This presentation will focus on guiding families and caregivers through healthy, developmentally appropriate conversations about puberty, sexuality, and reproductive health. It will outline when to begin thinking about these topics and provide clear strategies for when and how to discuss them respectfully and age appropriately. Attendees will learn about useful resources—including recommended books, visual supports, and teaching tools—that can make these conversations easier and more accessible.

Overall, this session is designed to help caregivers approach sexual health education with confidence, clarity, and practical tools that support the well-being and autonomy of the individuals they care for.

Dr. Kristie Marble is a board-certified Pediatrician and a board-certified Pediatric Hospitalist at Children's Mercy Kansas City. In addition to her hospitalist role, she proudly serves as one of the pediatricians in the Multidisciplinary Down Syndrome Clinic. Her dedication to the Down syndrome community is both professional and deeply personal as it was sparked 17 years ago following the birth of her daughter, who was diagnosed with Down syndrome right after birth. This personal journey inspired her to become an expert in the field and commit herself to educating medical professionals. She is now excited to leverage both her clinical expertise and lived experience to support and educate other parents and families navigating their own paths, in partnership with Down Syndrome Innovations.

If you have any questions please email CJ, at cj@kcdsi.org

Join us for an educational event in the northland of Kansas City on how to support your self-advocate when navigating their employment journey and supporting their career development. Our Director of Employment Services, Amanda Myers, CESP, will share practical tools and strategies to help caregivers guide their loved one from early job preparation to long-term career growth. You'll leave this presentation feeling more prepared and empowered as a partner in your loved one’s employment journey.

Special thanks to Platte County Board of Services for being a funding partner in 2026 and assisting Platte County residents to access vital services and supports through DSI for employment.

Service providers, case managers, and employers, are more than welcome to attend to benefit from this valuable information as well.  

Neuma is a secure, all-in-one platform designed to help families manage the many moving parts of their loved one's care without the overwhelm. We centralize school plans, medical records, and therapy notes into one easy-to-use system, so everything you need is always in one place. You have the ability to import records directly from hospital systems like Advent, Children’s Mercy, St. Luke’s, University of Kansas Health System, and more.

Instead of juggling emails, binders, portals, and paperwork, families can quickly access, organize, and share critical information with teachers, therapists, doctors, and caregivers. Neuma helps ensure everyone on your child’s care team stays informed, aligned, and focused on what matters most: supporting your child’s growth and success.

Built with neurodiverse families in mind, Neuma reduces stress, saves time, and brings clarity to complex care, so families can spend less time managing logistics and more time being present.

This seminar will focus on providing parents and caregivers with a clear understanding of the IEP transition process, from the legal requirements to the best practices for ensuring a smooth and successful transition from school to post-school activities.

With a focus on education, employment, and independent living, the seminar will break down the steps parents can take to actively support their child’s growth and future planning, offering actionable strategies and resources that can make a real difference. 

¡Los invitamos cordialmente a nuestra primera Conexión Familiar de 2026!

Nos complace contar nuevamente con la participación de nuestros amigos de KUARDC, quienes nos acompañarán para ofrecer una presentación sobre nutrición. Nuestro Coordinador de Fitness y Nutrición, Scott Quaife, ha preparado una presentación enfocada en la importancia de una nutrición adecuada para las personas con síndrome de Down. El equipo de KUARDC, Jaime Perales Puchal y Kelly Loeb, se encargará de traducir y presentar esta información.

Este evento se llevará a cabo más adelante en 2026, por lo que les recomendamos registrarse para recibir recordatorios cuando se acerque la fecha. Se ofrecerán refrigerios.

Si tienen alguna pregunta, por favor escriban a CJ al correo electrónico cj@kcdsi.org.

¡Les deseamos un excelente día!