Fearfully & Wonderfully Made | Caregiver Support

A community of parents and caregivers who come together to share advice, struggles, and the joys of caring for our family members with special needs

Calendar + Upcoming Events

Regular Meeting Dates: The 3rd Sunday of every month
Regular Meeting Time: 6:30PM
Regular Meeting Location: St. Luke Room (unless otherwise noted)

Join us for our Next Meeting!

Date: Sunday April 13th
Description: Kayla Hamner from KU Sensory Enhanced Aquatics will speak to us about KU SEA. Swimming can be a great physical outlet and life-saving skill for children with autism spectrum disorders. In addition to promoting health, swimming reduces stereotypic behaviors and increases social behaviors of some children facing these challenges. Sensory Enhanced Aquatics is a swimming and water safety program for children with autism spectrum disorders. Lisa Mische Lawson, Ph.D., a certified recreational therapist and current KU faculty member, serves as director of KU Sensory Enhanced Aquatics. Kayla Hamner, MOT, OTR/L, a licensed occupational therapist, manages the program including training and developing instructors.”
Time: 6:30PM
Location: St. Matthew/Mark room
Childcare: Childcare provided in the church nursery during the meeting, for walking children age 1 and older. Contact Jim Hamilton with questions.

Upcoming Meetings

Date: Sunday May 18th
Description: Vicki Asher is the Head of School at Horizon Academy. Horizon Academy empowers students diagnosed with specific learning disabilities to become effective learners and confident self-advocates. Their staff is highly trained in the Orton-Gillingham (O-G) Approach, Multisensory Math (MSM) and the Strategic Instructional Model (SIM).
Time: 6:30PM
Location: St. Matthew/Mark room
Childcare: Childcare provided in the church nursery during the meeting, for walking children age 1 and older. Contact Jim Hamilton with questions.

Date: Sunday June 15th
Description: Semi-annual Social at Coach’s. Join us for a night off! Summer is a great time to enjoy time with our kids. But it also means running around to camps and therapies and disruptions to the routine. Come relax with parents who understand, and share your ideas for day trips and activities with the kids.
Time: 6:30PM
Location: St. Matthew/Mark room

Date: Sunday July 20th
Description: Jean Hoyt is the Chief Program Officer for Children’s Programs at Lakemary Center. She will speak to our group about their K-12 accredited school for children with special needs.
Time: 6:30PM
Location: St. Matthew/Mark room
Childcare: Childcare provided in the church nursery during the meeting, for walking children age 1 and older. Contact Jim Hamilton with questions.

Past Speakers and Topics

Jamie Gold – Inclusion Connections
Becky Meyers – OT at Ascension Catholic School
Lois Bakely Ferguson – Community Developmental Disabilities Organization and the IDD Waiver
Stephanie Coleman – Kansas LEND program at the University of Kansas Medical Cente r
Mike and Terri Kern: St. Joseph Cupertino Program at Benedictine College
Amy Allison: Executive director of The Farmer’s Hous e
Bridget Murphy: planning for adulthood for children with special needs
Debbie and Dcn. Dana Nearmyer: Of St. James, Holy Trinity, and Prairie Star Ranch; Family Camp and the Archdiocesan Special Needs Ministry
Mike Wasmer: COO of The Council of Autism Service Providers (CASP)
Kim Hammers: Executive Director of EMBRACE
Kelly Rose: Vice Principal of ACS
Ivailo Grigorov: Special needs financial planner
Carlye Ehman: Medicaid Waiver
Casey Connealy: Special Needs Trusts
Kristen Stuppy: Pediatrician; Parenting strategies for kids with ADHD
Stephen “Doc” Hunsley, M.D.: Executive Director and founder of SOAR Special Needs in Lenexa
Michael Lynch: Insurance Denials
Jeremy Didier: parenting kids with ADHD
Emily Tritz and Brookes Barrack: Directors of Kansas City Developmental Therapies (KCDT)
Lindsay Krumbholz: from Golden Scoop
Mitch Kelly: Founder of The Aiden Project

Help a Child with a Disability and their Family

Would you be willing to make a difference in the life of a child with a disability and their family? Parents and advocates from across the Archdiocese are working with the special needs office to provide families who have a child with disability a break from caregiving. We need your help with this most needed outreach.