July 1, 2025, Independence, Inc. opened a new office in Wyandotte County to offer programs and services under the Kansas Youth Transition Network – funded through the Federal Department of Education Pathways to Partnership grant. We also acquired Wyandotte and Johnson Counties as new Core Service areas, expanding from our 3 county service area in the Lawrence, KS area.
Through the Kansas Youth Transition Network (KYTN, we are able to serve youth and young adults with disabilities ages 10-24 with innovative and expanded youth transition and independent living skills training including:
- in-school group and class training
- IEP planning support
- one-on-one training in school, in our office or in the consumer’s home
- resume-building
- mock interviews
- pre-employment skill-building
- executive function development
- Peer Groups
- higher education and/or GED support
- independent living preparation and training
- professional development days for teachers and paras
- goal-setting, interest surveys
- self-advocacy training
- housing and employment needs
- information and referral
- and so much more!
All of our work is driven by the independent living philosophy, person-first planning and self-identified consumer goals and needs.
We support:
- systems-involved youth (including juvenile justice, foster care, truancy, housing insecure, low-income households etc.)
- early skill-building and systems navigation starting at age 10
- using self-management platforms like Charting the Life Course to help identify strengths and needs and the people and providers to help reach one’s goals
- self-advocacy, self-awareness and self-esteem
- integration, inclusion and accessibility in all things
- schools, teachers and staff
- parents, families and caregivers
- educational needs
Visit our KYTN page for more information and contact us today to see what we can do for YOU!
KYTN Program Manager: Amy Ballinger | aballinger@independenceinc.org | 785-371-1646