Independence, Inc.

09/09/2025

Kansas City, KS families - this is for you! Do you have a student with an IEP? We have a fabulous new program and opportunity for youth to advocate for themselves in the form of a podcast! We'll engage them and ask questions, they'll talk about themselves and share whatever they want others to know about them - hobbies, interests, talents, thoughts on their education and their futures - leaving them equipped with an audio file to share with their IEP team before or during a meeting. IEP meetings can be intimidating, leaving students unsure about what to say or how to say it. The IEPodcast gets their voice heard, their way! Contact us today for more information!

ID: dark teal blue and orange infographic titled "Independence, Inc. I E P Podcast with a graphic image of a microphone and a photo of a girl wearing a red sweatshirt and dark glasses facing a microphone. a QR Code links to the Independence, Inc. Kansas City Youth Transition Program and logos show partnerships with Families Together, Inc., CHASE Program, the Kansas Youth Transition Network and the Youth Transition Alliance of Wyandotte County.

09/09/2025

Great information from the PACER Center on what to expect in your child's first meeting. Parents/caregivers are a required, vital, integral, equal and permanent part of the IEP team. Support is available to help you prepare and confidently enter in to IEP meetings - including support from your local Center for Independent Living (CIL) - us! Give us a call if you and your student need help understanding your rights, your role and responsibilities in the IEP process, or need training to build advocacy skills.

This video explains what happens at the first IEP team meeting and provides tips on how to get ready for it. Contact PACER Center through our “Ask an Advocat...

09/09/2025

Try the T Travel Training is happening this morning from 9-11! This is a great way to get familiar with the public transit system in Lawrence!

📅 We have a few spots left for Try the T Travel Training session tomorrow! Would you like to learn how to use the Lawrence Transit bus system? Register to Try the T with your SRC! We’ll meet at SRC for a short presentation, then hop on the bus together as a group.

🚌 Register here https://myactivecenter.com/activity/4773:1/3597/3704 or call 785-842-0543.

09/09/2025

Happy 988 Day and THANK YOU for all your work in our community HeadQuarters Kansas! Andy Brown from Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services spoke this morning about Kansas988.org, a su***de and crisis lifeline for anyone in Douglas County and Kansas.

We are grateful for our community partners and all the service they provide!

09/05/2025

Valuable information and great tool to help your student stay focused, energized, organized and prepared for the school year.

Help your child develop essential executive functioning skills with this structured guide! This resource provides practical strategies for supporting children who struggle with organization, time management, transitions, focus, and more.

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Strategies-for-Supporting-Executive-Functioning-Needs-Free-13238455

09/04/2025

Did you know? September is National Preparedness Month. Are you prepared for an emergency, natural disaster or severe weather?
Ready.gov is a great place to start for all of your emergency planning needs, including making an emergency plan, risk reduction, region-specific emergency management information (Kansas is Region 7), resources for kids, free preparedness materials, downloadable guides and information sheets and so much more.
Know your risk, know your needs and make a plan and build your emergency kit today!
https://www.ready.gov/september

08/29/2025

Severy! There is still time to register for this FREE event!

What does the Standing in the Gap summit cover? From a faith-based perspective, this summit will bring together rural and frontier stakeholders and community members across Kansas to speak on the topic of access to mental health care. In Round Table format, we will discuss topics such as the prevalence of mental health issues and the challenges and barriers to mental health care in rural and frontier areas, and potential solutions for each of these issues.

Free and lunch is provided! Register here - https://namikansas.org/severysitg/

08/29/2025

Know your rights! Know the Law! Because knowledge is power - just like Schoolhouse Rock used to teach us :)

The first step to knowing if you’re covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is understanding what the law defines as a disability. Our FAQ page can help you out: https://adata.org/faq/what-definition-disability-under-ada

08/29/2025

What a wonderful concept this Microschool in Wichita is - Google AI tells us that they are equipped to accommodate students with disabilities. I hope that's accurate - what a fabulous, inclusive learning experience that would be for ALL students there.
https://www.kmuw.org/2025-08-15/successful-so-far-wichitas-k-6-microschool-at-union-station-will-double-its-enrollment-this-fall

The COVID-19 pandemic boosted the microschool movement across the country, as families sought alternatives during shutdowns and remote schooling. The trend has continued post-pandemic, as part of a broader desire for educational choice.

08/28/2025

This is a great opportunity to "Try the T"! If you've never used the Lawrence Transit Bus System, check out this great training!

📅 Join us September 9, 2025 from 9 to 11 a.m. for Try the T Travel Training! Would you like to learn how to use the Lawrence Transit bus system?
Register to Try the T with your SRC!

We’ll meet here, go over a short presentation, then hop on the bus together as a group.

🚌 Register here https://myactivecenter.com/activity/4773:1/3597/3704 or call 785-842-0543.

08/28/2025

DRC’s Disability and Aging Crime Victims Unit (DACVU) team is here to help Kansans with disabilities who have been the victim of a crime, including domestic violence. Our attorneys and advocates provide free legal and advocacy services.

Contact us toll-free at 877-776-1541 or visit our website drckansas.org/get-help to request assistance.