Spring Services Begin NEXT WEEK!

Now Enrolling: Co-Regulation Therapeutic Small Groups

(Teens & Adults)

Our Co-Regulation, Therapeutic Groups are geared towards self-advocates and caregivers who need to find shared language and shared strategies to work through big emotions. Self-advocate participants must be at least 14 years old. One caregiver (preferably someone who lives in the home or spends a significant amount of time with the self-advocate) will be required to attend each session.

Tuesdays:
2:00-3:00 pm or 4:00-5:00 pm

Dates of service:
1/28, 2/4, 2/11, 2/25, 3/4, 3/11, 4/1, 4/8, 4/15, 4/29, 5/6, 5/13

During each session, caregivers and self-advocates will participate in both 1:1 and group learning activities to build emotional regulation skills including identifying body sensations and emotions, engaging in mindful movement, selecting appropriate solutions to everyday challenges, and identifying expected behavior across home and community.

$345 for 12 Therapeutic Sessions*

*Complimentary for a limited time for qualifying Jackson County residents, ages 14+ due to county-specific grant funding.

PLEASE NOTE: Each group will be capped at 8 families. Families will be notified if the group is full and a waiting list has been started.

Down Syndrome Innovations cares about the mental health of our parents and caregivers. Join other caregivers for facilitated discussion, resource sharing, and yoga, all for the purpose of building your resiliency and taking better care of yourself.

• Discussion topics will change each week and be led by Down Syndrome Innovations staff
• Related resources will be shared each week
• Caregivers will be encouraged to share experiences
• Following discussion, caregivers will engage in gentle yoga to promote self-care
• This group is open to caregivers with loved ones of all ages and IDD diagnosis
• Caregivers can include parents, grandparents, adult siblings, or other members of the loved one’s community of support
• This is a great opportunity to build connections, learn about community resources, and recharge

GROUP CAPACITY: 12 participants max

Please note: these groups are FREE due to a funding partnership with the KU Carewell study. There is an optional research component through KU Medical Center that is included at no cost. It is optional, so you can participate in the groups without participating in the study.

Join Us for Social and Skill-Building Groups 

(On-Site)

Our Teen Skills Series consists of structured activities and semi-structured free time to help self-advocates aged 12-18 build relationships with friends, spend time in their community, and practice a variety of skills.

Mondays from 5:00 - 6:30 pm

Dates of Service: 
1/27, 2/3, 2/10, 2/24, 3/3, 3/10, 3/31, 4/7, 4/14, 4/28, 5/5, 5/12

Down Syndrome Innovations: 5916 Dearborn Street, Mission KS

These groups are FREE/DONOR-FUNDED, thanks to our Step Up Walk donors, grantors and Community Partners!

PLEASE NOTE: there is a cap of approximately 25 participants to ensure an optimal environment for participation, learning, and support from staff. Families will be notified if the class is full and a waiting list has been started.

Enjoy Connecting with Friends through our *VIRTUAL* Social Groups!

These VIRTUAL Social Groups for focus on providing a structured environment for participants to socialize, learn, and have fun together!
Facilitated by our part-time Lifespan Services Team member, Lauren Holmes.

Tuesdays from 5:30 - 6:15 pm

Dates of Service: 
1/28, 2/4, 2/11, 2/25, 3/4, 3/11, 4/1, 4/8, 4/15, 4/29, 5/6, 5/13

These groups are FREE/DONOR-FUNDED thanks to our Step Up Walk donors, grantors and Community Partners!

Thrive in '25... with Our Small Group Fitness Trainings!

(Teens & Adults)

Adults with Down syndrome are invited to join us for personalized fitness training! These 45-minute classes feature workouts tailored to each individual’s goals, abilities, and experience levels. No two people are the same and we believe workouts should align with each person! These workouts can be scaled and modified for any fitness level and are a great way to kick start the fitness journey!

Tuesdays, Thursdays & Fridays
10:00 - 10:45 am
Lifelong Learning Campus: 5916 Dearborn Street, Mission KS

Fee: $40 per Month (1 day/week) OR $80 per Month (2 days/wk) 

NOTE: there are limited spots available to ensure self-advocates receive sufficient support and instruction. There will be a maximum of 6 participants per class this season. Spots will be filled on a first come, first serve basis, and based on commitment to the scheduled times (in addition to meeting the assessment and readiness criteria). A waiting list will be created for future opportunities, once enrollment is full.

Get Moving with our *VIRTUAL* Fitness Classes!

(Ages, 6 – 18)

These weekly ONLINE fitness classes incorporate simple, body weight exercises that can be done from the comfort of home. Workouts are 30 minutes and designed to be engaging and easy to follow.

Mondays, 4:30 - 5 pm; Tuesdays 3:30 - 4 pm

No exercise equipment is necessary! All that is needed is a space to move and a device with an internet connection!

These groups are FREE/DONOR-FUNDED thanks to our Step Up Walk donors, grantors and Community Partners!

Hop into Our Community Workouts for Teens and Adults

Pack your fitness bag and join us for a workout in the community! These workouts are inclusive exercise opportunities at various gyms around the Kansas City metro. Workouts are designed to improve functional strength and stamina. Sessions occur at different locations every month on Saturdays.
 
After submitting an interest form, our Health and Wellness Coordinator will contact you to discuss your options for community workout participation in your local area.

Fee: These groups are FREE/DONOR-FUNDED thanks to our Step Up Walk donors, grantors and Community Partners!

Improving emotional well-being and quality of life is a priority within the mission of Down Syndrome Innovations. Join us for this workshop and learn strategies to ensure your loved one, or the people you serve, are living their best lives. Megan DeBoom, Board Certified Behavior Analyst, and Lisa Lind, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, will demonstrate strategies for healthy coping and emotional regulation that can be used by members of your family and service providers on your team.

You will walk away with visual supports and ideas that you can implement right away to ensure that you, the ones you love, and the ones you serve, are equipped to manage stress and navigate the challenges of everyday life. Instruction is relevant for supporters of individuals with Down syndrome and other developmental disabilities of all ages and stages.

Topics covered will include, but not limited to:

• A strengths-based approach to emotional well-being
• Research and best practices for the ID/DD community
• Building protective factors for health and wellness
• Family resiliency and healthy coping
• Co-regulation of emotions
• Skills related to managing conflict and relationships
• Grief, loss, and stressful transitions
• Self-care and wellness

Made possible by funding from Children’s Services Fund of Jackson County and Eitas

At Down Syndrome Innovations, our Team understands that in order to be a lifespan provider for your family it is essential that we support you in the process of planning ahead for your loved one with a developmental disability. The task list for future planning can feel daunting but we can help you prioritize and point you in the right direction.

Join us to learn how to get started with ID/DD Eligibility in your county, connect with your local CDDO, and begin navigating Medicaid and Waiver services. All registered parents will receive a digital copy of our Long Term Planning Guide. 

Sarah Otto, Managing Director of Targeted Case Management of Kansas, and Sarah Mai, Executive Director of Down Syndrome Innovations, will share valuable information and resources from their collective 45 years of experience serving families with loved ones with ID/DD and navigating ID/DD systems in Kansas and Missouri.

Find Community and Support at Our Caregiver Connection: Aging Years

(On-Site & Virtual Options)

Caregiver Connection: Aging Years offers an opportunity for caregivers to discuss resources, strategies, community supports, and challenges related to caring for an aging loved one with Down syndrome. We offer on-site and virtual options!

Groups are facilitated by Down Syndrome Innovations staff, and we will occasionally invite special guests with expertise in this area. This is a complimentary caregiver education opportunity, provided in addition to the individualized services we provide directly for families and individuals with Down Syndrome.

• On-Site Option: our groups hosted at Down Syndrome Innovations offer the opportunity for caregivers to bring their self-advocate (loved one with Down syndrome) so that they may participate in social enrichment activities with peers and staff, while the caregivers meet separately.

On-Site Option: Saturday, 3/8, 9:00 - 11:00 am
Down Syndrome Innovations: 5916 Dearborn St, Mission KS

• Virtual Option: we are also providing this group virtually to ensure we are being inclusive of families throughout the region and those who are not able to access transportation, as we understand that caring for an aging dependent can feel isolating in and of itself.

Virtual Options: 5:15 - 6:00 pm
1/13, 2/10, 3/10, 4/14, 5/12

These groups are FREE/DONOR-FUNDED thanks to our Step Up Walk donors, grantors and Community Partners!

We understand this is a growing group of entire population we serve, with unique challenges and experiences, and we hear how important it is for you all to feel connected. We hope that meeting one another in this group will organically open up opportunities for you all to spend time together face to face as you develop meaningful connections with one another.

Caregiver Connection: DS – ASD is a virtual gathering of caregivers to discuss resources, strategies, community supports, and challenges related to a child or adult’s current or potential dual-diagnosis of Down syndrome and Autism Spectrum Disorder.

This group is facilitated by Down Syndrome Innovations staff, and we will occasionally invite special guests with expertise in this area. This is a complimentary caregiver education opportunity, provided in addition to the individualized services we provide directly for individuals with DS-ASD for the purpose of skill-development, improving self-regulation and behavior, and increasing independence.
 
We are providing this group virtually to ensure we are being inclusive of families throughout the region and those who are not able to access transportation, as we understand that facing a dual-diagnosis can already feel isolating in and of itself. We understand this is a subgroup of the entire population we serve, with unique challenges and experiences, and we hear how important it is for you all to feel connected. We hope that meeting one another in this group will organically open up opportunities for you all to spend time together face to face as you develop meaningful connections with one another.

These groups are FREE/DONOR-FUNDED thanks to our Step Up Walk donors, grantors and Community Partners!