The Mission Project

03/13/2026

We’re excited to be part of the 16th Annual Blue Valley Special Needs Resource Fair this year with BV SEAC!

The Mission Project will have a booth at the event, and we look forward to connecting with families, individuals, and community partners to share more about our programs that support adults with developmental disabilities in living independently.

This free public event brings together a wide range of organizations that provide services, resources, and support for individuals with disabilities and their families. It’s a great opportunity to learn about programs in our community.

We hope to see you there.

Please join us at the 16th Annual Blue Valley 2026 Special Needs Resource Fair. This event offers an invaluable opportunity to connect with over 100 providers who cater to a range of supports for various disabilities. Each year, families return to discover new and innovative resources while building connections within the community.

If you are or know someone who may benefit from such a wide array of service offerings, please encourage them to attend. If you have attended in the past, we add new and different vendors every year!

Tuesday, March 31, 2026
5:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Hilltop Conference Center (7700 W 143rd St, Overland Park KS 66223)

For more information: bvseac.org/resourcefair
Register as a vendor: bvseac.org/vendors
Questions: bvresourcefair@gmail.com

This is a free and public event. You do not need to have a connection to Blue Valley Schools to attend. All are welcome.

03/12/2026

We recently welcomed students from AdventHealth Kansas City Project SEARCH to The Mission Project for a visit focused on employment and independent living for adults with developmental disabilities.

Our participants Mallory and Oscar shared their personal journeys and gave tours of their apartments, offering a firsthand look at what independence can look like with the right support. Mallory spoke about her role as a Food Service Host at AdventHealth, and Oscar shared about his job at Cinemark Theatres and his path toward independent living.

We’re so proud of Mallory and Oscar for stepping into leadership roles and sharing their experiences.

Learn more about the visit here: https://themissionproject.org/adventhealth-project-search-visits-the-mission-project/

AdventHealth Project SEARCH visited The Mission Project to explore supported employment and independent living programs for adults with developmental disabilities.

03/09/2026

Don’t miss this upcoming webinar introducing IDD Learning Lab, an innovative online program designed to help individuals with autism and intellectual and developmental disabilities build real-world independent living skills.

📅 This Wednesday, March 11, 2026
⏰ 12:00 PM (Noon)

During this live demonstration, we’ll showcase the course “Creating Safe Spaces: Living On Your Own” and give you a firsthand look at how the program helps individuals develop confidence and practical skills for everyday independence.

Families, educators, and organizations supporting individuals with autism and IDD are encouraged to join us.

Thank you to STRIVE for partnering on this program and helping expand access to meaningful learning opportunities.

Read more and get the Zoom link here: https://themissionproject.org/idd-learning-lab-webinar-independent-living-skills-for-autism-idd/

03/07/2026

Lights, camera… action 🎬

We recently had the chance to spend the day filming with Bark Productions as we work on creating some new videos to share more about The Mission Project and the incredible people who make this community so special.

We’re excited to give everyone a behind-the-scenes look at the filming process and can’t wait to share the finished videos soon. A huge thank you to Bark Productions for helping us tell our story.

03/05/2026

Join us for an upcoming webinar introducing IDD Learning Lab, an innovative online program designed to help individuals with autism and intellectual and developmental disabilities build real-world independent living skills.

📅 Wednesday, March 11, 2026
⏰ 12:00 PM (Noon)

This live demonstration will showcase the course “Creating Safe Spaces: Living On Your Own.” You’ll get a firsthand look at how the program helps individuals develop confidence and practical skills for everyday independence.

Families, educators, and organizations supporting individuals with autism and IDD are encouraged to attend.

Thank you to STRIVE for partnering on this program and helping expand access to meaningful learning opportunities.

Read more and get the Zoom link here: https://themissionproject.org/idd-learning-lab-webinar-independent-living-skills-for-autism-idd/

Join our webinar introducing IDD Learning Lab, an innovative online program teaching independent living skills for individuals with autism and intellectual disabilities.

03/02/2026

What does independence really look like?

It looks like:
• Clocking in at work
• Making plans with friends
• Building routines you can count on
• Having support that empowers you, not controls you

That’s The Mission Project.

We support adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Mission, KS by providing reliable transportation and individualized support so they can live independent lives.

Learn more at themissionproject.org

A place where adult persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) live, work, play and participate in the life of the community, living independently with individualized support.

02/25/2026

Being a sibling to someone with autism or an intellectual or developmental disability is something only other siblings truly understand. That’s why we created our Siblings Support Group, a space for adults to connect, share openly, and support one another. 💛

Everyone is invited, you don’t need to have a sibling participating in The Mission Project to join us! Our next group meets Monday, March 2 at 8:00 PM. We’d love to see you there. → themissionproject.org/siblings-support-group

support group for adult siblings of individuals with an intellectual or developmental disability (IDD)

02/23/2026

Getting to work shouldn’t be the hardest part of having a job.

At The Mission Project, our participants live in their own apartments in the City of Mission, KS. They build independent lives, and we help support that independence in practical ways.

Every day, The Mission Project picks up participants up at their apartment and drives them to and from work. It may look like a simple ride to work, but that daily support is often what makes steady employment possible.

Learn more about how we support independence 👉 https://themissionproject.org/transportation/

02/20/2026

Meet Amelia 💙

Amelia has been part of The Mission Project since 2006, and what she loves most is the community, friendships, and activities like Acting, Book Club, and World Dining Club.

After graduating from Blue Valley Northwest and earning her associate’s degree from Johnson County Community College, she became a certified Apprentice Medical Coder. She volunteers at Children's Mercy doing data entry and works as a Utility Clerk at Cosentino’s Price Chopper, while pursuing a career as an outpatient medical coder.

When she’s not working, Amelia loves reading, cheering on the Royals, Chiefs, and KU basketball, and staying active. She runs regularly and participates in the Mother’s Day 5K every year with her mom.

Amelia is also a passionate advocate. She has been giving speeches about autism since middle school and recently spoke at the Kansas State Capitol about Medicaid, IDD waiver waiting lists, and the importance of ABLE accounts.

We are so proud of the full life Amelia continues to build in our community!

02/18/2026

Recently, six Mission Project participants took their voices to the Kansas State Capitol for a day focused on disability advocacy. Participants joined peers from across Kansas to share personal perspectives, and strengthen their confidence.

We are incredibly proud of our participants for stepping into leadership roles, advocating with purpose, and showing how powerful lived experience can be. Days like this reflect the heart of The Mission Project, supporting individuals as they build confidence, independence, and a strong voice in their community.

Learn more: https://themissionproject.org/mission-project-participants-advocate-for-disability-policy-at-the-kansas-state-capitol/

During the visit, participants met with Senator Ethan Corson and Representative Rui Xu, speaking not only on behalf of The Mission Project, but also for themselves, their communities, and others whose voices deserve to be heard.

02/17/2026

“Can adults with Down syndrome or autism really live independently?”

We hear that question a lot. And every single day, our participants answer it with their lives.

Through health and wellness programs, transportation support, problem-solving classes, social opportunities, and lifelong learning, they’re not just living on their own, they’re building full, meaningful, thriving lives.

If you believe in independence with support, we’d love your help continuing this work.

Donate here: https://themissionproject.org/donate/

Your generosity is greatly appreciated. There are several ways you can make a donation and support our mission:

02/13/2026

These warm days in KC have us counting down to Garden Club 🌱🌸

Garden Club days are some of our favorites. Our participants love getting their hands dirty, learning how to plant, grow, and care for something from the ground up. There’s something special about watching both plants and confidence grow at the same time.

Clubs like this are such an important part of The Mission Project experience, offering meaningful activities, social connection, and life-enriching skills that support independence and self-confidence.

Spring can’t come soon enough 💛

Learn more about our programs at www.themissionproject.org