OUR
HISTORY!
Families
Together, Inc.
was originally
founded in 1982
by Chris Curry,
Kansas
University
special
education
professor, as an
opportunity for
families to come
together and
meet other
families who
where navigating
the special
education and
disability
services maze.
In 1986, the
Federal
Government
reauthorized the
Individuals with
Disabilities
Education Act to
help ensure that
each child who
has a disability
receives a
quality
education that
is
individualized
to meet his or
her physical and
mental
capabilities and
needs. As
part of this,
Parent Training
and Information
Centers were
established in
each state to
provide training
and information
to the parents
of infants,
toddlers,
children and
youth who have
disabilities.
In 1986, the
Federal
Government
reauthorized the
Individuals with
Disabilities
Education Act to
help ensure that
each child
who has a
disability
receives a
quality
education that
is
individualized
to meet his or
her physical and
mental
capabilities and
needs. As part
of this, Parent
Training and
Information
Centers were
established in
each state to
provide training
and information
to the parents
of infants,
toddlers,
children and
youth who have
disabilities.
Each year,
Families
Together Inc.
provides,
without fees,
direct support
to more than
12,000 Kansas
families. In
addition,
through
workshops,
conferences and
partnerships
with state,
local and
national
organizations,
we provide
training to more
than 1000
additional
families and
professionals
working with
children and
youth with
disabilities.
Our Kansas City
Center currently
provides support
and information
to more than
2,400 families
and
professionals in
Wyandotte,
Leavenworth,
Johnson and
Miami counties.
By building
partnerships
with local,
state and
national
disability
related
agencies,
school, parents,
community
partners and
individuals with
disabilities;
Families
Together, Inc.
has become a
highly effective
parent training
and information
center. The
majority of
staff members at
Families
Together, Inc.,
are the parents,
grandparents, or
siblings of
individuals with
disabilities,
and our Board
members include
parents,
educators,
educational
advocates and
education
researchers. We
know the
difficulty in
finding one's
way through the
"maze of
disability
services".
From a weekend
family event
hosted more than
25 years
ago to a
federally
mandated/funded
organization
with four
Centers and five
regional
coordinators;
Families
Together, Inc.
continues to
lead the way in
finding unique
innovative ways
to reach out to
the families we
support.
Our 25th
Anniversary
Celebration
A Glimpse of the
Past
