January
January 18; Matthew/Mark Room 6:30pm
Ivory Duncan is the founder of Embracing NeuroDiversity and a mother of a neurodiverse child. She supports parents, educators, and organizations through curriculum, consultation, and coaching. With experience in Title I schools, postsecondary leadership, and equity training, she serves culturally and linguistically diverse communities. Now back in her hometown of Kansas City after 15 years in Chicago, Ivory is focused on making a local impact. She also hosts the Embracing Neuro-Diversity podcast. Childcare will be provided in the church nursery for walking children ages 1 and up.
February
February 15th 6:30pm Meeting Matthew/Mark Room
Colleen Mazzei is a special education teacher in the 18-21 year old program in the Blue Valley school district. This is a transition program for students with special education needs who have completed their high school requirements but still need to develop post-secondary skills. It provides support for vocational training, independent living, and community integration, with the goal of preparing students for life beyond the classroom.
Childcare provided
March
March 15th 6:30pm Meeting in Conference Room
Sarah Otto is the Managing Director of Targeted Case Management of Kansas. Case managers assist special needs individuals and their support network to identify, develop, select, obtain, coordinate, utilize and monitor paid services and natural supports. The goal is to enhance the person’s independence, integration, productivity and community inclusion, consistent with the person’s needs and lifestyle preferences as outlined in the person-centered support plan.
Childcare provided
April
April 19th 6:30pm Meeting in Matthew/Mark Room
Ivory Duncan is the founder of Embracing Neuro-Diversity and a proud mother of a neurodiverse child. Embracing Neuro-Diversity, empowers parents, educators, and organizations to support neurodiverse children through curriculum, consultation, and coaching. Ivory‘s experience spans Title I schools, postsecondary leadership design, and equity training, serving culturally and linguistically diverse communities. Recently returning to her hometown of Kansas City after 15 years in Chicago, Ivory is passionate about making a local impact through her expertise. Beyond education, she hosts the podcast Embracing Neuro-Diversity, offering support to parents of neurodiverse children.
Childcare provided
May
June
Title: “Summer Tailgate”Date: June 21, 2026Time: 6:30 PM – 8:00 PMLocation: Field near the Ascension Parish Hall parking lot, 9510 W 127th St, Overland Park, KS 66213
Description: Join us for a summer tailgate on the field near the Ascension Parish Hall parking lot! We’ll have lawn games (corn hole and bocce). Bring an appetizer to share and BYOB. Childcare provided in the nursery.
July
Title: “The Whole Financial Picture for Special Needs Families”Speaker: Tyler Davidson, Chartered Special Needs Consultant (ChSNC), Cornerstone Wealth ManagementDate: July 19, 2026Time: 6:30 PM – 8:00 PMLocation: Ascension Matthew/Mark Room, 9510 W 127th St, Overland Park, KS 66213Description: Tyler Davidson is a Chartered Special Needs Consultant and wealth manager with Cornerstone Wealth Management who has worked in financial services since 2010. Most of our past speakers have been specialists in one piece of the puzzle: ABLE accounts, Special Needs Trusts, Social Security, Medicaid, and waiver services. Tyler holds the whole picture and can speak to how these pieces interact, with a deep dive into Social Security income planning and a wide-angle look at the planning services his firm provides for families. Our parents already know the background, so expect a hugely beneficial Q&A on the real pitfalls of planning for our children.
August
Title: “Employment and Community Services for Your Child’s Future”Speaker: Abbie Whitney, Director of Employment & Community Services, Easterseals MidwestDate: August 16, 2026Time: 6:30 PM – 8:00 PMLocation: Ascension Matthew/Mark Room, 9510 W 127th St, Overland Park, KS 66213
Description: Abbie Whitney leads Employment & Community Services at Easterseals Midwest and has spent over a decade helping individuals with disabilities build skills and find meaningful work. She’ll give us an overview of the services Easterseals provides in Kansas, with a closer look at three programs: LINK, which helps job seekers with autism develop workplace social skills through one-on-one coaching and small group classes; BRIDGE, where adults with developmental disabilities practice everyday skills like budgeting, building routines, and making friends out in the community; and RISE, a six-month to one-year community based employment program that helps people with disabilities develop transferable skills with the end goal of meaningful and competitive employment.
September
Title: “Foundations of Development & Emotional Regulation”Speaker: Chloe Strohm, OTR/L, Clinical Director at PlayabilitiesDate: September 20, 2026Time: 6:30 PM – 8:00 PMLocation: Ascension Matthew/Mark Room, 9510 W 127th St, Overland Park, KS 66213Description: Chloe Strohm, OTR/L is the Clinical Director at Playabilities (playabilities.org) and a pediatric occupational therapist with 8 years of experience supporting children and families in the outpatient setting. She’ll walk us through the foundations of development with a special focus on emotional regulation: what it looks like at different ages, realistic expectations for young children, and hands-on strategies to help kiddos through big feelings. Chloe will also share about Playabilities and its services: occupational, physical, speech, and feeding therapy, plus infant development services.
October
Details Coming
November
Title: “Down Syndrome Innovations: Lifespan Support for Individuals and Families”Speaker: “Jennifer Dreiling, President & CEO of Down Syndrome Innovations”Date: “November 15, 2026”Time: “6:30 PM – 8:00 PM”Location: “Ascension Matthew/Mark Room, 9510 W 127th St, Overland Park, KS 66213”Description: Join Jennifer Dreiling, President & CEO of Down Syndrome Innovations, for an overview of the organization’s mission, which is to provide life-changing support and services that empower people with Down syndrome to live to their fullest potential. Jennifer will share how Down Syndrome Innovations supports individuals and families from the moment of diagnosis throughout adulthood. Attendees will learn about the organization’s comprehensive lifespan services that promote independence and community engagement. While Down Syndrome Innovations is dedicated to serving individuals with Down syndrome, many of their programs and services also support individuals with other intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and their families.
Upcoming activities below
Spring Fling
April 11 ~ 6-9pm
