Byrne Pelofsky is delighted to be working with Inclusion Connections, an Olathe-based nonprofit organization that works to increase access and opportunities for adults living with Intellectual/Developmental Disability (I/DD). Inclusion Connections provides an impressive array of year-round programs designed for individuals with disabilities. Programming is designed around the following areas:
- Education – cooking, nutrition and life skills classes, fitness and social opportunities, art classes, etc.
- Employment – daily job readiness classes, job coaching and placement into community-based jobs, transportation assistance to/from workplaces
- PawsAbilities – Students in this program run the Olathe PawsAbilities retail store and the mobile pop-up store which visits local businesses and events. Students make and sell dog treats in the Inclusion Connections bakery, handcraft bandanas, toys and other products. The program is well known in Kansas City as the place for individuals with I/DD to obtain the training they need to prepare for paid employment.
- Transition Academy – prepares young adults with I/DD for independent living. Classes will teach individuals how to care for an apartment, learn to shop and prepare meals, schedule your time, interpersonal relationships, etc.
Inclusion Connections has launched a $35,000,000 capital campaign to build BelongKC – a safe, affordable, and sustainable community in Olathe, Kansas, (11501 South Ridgeview Road) where adults with I/DD can choose to live with customized supports that promote healthy lifestyles, career growth and independence. For so many families with adult children with special needs living at home, it is a struggle to find housing that is safe, affordable and will allow their children to build a social community. As parents age, their number one concern is how to provide for their adult child with a disability. This 44-unit, 79,709 square foot complex will provide integrated services for housing, employment, transportation and a healthy athlete program providing holistic support to all residents. You can find out more about the BelongKC Campaign by clicking HERE.
Watch this space for more updates on this important and exciting campaign.
