Kansas LEND

01/12/2026

In a world where and matters... thank you to Barbie for working with The Autistic Self Advocacy Network in expanding their Barbie collection to include a young woman with Autism!

01/09/2026

Our colleagues from the Community Health Improvement Program for Intellectual Disabilities are having a talent show!!
Get your free tickets today to have the opportunity to be entertained by some amazing talented individuals!

✨CHIP-ID’s BE BOLD Talent Show is taking the stage! ✨

Celebrate talent, creativity, and inclusion at CHIP-ID’s BE BOLD Talent Show!

Come cheer on amazing performers, celebrate inclusion, and support our community. 💙

Share this post, scan the QR code, or follow the link to register your attendance! https://kuadrc.org/talentshow

12/19/2025

Emerging Leaders of Kansas LEND...

Em Meyer, PhD is a postdoc fellow originally from Grand Island, NE. Em earned a doctorate from the University of Kansas in school psychology. Em has worked previously as a faculty member and school-based school psychologist. Em is excited about this new opportunity. When not working, Em can be found at home quilting.

My favorite experience with LEND so far has been meeting other trainees and hearing about their diverse experiences. I also enjoyed meeting at a park for the family immersion opportunity. The rest of my LEND time has been a whirlwind of class and independent learning about ASD and developmental differences—all of which is making me a stronger clinician and better human.

The project I am involved in is called We All Matter (WAM). It is a peer-led mental health support group for individuals with IDD. The team is conducting research about WAM and developing an implementation guide. My capstone is related to the accessibility of that implementation guide.

Photo description: A headshot of a short-haired person who is smiling.

12/05/2025

Emerging Leaders of Kansas LEND...

Zachary Bricken... I am originally from the north Houston, TX area and graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in 2023. I am now at KU as a 3rd year doctoral student in the Clinical Child Psychology Program. My research and clinical interests consist of digital health and how we can support children and their families using technological tools for their health and well-being. I’m passionate about using technology to support diverse families and children through the challenges of navigating both their digital and real-life worlds to be safe, happy, and healthy. I spend the majority of my free time in the arts, such as theatre and music.

I have been working with Dr. Brenda Salley in the Early Evaluation Clinic (EEC) conducting ASD evaluations and other potential developmental delays for children ages 0 - 3. Prior to working with LEND, I have had very little exposure working with children with ASD and developmental delays, particularly those as young as 24 months. I think my LEND experience has developed my assessment skills as a growing clinician, both in increasing my assessment skills and competency and increasing my knowledge and exposure working with diverse neurodevelopmental presentations in toddlerhood.

To best support the function of the EEC, I have been learning the Bayley-4: Cognitive Scales to assess for potential cognitive delays in clients. I have also been working on how to provide feedback for families in the clinic, including findings from the Bayley-4 and behavioral observations. I have also been working on increasing my exposure and knowledge of the ADOS-2 - Toddler Module for assessing for ASD in toddlers.

Photo Description: A professional headshot. A male is wearing a professional black shirt and is smiling.

12/02/2025

****Free Virtual Learning Opportunity****
****Registrations Closes Tonight****
Attend Exploring Life Possibilities Good Life Group brought to you by Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services and the LifeCourse Nexus.
Whether you’re navigating a new diagnosis, planning for transitions, supporting an adult child, or looking for community, this is a place to share ideas, stories, and tools using the Charting the LifeCourse framework.
See flyer for registration links!

12/01/2025

If you missed the November session of the Family Education Series: Making the Holidays Brighter and Calmer you can view it here!


Subscribe today and be alerted when new videos are posted!

As a parent with a child who has been diagnosed with autism or a related disability you don't know what you don't know. The Kansas Leadership Education in Ne...

11/25/2025

Sometimes learning is all about having fun... a few weeks ago Kansas LEND faculty and emerging leaders spent a day in Wichita to train an amazing group of Kansas Parents as Teachers.

11/21/2025

Emerging Leaders of Kansas LEND...

Taj Lara has lived in Kansas City for most of her life and is currently enrolled in KUMC’s Genetic Counseling Training Program. She holds two undergraduate degrees – the first in Geography with a focus on Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and a minor in Urban Studies, and the second in Biology. Her academic background has shaped her passion for genetics, the environment, and how both intersect to influence health.

Outside of school, she enjoys antiquing, visiting farmers markets, homesteading, urban foraging, and finding interesting ways to live more sustainably. She’s a lover of all things odd, curious, and macabre, and lives by her personal “3 Cs of life” philosophy: coffee, chocolate, and cheese. Taj and her spouse run a tiny homestead with their three fur children – two dogs and a cat – plus a few other curious critters.

I’ve really loved meeting and building meaningful connections with my cohort - especially getting to learn from others across different disciplines, abilities, and lived experiences. The family immersion experience has definitely been one of my favorites so far; it’s been such a powerful reminder of why I wanted to be part of LEND in the first place. I’m also really looking forward to learning how to better understand and implement policy.

For my project, I’m focusing on helping other providers better understand the fascinating world of genetics - specifically, how to incorporate genetic counselors into different hospital settings, with a particular emphasis on pediatrics. My goal is to make genetics more approachable and show how integrating GCs can strengthen patient care across disciplines.

Picture description: a smiling Black woman with dark, loc'd hair, septum and nostril jewelry, in a green dress with pinkish red flowers, standing outdoors with a lake and willow tree in the background.

Picture description: a smiling Black woman with a gray hat, septum and nostril jewelry, in a white beekeeper suite that has yellow gloves, holding up a hive frame outdoors next to a beehive.

11/19/2025

🎉 Congratulations to Kansas LEND alum Elizabeth Boresow (EB)! 🎉

EB was honored with the Champion Award at the 2025 Direct Support Worker (DSW) Awards for her outstanding advocacy and leadership in advancing the rights and opportunities of people with disabilities.

We’re so proud of you, EB!

For more information about the DSW Awards and to see all 2025 recipients:

The Kansas Direct Support Workforce Initiative has announced the recipients of the 2025 Direct Support Worker (DSW) Awards, recognizing exceptional Kansans who provide critical, person-centered care and support to individuals with disabilities across the state.

11/17/2025

Check out this parent book club with Families Together, Inc.!

Join us for a special early childhood Families Together, Inc. Parent-to-Parent Book Club. After the New Year, we'll begin reading Good Inside, by Dr. Becky Kennedy. This book club is especially for our birth-5 parents!

The Book Club will meet over Zoom on Tuesday mornings from 9:30-10:30 for six weeks, beginning January 20th. Good Inside is a compassionate, practical guide to parenting (and living) with connection, confidence, and grace. Together we’ll explore how to see ourselves and our kids as “good inside,” even when things get messy.

Space is limited! Each book cub member will receive their free book and Parent-to-Parent book club swag.
Book Club will meet for 6 weeks; January 20-February 24. RSVP deadline to attend is December 11. Email kristinam@familiestogetherinc.org today to secure your spot!

Thank you! Happy reading!

11/14/2025

Emerging Leaders of Kansas LEND...

Hi! My name is Suzanne Martell, and I am living life from Topeka, KS. I completed my bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education with an Emphasis in Special Education at Washburn University and earned my master’s degree in special education from Baker University. I am a mom to 4 amazing people (21, 20, 16, and 12) and ‘Nona’ to the sweetest baby boy.

My work with children with neurodevelopmental differences started in 2006, when I became a para in an Intensive Instruction Classroom. Little did I know that 15 years later, I would be teaching in that very same classroom! I taught special education for 5 years, then moved into autism research at KU. Throughout my bachelor’s degree, my middle son was diagnosed with autism, and I learned A LOT about advocating for him in the school setting. That (ongoing) advocacy ignited a passion inside of me to help other parents in like situations. Sometimes, being the parent of a neurodivergent child can feel like we are on a deserted island. I want to find ways to connect those islands; to help those families find community and a voice.

In my free time, I like to read, volunteer, visit coffee shops, and listen to true crime podcasts.

I cannot wait to experience the Advocacy Day at the capital; the more I learn, the more I want to be a part of the processes that are creating policies that impact some of the most important and worthy people in our world.

I am working on the Family Education Series with Stephanie Coleman and I am helping Chandra Gordon put together a series of webinars on IEPs (Individualized Education Programs).


picture description: white woman with short brown hair with a red top and black sweater.

11/13/2025

Do you know someone with a talent they want to show off? Share our partners at Community Health Improvement Program for Intellectual Disabilities post about their upcoming talent show in 2026!!

🌟 Community Talent Showcase – Calling All Performers! 🌟
Do you sing, dance, act, paint, or have a unique talent to share?
We’re inviting individuals with intellectual disabilities to shine on stage or display their artwork at our 2026 February Talent Showcase!

This is a give-back event for the community celebrating creativity, confidence, and joy.

To sign up to perform click here: kuadrc.org/bold-talentform