026

Here's a great opportunity on February 28th from RestKC!

Join us for connection and support for the whole family. Children with disabilities and their siblings will enjoy a safe, social, and engaging session. Caregivers are invited to drop off their children for the duration of the event or stay on site just down the hall from their kids. Those who stay can relax with coffee and donuts while taking part in enriching workshops and meaningful conversation. A welcoming space for learning, sharing, and recharging, together! A licensed RN will be onsite for the duration of the event. Pre-registration is required.

Join us for a FREE morning of respite and connection!