We Care and Connect Heartland

06/13/2026

Change starts with conversation and coffee.

The Missouri Council on Developmental Disabilities is bringing Coffee for Change to Kansas City, and you are invited to be part of it.

This free event brings together people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, families, advocates, and community members to connect, learn about current policy issues, and talk about ways to take action.

Whether you are new to advocacy or have been using your voice for years, this is a great opportunity to learn, ask questions, and be part of the conversation.

Coffee for Change: Kansas City
July 10, 2026
9 a.m.
eitas Corporate Office
8511 Hillcrest Road
Kansas City, MO 64138

Hosted by the Missouri Council on Developmental Disabilities.
Sponsored by eitas and Life Unlimited.

The event is free, but registration is required.

Register today: https://bit.ly/4wWPVYq

Who do you know who should be part of this conversation? Share this post or tag someone who may want to attend.

06/13/2026

The agenda for NCIL’s 2026 Annual Conference on Independent Living has been updated with new details, and the full workshop schedule is now available on our website.

- Workshops: https://bit.ly/49LbS2F
- Agenda: https://bit.ly/4fuIZvn

Workshops are organized into tracks such as Advocacy in Action, Empowered to Lead, Building Resilient Organizations, and Strengthening Connections. Tracks help attendees find sessions that match their interests. Each listing includes a description, presenter bios, target audience, and experience level to support planning.

Sessions will cover timely topics like funding strategies for the disability rights movement, protecting independence in the age of surveillance technology, strengthening services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and so much more.

These interactive workshops emphasize practical strategies, collaboration, and real-world impact. Visit the conference website to explore the agenda.

We can’t wait to welcome you this July!

Image: National Council on Independent Living logo features a multi-colored fingerprint.

06/13/2026

Sipping and Signing is TOMORROW at Bel Air Coffee and Cafe! 🤟☕

Join us for coffee, pastries, and ASL! Deaf, Hard of Hearing, Late Deafened Adults, ASL Students, and families with d/hh and nonverbal children, we would love to sign with you! ✨

Saturday, June 13th, from 10 AM - 12 PM at Bel Air Coffee & Cafe in Overland Park, Kansas. ✨

06/13/2026

🗣️ Your Voice Matters!

Although our Community Needs Assessment survey has ended, there's still time to participate in an EMAA Community Listening Session.

We're looking for community members and customers who are willing to share their thoughts about local needs, challenges, and opportunities. Your feedback helps shape the programs and services that support families throughout our region and helps ensure community voices are at the center of the work we do.

✅ Sessions are about 1 hour long
✅ Participants receive a $25 gift card as a thank-you for their time
✅ Your input helps guide EMAA's future planning and services
✅ Multiple sessions are available throughout our service area
✅ Only 10 to 15 spots per session!

We want to hear directly from the people who live, work, and raise their families in our communities. Whether you've received services from EMAA or simply care about the future of your community, your perspective matters.

📅 Check out the schedule of upcoming listening sessions by county below and sign up for the location that works best for you. To register please email [email protected] or [email protected].

Help us identify needs, celebrate strengths, and build stronger communities together. We hope to see you there!

06/13/2026

Our next Kansas Disability Caucus will be held in August of 2026!Get excited! You can now register!! Theme: “Empowerment in Action- Shaping Our Future”When: August 12-14, 2026Where: Hotel Topeka at…

06/13/2026

06/13/2026

The SACK 2026 Statewide Self-Advocacy Conference is just TWO WEEKS AWAY!

📅 June 19–21, 2026
📍 Manhattan, KS

We are excited to see all of you at the upcoming 2026 SACK conference June 19- 21 in Manhattan, KS!

There will be 300+ people at this event, so we want to suggest that people consider getting a Covid booster, if interested, prior to the conference. This is a completely personal decision- no one is required to get a Covid booster. Many people who attend our conference are already up to date on their covid boosters, which is great. If you are not sure of your current Covid vaccine status, you can check with your staff or family. We do not have any information about your vaccine status.

This is simply a reminder. If you were thinking about getting a booster anyway, we recommend doing this soon, so it is in full effect prior to the conference. We all want to do what we can to keep all of us healthy.

See you in Manhattan!



[Image description: GREEN Banner with text on top: 15 days until the 2026 SACK Conference. Below is a half circle filled in with a tree with roots and leaves + text:
Self Advocate Coalition
of Kansas
Let’s G.R.O.W
Growth
Rights
Opportunity
Work
SACK CONFERENCE 2026
Doubletree by Hilton, Manhattan, KS
June 19 – 21, 2026 + text - FIND OUT MORE AT SACKONLINE.ORG/CONFERENCE]

06/11/2026

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We’re simply here to help connect our community.

Call or text us today at 816-936-5258
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