KC IDD and Autism Network

29/07/2026

Registration is now open for our next IDD Learning Lab course: Personal Safety!

Designed specifically for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and autism ages 16+, this live, interactive online course covers real-world safety skills that participants can use every day. Together, we'll learn about personal safety at home, in the community, online, and with health and wellness, while building confidence in making safe decisions.

Course Details:

📅 August 10 – September 13
🗓 Mondays & Wednesdays
🕕 6:00–7:00 PM (via Zoom)

Participants will receive live instruction, hands-on learning, a certificate of completion, and lifetime access to course materials. Scholarships are also available for eligible participants.

Ready to get started? Register today:
https://themissionproject.org/idd-learning-lab/

27/07/2026

📅 SAVE THE DATE!

Our next KC IDD and Autism Network meeting is coming up this September!

Join us for an opportunity to connect, share resources, and continue building a stronger network for the IDD community across Kansas City.

🗓 Tuesday, September 15
⏰ 11:30 AM–1:00 PM
📍 Johnson County Library - Central Resource
Carmack Community Room
9875 W. 87th Street, Overland Park, KS

More details to come. For now, mark your calendar and save the date!

15/07/2026

What an incredible afternoon!

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the very first KC IDD and Autism Network networking event. It was wonderful to see so many people come together to connect, share resources, and learn more about the amazing work happening throughout our community.

A huge thank you to Whit and Lola from Kansas Council on Developmental Disabilities for taking the time to share more about the organization and the ways they support individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities across Kansas. We also want to thank KCDD for sponsoring the event and providing lunch for everyone who attended.

We’re so grateful to everyone who showed up, introduced themselves, shared their work, and helped make this first gathering such a success.

This is only the beginning, and we can’t wait to see the relationships, partnerships, and opportunities that grow from this network!

15/07/2026

Yesterday, members of the Arcare team had the privilege of attending the first meeting of the KC IDD and Autism Network. This network aims to connect providers and community partners serving individuals with IDD and autism.

We enjoyed hearing Whit Downing and Lola Kernell with Kansas Council on Developmental Disabilities speak about their work. Thank you to Kristin Nichols and The Mission Project for organizing this wonderful event!

Image description: Laura Pederzani, Lola Kernell, and Whit Downing smile together for a photo at the KC IDD & Autism Network meeting.

09/07/2026

🎉 Welcome to the KC IDD & Autism Network!

We're excited to launch a new community dedicated to bringing together providers, educators, therapists, advocates, healthcare professionals, nonprofit leaders, and community partners who support individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and Autism.

Too often, organizations are doing incredible work but don't have enough opportunities to connect, collaborate, and share resources with one another. The KC IDD & Autism Network was created to help change that by fostering relationships, encouraging partnerships, and building a stronger support system for the individuals and families we all serve.

Whether you're looking to expand your network, discover community resources, learn about upcoming events, or find new ways to collaborate, we'd love for you to be part of the conversation.

Read more about the vision behind the KC IDD & Autism Network and how you can get involved 👇

The Mission Project is excited to help launch the KC IDD & Autism Network, a new networking group designed to bring together professionals and organizations serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and autism throughout the Kansas City region.