Independence, Inc.

04/24/2026

We love our KC community!

Independence, Inc. staff had a fabulous time hosting a table at the 3rd annual Piper USD 203 Cultural Showcase yesterday evening! It was another year of diversity, inclusion, experiencing other cultures, meeting families and sharing resources. (the best part was the impromptu line dancing at the end...thank you awesome DJ!)
Also, welcome our newest staff member, Nicole, who helped out at our table!

04/11/2026

TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly today announced she has signed Senate Bill 84 (SB 84), establishing the Supported Decision-making Agreements Act, which will allow adults to enter into supported decision-making agreements to receive assistance with an adult’s affairs from one or more other adults. ...

04/10/2026

Join this FREE webinar on preparing for and navigating college as a disabled student - April 29!
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We’re excited to share that LAMN is hosting a free webinar on April 29 at 6:30 PM ET with Annie Tulkin, CEO of Accessible College!

If you’re a disabled student navigating college, a parent or caregiver supporting someone through the process, or just someone who wants to better understand accessibility in higher education, this is for you.

We’ll be talking about college access, accommodations, advocacy, and the real-life stuff that often gets overlooked when it comes to disabled students and higher education.

Bring your questions, come ready to learn, and join us for what we know will be a really valuable conversation.

We’ll drop the registration link below, and if you already have questions you’d love for us to cover during the webinar, leave them in the comments!

Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN__-CW-pGITFqlb0_htfXVDQ #/registration

04/08/2026

Teens age 15-18 with spinal cord injury and disabilities (SCI/D) - this is for you! Engage with your peers over Zoom this summer, enjoy interactive activities and informative conversation, AND earn a $500 stipend just for participating - all while learning from other disabled leaders and peers, and sharing your own knowledge and experience!

"The BACKBONES Youth Program is a summer virtual program for teenagers (ages 15-18) with spinal cord injuries and disabilities (SCI/D). It’s designed to help you build self-advocacy skills, connect with others, and learn about important topics for youth with disabilities -- like going to college, driving, managing independence, employment, dating, and more!"

Scan the barcode below or visit https://www.backbonesonline.org/youth-program-application
and apply today! Deadline is April 22nd!

ID: Infographic with a tan background, colorful beach-themed elements and text that reads Youth Program, Teens with Spinal Cord Injury Apply Today. Meet other Teens with SCI/D; Learn from Disabled Leaders; Enjoy Interactive Activities; $500 Participation Stipend. A QR code leads to the following webpage: https://www.backbonesonline.org/youth-program

04/01/2026

What is ? What does it mean to be ? Here's three things to know:

1. Autism is a complex neurodevelopmental condition. Autism is experienced and expressed differently across different individuals.

2. Autistic people have diverse strengths and face various challenges. This is often alongside conditions like speech and language disorders or medical concerns.

3. Support needs vary widely. Some autistic people live independently with minimal help. Others require intensive, around-the-clock support.

At the Life Span Institute, we believe that pursuing science leads us to better support all autistic individuals.

04/01/2026

04/01/2026

Join Project MounTaiN — a fully funded, supportive 2-year master’s program in Early Childhood Unified at the University of Kansas!

We’re now recruiting interested individuals who want to become early interventionists or early childhood special educators. Program begins in Fall 2026!

🌻 Learn more at: https://kucd.ku.edu/project-mountain

KU Special Education | Life Span Institute | Maria Lemler Hugh | Division for Early Childhood (DEC)

04/01/2026

Neurodiversity describes natural differences in how people think, learn, and interact. In the workplace, these differences may show up in the way people communicate, focus, or organize information.

The Job Accommodation Network (JAN) can assist employers and workers by offering accommodation strategies that support productivity and performance, such as flexible schedules, written instructions, or quiet workspaces.

Read JAN's A to Z: Neurodiversity for other solutions: https://AskJAN.org/disabilities/Neurodiversity.cfm

04/01/2026

Inclusive, non-biased hiring practices benefit all - employers, employees and communities alike.

It’s a fact: business performance is closely tied to how well employees are supported at work. A growing body of research shows that employees are more productive, innovative, and committed when they feel safe, valued, and included. In our blog, we examine this data and explain how investing in an inclusive culture for all employees, including people with disabilities, improves staff morale while strengthening the bottom line.

Read part two of The Business Case for Inclusion: Benefits for Employees on our website: https://www.disabilitybelongs.org/2026/03/business-case-inclusion-employees/

04/01/2026

April is Paralyzed Veterans of America Awareness Month! You can learn more about the history and meaning behind Paralyzed Veterans of America Awareness Month here: https://pva.org/get-involved/paralyzed-veterans-of-america-awareness-month/

04/01/2026

We sure do love what we do and who and we get to do it with! F.L. Schlagle High School

03/25/2026

A University of Kansas research team is exploring challenges faced by lower extremity amputees, particularly in areas such as residual limb healing issues, infection, and daily living barriers when using prosthetic devices. To ensure their work is grounded in real-world experiences and needs, they conducted an interview with Rex Ellebracht, Independence, Inc. Independent Living Specialist. Rex is an with individual who has undergone two lower-extremity amputations due to complications from diabetes. We are grateful to have such fabulous partners and collaborators as we work towards a more inclusive, accessible and healthy community and beyond!


ID: Pictured left to right are Michael Latham, KU research team member wearing khaki pants and a dark polo, Dane Reinsch, KU research team member wearing blue pants and a tan button up shirt, Dr. Lisa Friis, PhD. Mechanical Engineer at KU, wearing gray shorts and a black sweater, and Rex Ellebracht, Independent Living Specialist at Independence Inc. wearing blue jeans and a dark blue tshirt. All are standing side by side in a conference room setting, smiling at the camera.