Kansas Commission on Disability Concerns

10/16/2026

In case you missed it: Hutchinson DMD was spotlighted on the news and radio! Check out Beyond Barriers 25th annual Disability Mentoring Day Event on October 21st!

News Article: https://hutchpost.com/posts/ebb406f7-841e-433e-9433-57a47cff16f4

Radio Interview: https://hutchpost.com/posts/e6e13bf8-0766-494a-8f4e-773790b24c86

" /> Beyond Barriers Seeks Mentors for Oct. 21 EventHUTCHINSON, Kan. —

10/14/2026

Inclusion and accessibility matter! Every kid deserves a place to play that is accessible and fun at the same time. Congratulations Blue Valley Recreation and Brody's Boundless Playground on the opening of the new playground!

10/13/2026

KEY: Shawnee County & Kansas Youth Empowerment Academy (KYEA) hosted the Shawnee county Disability Mentoring Day! 😁

Youth participants learned how to build their resume, developed interview skills, and learned about the EmpowerMe workshop. They heard from a panel of disability activists and their experience in employment. Our commissioner Whit Downing was the keynote speaker! 🧑‍💻

We were happy to volunteer and support our community!

10/13/2026

Kingman - Curious about how your infant or toddler is growing and learning?
Sign up for a FREE Developmental Screening Clinic with early childhood development specialists from Arrowhead West Infant-Toddler Services and the SWKSEC.
This is a wonderful chance to check in on your child’s development, celebrate milestones, and get helpful tips and resources to support their growth. Call 620.672.7500 to sign up.

10/13/2026

🙌🙌🙌

10/12/2026

Want a new podcast to listen to? Take a listen to this podcast about lived experiences!

10/09/2026

Accessibility matters! All-terrain wheelchairs are now available to borrow at Arches Visitor Center to improve visitors' access to enjoy more of the park.

Great news for visitors with mobility challenges! All-terrain wheelchairs are now available to borrow at Arches Visitor Center to improve visitors' access to enjoy more of the park.

The all-terrain wheelchair is non-motorized and requires an assistant/operator to push the chair. They may be borrowed for single-day use at no charge. Learn more about the chair and which trails are approved for its use on the park's website: https://www.nps.gov/arch/planyourvisit/physical-mobility.htm -4

Learn more about the five Utah national parks participating in this program on this news release: https://www.nps.gov/orgs/1072/all-terrain-wheelchairs-utah-5.htm

alt text: park ranger pushes an unoccupied all-terrain wheelchair on a dirt trail

10/08/2026

The festival included many resources for educators, families, local communities, and more. Some of the resources included data based decision-making, implementation, strategies, inclusion, information about state of the state and transition to post secondary education. Check out their page for more information! KUCD - Kansas University Center on Disabilities

10/07/2026

Update: Kansas student Oliver Davis has moved from 4th to 1st place in the quarterfinals for Sports Illustrated Youth Athlete of the Year! He stands to win $25k and will be aired on CBS.🏊📣

Oliver Davis is currently ranked in the top three among 10 finalists. Voting for the top five ends at 10 p.m. CT on Thursday. You can vote for Oliver through the Youth Athlete of the Year's website.

10/07/2026

Across the state of Kansas, Disability Mentoring Day is celebrated every year in October! Disability Mentoring Day (DMD) is a national program that promotes career development for students and job seekers with disabilities through job shadowing and hands-on career exploration. It is designed to empower students and job seekers with disabilities, promote a diverse workplace, and assist employers with recruiting new talent.

We put all the DMDs information into one place. Check the links below to find which one is closest to you and your family!

- Topeka: https://www.kyea.org/show.php?contentid=236
- Hutchinson Area: https://www.beyondbarriersks.com/dmd
- Salina/Abilene: https://indconnectinc.com/event/disability-mentoring-day-2026/
- Kansas City: https://sites.google.com/view/dmdatkc/home
- Wyandotte: https://independenceinc.org/disability-mentoring-day-2026/
- Dodge City: https://www.arrowheadwest.org/

Topeka: KEY: Shawnee County & Kansas Youth Empowerment Academy (KYEA)
- Hutchinson: Beyond Barriers
- Salina/Abilene: Independence, Inc. & OCCK Inc.
- Dodge: Arrowhead West, Inc.
- Kansas City: Independence, Inc.