Youth Transition Alliance of Wyandotte County - YTAWC

09/21/2026

A great opportunity for Wyandotte County youth and young adults with disabilities to learn about and experience careers in trades and education/training pathways to get there!

For our Kansas City area friends! Independence, Inc. and our Youth Transition Alliance of Wyandotte County - YTAWC are hosting our first Wyandotte County Disability Mentornig Day - Trade UP! -October 27th at the Kansas City Kansas Community College Kansas City Kansas Community College-Dr. Thomas R. Burke Technical Education Center.
Our Trade UP! DMD will be a day of exploring the trades fields, pathways to higher education, internships and apprenticeship programs and college and job-readiness skills in an informative, interactive and fun way. Youth and young adults ages 14-24 with any type of disability are encouraged to come!
Schools - bring your SPED classes, 18-21 programs, or individuals from general education that may be interested. We welcome systems-involved youth, foster care group homes and individuals whether in-school or out that would benefit from this career exploration day.

Schools/groups - register here: https://forms.gle/EYMJNmVQ2ft7Qzdo9

Individuals not affilliated with a school or group program, get more information and register by contacting
💠Elle Jennings, Youth Transition Specialist
💠[email protected]
💠785-371-1643

08/17/2026

Our Youth Transition Alliance of Wyandotte County (YTAWC) Community Stakeholder Meetings are starting back up this month, and we want YOU to join us (yes, you!).
These meetings bring together schools, service providers, community organizations, youth with disabilities, employers, families, and other partners who are committed to improving transition outcomes.
Our stakeholder meetings provide an opportunity to:
•Share updates on programs, services, and community resources.
•Collaborate on strategies to better support youth transitioning to adulthood.
•Identify gaps, challenges, and opportunities within our local transition network.
•Build partnerships and coordinate efforts to improve outcomes for youth and families.

We welcome both returning and new partners. Your experience, expertise, and perspective are valuable as we work together to strengthen Youth Transition Services throughout Wyandotte County
We meet the Third Wednesdsay of each month from 5:00-6:00 via Teams virtual meeting or in-person at Independence, Inc. - 11010 Haskell Ave. Kansas City, KS.
DM us for more information or reach out to us at [email protected]

07/27/2026

Love this!

An online repository of literacy solutions and resources from the University of Kansas Center for Research on Learning be accessible to Kansans across the state. Literacy Bridges is set to launch this summer and will contain tools and information tailored to the needs of Kansas schools, students and families.

https://loom.ly/5T5UfQM

07/27/2026

Wow - just wow! True education reform that enhances learning for all abilities, all learning styles and all students...can this dream someday become a reality?

What if the problem isn't students—but the system built around them?

For James Meehan, that question became the foundation for reimagining education.

As CEO of Eastpointe High School and Elevated Education For Teens, James is transforming alternative education by creating personalized learning pathways, wraparound student support, and career-focused opportunities that help students rediscover confidence and graduate prepared for life beyond the classroom.

His philosophy is simple yet powerful: schools should adapt to students—not the other way around.

By combining innovation, flexibility, and a relentless belief in second chances, James is proving that every student deserves the opportunity to succeed.

Discover how he's redefining alternative education and helping students build brighter futures.

https://www.theeducationmagazine.com/james-meehan/

07/27/2026

Such important research, information, perspective and insight!

Our research shows that teachers are learning about new evidence-based practices, but they need support to overcome barriers and develop action plans.

The BASIS project, from KUCD and UW SMART Center, is supporting teachers to integrate these practices into classrooms to improve student outcomes while reducing teacher stress.

✏️ Dr. Maria Hugh talked with KU News about the project: https://bit.ly/4pEWr2I

07/27/2026

Today marks the 36th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a civil rights law that protects the rights of people with disabilities in all areas of life.

According to 2022 data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 1 in 4 U.S. adults have some type of disability. This number continues to grow due to increases in noncommunicable diseases and people living longer, which may increase the likelihood of experiencing disability related to aging.

U.S. Census Bureau data shows that 10.5 million U.S. adults with disabilities were employed in 2024. Data from the Social Security Administration (SSA) shows that 1 in 4 workers who were age 20 in 2022 are expected to become disabled before reaching retirement age.

Disability is part of being human and is integral to the human experience. People with disabilities are a diverse group, and disability intersects with factors such as s*x, age, religion, race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status. Disability impacts all of us, and anyone can experience a disability at some point in life.

As the ADA turns 36 today, let’s use this milestone to increase awareness of disability and continue learning about the law that protects the rights of people with disabilities. We started our ADA Anniversary social media campaign last month, sharing different resources related to disability and the ADA every week. We compiled this information into a list of resources for you to access and share.
Link: Linktr.ee/ADA36

Share this information, and help us increase awareness of the ADA!

Happy 36th Anniversary to the ADA! Happy 35th Anniversary to the Great Lakes ADA Center!

07/27/2026

We love this!

“’Little Fin’ was inspired by a real experience I had at an aquarium. A young girl and her grandmother came up to me asking questions about my hearing aids, and it wasn't until a few moments later that I realized the little girl was wearing hearing aids too. That interaction stayed with me because it reminded me how many disability experiences are shared across generations and how meaningful representation can be. I wanted to create a story that captured that feeling of curiosity, connection, and seeing yourself reflected in someone else. One of my hopes is that disability becomes something children learn about from a young age with curiosity, empathy, and joy, rather than fear or discomfort.” – Chrissy Marshall, Writer and Director of “Little Fin”

Read our review of “Little Fin” and watch the short film: https://www.disabilitybelongs.org/2026/07/little-fin-review/

07/27/2026

Did you know the ADA National Network has officially launched our Employment Resource Hub? This hub offers information about disabilities and the workplace at every stage of employment. This resource features new materials and centralizes fact sheets, FAQs materials, and tools with the National Network, making it easy to find answers to all of your questions about employment and the ADA. Explore our Employment Resource Hub today: https://adata.org/employment-resource-hub

07/27/2026

The public library - COOL in so many ways!

Having just received last month's electric bill, I'm going to start making better use of my local public library's AC...

07/27/2026

There are many reasons a person may use a wheelchair, and all are equally valid. 🩷

Image description: a colorful educational infographic on a light gray background explains that many wheelchair users can walk. Across the top, large bold pink text reads, “Many wheelchair users can WALK.”

Down the left side are three illustrations:

At the top, an empty teal wheelchair beside a standing person wearing a lavender outfit.

In the middle, a person seated in a wheelchair with one leg raised in the air.

At the bottom, a wheelchair basketball player reaching toward an orange basketball.

The creator’s handle, “,” appears vertically in pink text along the left edge.

Three rounded text boxes with wavy borders provide information:

1. A green box states: “Wheelchair users who have the ability to walk are called ambulatory wheelchair users. 30–40% of all wheelchair users are ambulatory.”

2. A lavender box states: “Just because someone uses a wheelchair does not mean they are paralyzed. In fact, only 10–20% of wheelchair users have paralysis.”

3. A bright pink box states: “Reasons a person may use a wheelchair include not being able to walk, only being able to walk short distances, and to reduce pain and discomfort.”