TIPS for Kids - MO LEND

09/28/2026

Tigers: walk with us in this year's Homecoming Parade! 🐯 Show off your Mizzou spirit and walk alongside the Thompson Center float next Saturday, October 3, starting at 9 a.m. — we'd love to see you there! Register to walk with us at https://brnw.ch/21x5Z0A

The Mizzou Homecoming Parade route will also feature a sensory-friendly zone where parade floats are asked to lower their noise levels, turn off bright or flashing lights, and refrain from honking their horns to facilitate an enjoyable experience for everyone. The sensory-friendly zone will start at the corner of Broadway & 5th Street and continue until the end of the parade at Cherry Street. For more information, visit: https://brnw.ch/21x5Z0B

09/06/2026

What does it take to build a more accessible world?

Join experts from Kennedy Krieger, Johns Hopkins Medicine (JHM), and Maryland state government as we explore how homes, workplaces, and communities can be designed to be more inclusive, livable, and accessible for everyone. Learn who benefits from these innovations and what’s next for the future of accessibility.

Register today at the link in our comments!

09/06/2026

Please consider a donation to support the amazing things First Chance for Children does for our community!

$20 for 20: Celebrating 20 Years of First ChancesFirst Chance for Children is celebrating 20 years of supporting children and families, and we're inviting our community to help us celebrate!Throughout…

09/04/2026

What an amazing event to chat with leaders in our state!!

👀 Look who's talking!

Meet the voices behind this year's Great Conversations event — researchers, practitioners and community leaders who are shaping what's possible in early childhood, maternal health, aging, community inclusion, mental health and beyond.

Come chat with:

- Colette Canchola-Cox (Director, Missouri Family to Family)
- Maxine Henry, (Director, Addiction Technology Transfer Center Network Coordinating Office - ATTC NCO)
- Gerardo R Martinez (Director, Alianzas partnership with MU Extension)
- Danielle Chiang, Ph.D (Director, UMKC-IHD Maternal & Child Health Programs -Missouri Maternal Health Action Network - MHAN)
- Skye VanLanduyt, M.A (Lead Trainer, UMKC-IHD WeSaid at the UCEDD)
- Kelli Zerr (Barton), Ph.D. (Director, UMKC-IHD Health & Aging Programs)
- Melissa Newkirk (Director, UMKC IHD Early Childhood Innovation Center)
- Stacie Williams (Senior Training Specialist, LifeCourse Nexus)

On September 18, they'll be leading small-group, dinner-table discussions where you don't just listen — you're part of the conversation.

Tag a friend who needs to meet these folks, and reserve your seat: ihd.umkc.edu/gc

08/28/2026

Today is the day!! Happy 1st Day of TIPS!

08/19/2026

08/19/2026

08/18/2026

08/17/2026

Join us this year!

✅ Are you interested in learning more about autism & neurodevelopment, policy & advocacy, lived experience of disability, and interdisciplinary care & collaboration?

✅ Are you a Mizzou, UMKC, Missouri S&T, or UMSL student or staff?

Then the MO-LEND Foundations Program may be for you!

To learn more and apply:
https://forms.gle/HqcQgkBKd4XDFbqLA

08/10/2026

Rhett was the very best boy 💙

Many TIPS trainees will remember his tendency to wander into classes to get pets, beg for snacks, and to help us get through some long days of training.

Rhett's impact at the Thompson Center was immeasurable. Not only did he make so many of our patients feel more at home but he also boosted faculty and staff morale every time he walked through the doors.

Thank you for everything you did for us, buddy! You will be missed!