New Website for Young Adults with Disabilities

KDHE, KUMC Launch New Website for Young Adults with Disabilities

TOPEKA, Kan. – The Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs (CYSHCN) program at the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) and the Center for Child Health and Development at KU Medical Center collaborated to develop a website to assist Kansas parents and professionals in planning the transition of their young adult into adult life.

The Building a Life website is a guide that can help families and professionals assist young adults with disabilities in moving from dependence to independence in their community. The young adult’s support network will gain knowledge of the services available and how to access them, regardless of where they are in the transition process.

“Many families have encountered difficulties in learning what support and services are available in their communities and beyond. The information on this site will assist with decisions ranging from where young adults can live, to how they will make a living, mange their own health and more,” said Heather Smith, KDHE-CYSHCN health planning consultant. “By working together, families can find that planning these big decisions can be enjoyable and fulfilling.”

The goal is to provide a useful tool in starting and working through the process of Building a Life in the community for young adults with disabilities. The website is available at www.buildingalife.ku.edu. For information about the Building a Life website, contact Phyllis Young at [email protected] or913-588-5741.

For more information on the CYSHCN program at KDHE, contact Heather Smith at [email protected] or 785.296-4747.