Kansas Family Support Center

10/14/2026

Our Parent Empowerment Peer (PEP) Program support groups provide a welcoming space for families to connect, ask questions, share experiences, and receive support from others who understand.

Led by trained Parent Specialists with lived experience, each virtual session includes:

✔️ Family check-ins
✔️ Resources and guidance
✔️ Open discussion and peer connection

**Free virtual support groups are held every third Thursday at 6 p.m. CT on Zoom.**

📅 **Next session: Thursday, Oct 15 at 6 p.m. CT**

Registration is available through the link in our bio.

10/13/2026

UPDATE: This event will now be 100% virtual.

There's still room to sign up, so please do! We'd love to have you :).

Register here: https://redcap.kumc.edu/surveys/?s=RAHF7FHL9FADFJRK

Empowering Connections: You Are Not Alone!

As part of our Parent Empowerment Program (PEP), we provide monthly group sessions for families to learn more about a certain topic, and be able to connect with others and gain new resources they may not have had before.

Our October event focuses on building trust in relationships. Attendees will focus on understanding what trust looks like in healthy relationships and how to rebuild it when it has been broken. This group is a supportive safe space to share experiences, learn communication skills, set healthy boundaries, and strengthen connections with others.

Join us virtually via Zoom, or in person at 3033 West 2nd Street N Wichita, KS 67203 on October 15th from 6-7pm.

Register for this event here: https://bit.ly/KSSupport26

10/09/2026

Just because a child doesn't speak doesn't mean they don't understand how they're being treated.

Non-speaking and minimally speaking autistic kids can feel excluded. They can feel unkindness. They can feel it when a peer walks away instead of including them — even if they don't say so in words.

This , look for the child who's quiet. Sit with them. Include them. Talk to them, not around them. That's what kindness in action looks like.

10/07/2026

For some autistic children, an AAC (augmentative and alternative communication) device isn't just helpful — it's how they tell us what they want, need, and dream about.

Speech. AAC. Gestures. Visuals. Writing. Sign. There's no single "right" way to communicate.

When we make space for how a child wants to communicate, we open the door to connection, participation, and belonging.

That's kindness in action.

✨ Follow along all month as we celebrate with real ways to show up for autistic kids.

10/05/2026

Did you know that approximately 2 in 3 autistic students experience bullying?

Research shows that autistic students experience bullying at significant rates, highlighting the importance of creating environments where every child feels safe, included, and supported.

This Bullying Prevention Month, KFSC is focusing on "Kindness in Action" — the everyday choices we can make to foster inclusion and prevent bullying.

Kindness in action can look like:

💙 Making space for different ways of communicating
💙 Respecting sensory needs
💙 Including every child in activities and friendships
💙 Listening when a child communicates that something isn't right
💙 Teaching children how to recognize and respond to bullying

Small actions can help create more supportive environments for autistic children.

Source: Park et al., 2020, Yonsei Medical Journal.

10/04/2026

UPDATE: MOVED TO OCTOBER 27th!

You Are Not Alone!

Are you seeking knowledge, information and support as you navigate the Kansas DCF system? This series is designed to help support families as they seek reunification with their children, or maintain stable relationships with their children.

Join us, October 27th at 6pm via Zoom, on parent behavior and how it can create change positively with your children. Lacy Jarman will be presenting 'From Patterns to Possibilities-Understanding Behavior and Creating Change'.

This series is focused on supporting families who are seeking reunification with their child through the child welfare system, have recently reunified with their child, or who are at risk of Kansas DCF involvement. The topics and discussions will be tailored to this audience.

Register at the following link: https://redcap.kumc.edu/surveys/?s=7KC9NMAD9WP4AT8X

10/02/2026

When an autistic child feels overwhelmed, the initial response shouldn't always focus on changing their behavior. Instead, it's crucial to understand their experience.

Consider these approaches:
• Acknowledge their communication
• Maintain a calm demeanor to foster connection

Next, you can:
• Assess sensory or environmental needs
• Provide support that promotes a sense of safety and regulation

Remember, what works will vary for each child. The goal is to grasp the underlying need behind the behavior and offer support that aligns with where the child is at that moment.

🌟

10/01/2026

Empowering Connections: You Are Not Alone!

As part of our Parent Empowerment Program (PEP), we provide monthly group sessions for families to learn more about a certain topic, and be able to connect with others and gain new resources they may not have had before.

Our October event focuses on building trust in relationships. Attendees will focus on understanding what trust looks like in healthy relationships and how to rebuild it when it has been broken. This group is a supportive safe space to share experiences, learn communication skills, set healthy boundaries, and strengthen connections with others.

Join us virtually via Zoom, or in person at 3033 West 2nd Street N Wichita, KS 67203 on October 15th from 6-7pm.

Register for this event here: https://bit.ly/KSSupport26

09/30/2026

Every person deserves the opportunity to live a long, fulfilling life -- and that includes people with autism.

During Su***de Prevention Month, we are reminded that prevention extends beyond crisis recognition. It’s about nurturing communities where everyone feels understood, supported, connected, and valued.

You deserve to live. You deserve support. You deserve a long and fulfilling life.

If you or someone you know is experiencing a suicidal crisis, please call or text **988** to reach the Su***de & Crisis Lifeline.

***dePreventionMonth

09/28/2026

If you're raising or working with a child with autism or a developmental disability in Kansas — this page is for you. 💙

KFSC (Kansas Family Support Center) offers free, evidence-based support and training for parents, caregivers, and professionals.

Here are some of our offerings:

📚 Broad Education | free webinars led by doctors & professionals, a searchable Kansas resource bank, and helpful content shared regularly on social media.

👥 Group Training | parent support groups, caregiver workshops, and specialized professional training.

🤝 1:1 Services | personalized therapy, evaluation assistance, and referrals to the right specialists for your family.
Whatever stage you're at, there's a place for you here.

🔖 Visit kfsc.ku.edu for more information. Link in bio.


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