July is Disability Pride Month. It’s a chance to celebrate and honor the people in our community living with disabilities—and everyone supporting them. It’s a movement built on resilience and advocacy that shows disability isn’t something to hide. Everyone deserves to be seen, valued, and included for exactly who they are.
Disability Pride isn’t about ignoring the real barriers that still exist. It’s about naming them, facing them, and honoring the organizations doing the hard work every day to ensure people with disabilities can access opportunities and thrive.
Here are five stories of how your investments in United Way’s Impact 100 are making a difference in the lives of our neighbors living with disabilities.
ABILITY KC
Just weeks before his wedding, Travis woke up knowing something was wrong. His leg was numb, his head hurt. After his dog woke him a second time, he went to the hospital. Doctors determined he’d suffered a stroke and performed surgery to remove a clot.
The stroke paralyzed Travis’s right side and left him unable to walk or talk. At Ability KC, he worked hard in physical, occupational and speech therapies and also utilized the Aphasia Clinic to help regain his independence.
Today, Travis can walk independently, drive and speak without an assistive device. Now married to Amy, he continues working toward his goals and looks forward to the day he can shake someone’s hand again with his right hand.
CHILDREN’S CENTER FOR THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED
When Quin’s family learned she had a visual disability, they wondered whether she would have the same opportunities to explore the world as other children. Through Missouri First Steps, they were introduced to the Children’s Center for the Visually Impaired (CCVI). Orientation and mobility staff at CCVI equipped Quin with her first white cane.
The change was immediate. Quin went from refusing to go outside to joyfully running around her local playground. Her cane gave her confidence, independence, and the chance to simply be a kid. Her family now calls her cane her superpower and credits CCVI’s support with helping her grow and thrive.
DOWN SYNDROME INNOVATIONS
When Sarah’s son, Ethan, was born with Down syndrome, she felt overwhelmed and uncertain about what the future would hold. Soon after his birth, she connected with Down Syndrome Innovations, where her family found resources, guidance and a supportive community—the building blocks of a lifelong partnership.
As Ethan grew, DSI supported his communication, social development, independence, health and life skills. During his teenage years, he built confidence through programs focused on self-advocacy, relationships, and preparing for adulthood.
Today, Ethan is employed in a role that matches his strengths and interests. He travels independently, participates in his community, and continues building meaningful relationships. With DSI’s support, uncertainty became opportunity and Ethan’s potential became achievement.
LIFE UNLIMITED, INC.
At Life Unlimited’s My Day program, Direct Support Professional Victoria helps adults with disabilities build skills, relationships and independence. When Michael* struggled to finish drinks and protein beverages for meals and at snack times, Victoria noticed he became exhausted and frustrated halfway through.
Through close observation, Victoria realized drinking through a standard straw required too much effort. She shortened the straw, and the change was immediate: Michael could drink comfortably and independently.
The small adjustment helped Michael stay hydrated, enjoy nutritional shakes and participate more fully with his peers. It also reflected the heart of person-centered support: removing barriers so people can experience confidence, dignity and success on their own.
*Name changed to protect privacy.
YMCA OF GREATER KANSAS CITY
After Hope sustained a spinal cord injury in an auto accident that left her paralyzed from the chest down, her mother, Sarah, struggled to find safe, supportive care that could meet Hope’s needs. Knowing the YMCA offered before- and after-school programs, Sarah wondered if its summer day camp could be an option.
The YMCA became more than a place for care. It gave Sarah the ability to work and support her family, while giving Hope a place where she felt included and celebrated like any other child.
For Sarah, that support means everything. Through the YMCA, Hope found a welcoming space to belong, participate and experience the joy of being part of a community.
Together, these organizations play a pivotal role in building a more resilient and inclusive Kansas City—one where people of all ability levels have access to the support, opportunities, and community connections they need to thrive. Through their collective work, they are helping create a stronger region where every person can participate fully, pursue their goals, and experience dignity, belonging, and possibility.
Need additional support? Call 211. United Way 211 is available 24/7 to connect individuals and families to local resources across Kansas and Missouri.