News, Updates and Highlights
UMKC-IHD leaders Sheli Reynolds and Amanda George traveled to South Korea to support growing efforts to advance person-centered practices through the Charting the LifeCourse framework. Their 10-day visit brought together advocates, families, providers, and policymakers committed to building more inclusive supports and systems for people with disabilities.
This collaborative gathering hosted by WeSaid at the UCEDD, Platte County Board of Services and Center for Human Services explored how storytelling can increase understanding, connections and inclusion for the disability community.
A policy brief from Dr. Ryan Belew, Research and Evaluation Coordinator for ECIC, examines how family wellbeing and state childcare policies shape kindergarten readiness. The research highlights the powerful impact of early childhood education access, parental support and family mental health on children’s success entering school.
Disability advocate and host of Candace’s Corner recognized for contributions to accessibility, inclusion and community leadership.
Podcasts
This episode explores the power of leadership, community engagement and disability advocacy, highlighting how families, local organizations and self-advocates can work together to create more inclusive communities and stronger supports. Larry Opinsky shares his journey as a parent, advocate and leader in self-directed supports.
Rural healthcare systems face growing challenges, from provider shortages to transportation barriers and hospital closures. In this episode of Accessible, we discuss what these realities mean for people with disabilities, how policy decisions could shape the future of care and why disability inclusion must be part of rural health solutions.
Sheila Wunning discusses the structure of Missouri’s developmental disability system and the potential impact of recent federal and state Medicaid discussions. This episode explores home- and community-based services, cross-system collaboration and the policies that shape supports for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, families and providers.
Duane Shumate reflects on the evolution of disability employment in Missouri, from sheltered workshops to community-based jobs, the Employment First movement, barriers to employment, and strategies helping people with disabilities achieve meaningful work and competitive wages.
Events
Great Conversations 2026
Introducing Great Conversations — A new annual event that brings together diverse voices to engage in curated conversations exploring how UMKC-IHD is impacting and shaping communities.
Friday, September 18, 2026
Seats are limited.
