Autism Society - The Heartland

06/08/2026

You are invited to June's A.W.A.R.E Social Outing on June 17th. This is a great event for the Autism Society to make new friends and have a fun night together. RSVP: https://givebutter.com/AWAREJune26

06/04/2026

We get this request a lot from people looking for group support system. Please consider joining this program tomorrow and check it out!

Tomorrow is We All Matter!

If you've been looking for a place where your voice is heard and your story matters, we hope you'll join us!

We All Matter is a safe, supportive space for people with I/DD to come together, connect, and grow.

We meet monthly to talk about what’s on our hearts and minds. We all deserve to feel seen and supported!

Get the Zoom link at https://bit.ly/kcddWAM

[Image description: White banner with various colored icons at the right + text on the left: WE ALL MATTER
a mental health support group for people with IDD
First Friday of each month, from 4:30-5:30pm via Zoom]

05/30/2026

Storage locker clean out time!

We have a few items in our storage unit that we no longer need and want to put it out to community to see if anyone can use some of it before we donate them.

We have:
3 orange water coolers
2 file cabinets
Brochure stand
Vacuum
Roaster Oven

Email [email protected] if interested in anything. All items will be donated on 6/8. No cost expected (any donation appreciated). If it is listed it is still available.

Thank you!

05/27/2026

Join our national organization for a water safety seminar. RSVP link is below

Join us TOMORROW for a vital conversation on Water Safety and Autism.

We are hosting an open town hall with National Drowning Prevention Alliance (NDPA) and we want to hear from you. This forum is a unique opportunity to gather as a community, ask your questions, and share insights on how we can better protect and empower individuals with autism around water.

Whether you are a parent, advocate, or community member, your voice and perspective are essential to this work.

➡️Secure your spot now: https://bit.ly/4nZTN73

05/26/2026

Kansas is breaking the law — and our kids are paying the price.

Kansas law requires the state to reimburse school districts for 92% of excess special education costs. The last time that actually happened? The 2010–2011 school year. Today, the state pays roughly 67 cents of every dollar it legally owes.

Here's what that looks like on the ground:
📍 Blue Valley pulled $18 million from its general fund this year to cover what the state refused to pay
📍 Across Johnson County's six school districts, $132 million was redirected away from general education
📍 Olathe eliminated 27 positions and is considering school consolidations
📍 In Kansas City, KS, students missed services mid-year due to chronic paraprofessional vacancies
📍 In rural Kansas, when the only qualified paraprofessional leaves, there may be no replacement within driving distance

Paraprofessionals aren't optional. For many of our children, they are how learning happens. Cutting them isn't a budget decision — it's a civil rights violation.

In 2017, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled unanimously that an IEP must enable real educational growth. A state that refuses to fund special education creates the exact conditions where that standard cannot be met.

Now it's our turn to take action.

📣 EVERY Kansas House seat is on the ballot in August 2026. Ask every candidate: Will you fund special education at the 92% the law requires?

🔎 Find your legislators and their votes: kslegislature.gov/li — search HB 2513
🔎 Blue Valley residents: standupbluevalley.org
🔎 Know your rights: Disability Rights Center of Kansas at drckansas.org or 785-273-9661

Learn more and get involved with our community: www.asaheartland.org

Share this. Tag a parent, educator, or neighbor. Our children cannot wait. Link to full article on KCStar.com

https://www.kansascity.com/opinion/readers-opinion/guest-commentary/article315829190.html

05/21/2026

Community Event Alert: TopSoccer is this Sunday from 4-5pm.

Kansas Youth Soccer Association (KSYSA) and Toca FC are proud to announce their joint endeavor to introduce the TOPSoccer program in Olathe, Kansas. This transformative initiative will provide children with diverse abilities the opportunity to experience the joy of soccer in an inclusive and supportive environment.

for more information and registration visit:

TOPSoccer NEW TOPSoccer EVENT – Dates: Sunday, May 24th Time: 4-5pm Location: Toca FC Fieldhouse, 10568 S Warwick St., Olathe, KS, 66061 Toca FC Families, Kansas Youth Soccer Association (KSYSA) and […]

05/20/2026

AWARE event tonight at Craft Putt in Overland Park!

There is still time to sign up for our AWARE event tonight. If you are over 18 and would like to meet other adults in a stress free social environment, please come!

Details and registration can be found at:

Autism Society of the Heartland AWARE social event that bring together autistic adults for a fun, sensory friendly evening of social friendship.

05/18/2026

Update on Royals tickets:

We kind of knew this was going to be hectic this morning as we are trying to implement a new system for registering for events. We apologize that the link was not working for some people, but it did work for others. At this time all tickets have been accounted for but I do have the names from people who reached out or left a message in the comments and will contact you if other families do release their tickets.

Thank you for being patient, I know this isn't a perfect system, but with limited budget and staff, we try to make it work the best we can. We will have other opportunities later this summer as well.

Sincerely,
Autism Society of the Heartland

05/18/2026

🎟️ FREE ROYALS TICKETS FOR OUR COMMUNITY!

RSVP is officially OPEN! The Autism Society of the Heartland is giving away free Kansas City Royals game tickets to members of our autism community — and spots are going fast!

⚾ Game Date: May 24

⚠️ Only 100 registrations available — first come, first served!

Don't wait — grab your tickets now before they're gone:
👉 https://givebutter.com/royals_tickets

05/17/2026

Need more deets? Check out this sweet source: https://www.asaheartland.org/calendar-of-events.php?cur_date=1768662000&cal_view=DETAILS&form_ref=447