About Us

Our Story

Every meaningful movement begins with people who recognize a need and decide to do
something about it. For years, families of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) faced the same challenge: finding reliable health care providers, community services, employment supports, transportation options, and other essential resources. Although many excellent services existed, they were scattered across organizations and agencies, making them difficult to find and even harder to navigate.

The seeds of We Care and Connect Heartland were planted long before the organization
officially existed. In 2009, Dr. Moya Peterson established one of the Midwest’s first specialty clinics for adults with Down syndrome at the University of Kansas. As she worked with patients and families, one theme emerged repeatedly: The greatest need often wasn’t medical treatment—it was knowing where to find the right resources. Families were searching for mental health providers, dental care, dermatologists, gynecologists, employment opportunities, transportation, day programs, and countless other services. Too often, there was no central place to find that information.

None of Us Want to Stand Still

A turning point came in the fall of 2020 when Catholic Charities Kansas City–St. Joseph hosted a virtual screening of the documentary None of Us Want to Stand Still, a film exploring the challenges adults with developmental disabilities face in accessing quality health care. Following the screening, Lisa Wagner-Carollo, Dr. Laura Gaffney, and Dr. Moya Peterson continued conversations about what was missing in the Kansas City region and what could realistically be done to improve the lives of adults with disabilities and their families.

Those conversations quickly grew into action. Barbara Penn and Rosina Hendrickson joined the effort, bringing additional perspectives and expertise. Together, the group formed a task force dedicated to listening first, learning from the community, and identifying practical solutions.

Community Conversation

In 2021, the task force organized a regional community conversation that brought together self-advocates, family members, physicians, nurses, therapists, educators, service providers, and community organizations from Kansas, Missouri, and even Iowa. Participants represented a wide range of experiences, but one message was remarkably consistent:

The problem was not alack of resources.

The problem was that those resources existed in silos.

Families often spent countless hours searching for information that already existed simply because there was no single place to access it. Rather than creating new programs, the group recognized that connecting people with existing services would have an immediate and lasting impact.

That realization became the foundation of We Care and Connect Heartland.

From 2022 to 2024, the team collected and organized resources, expanded partnerships, recruited volunteers, and pursued funding opportunities. While early grant applications were unsuccessful, the group’s determination never wavered. Their persistence was rewarded when the Kansas Council on Developmental Disabilities provided the organization’s first grant, allowing the vision to become reality.

Early 2025

In early 2025, We Care and Connect Heartland officially launched as an organization committed to connecting adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, their families, caregivers, and professionals with trusted resources throughout Kansas and the surrounding region.

On January 1, 2026, the organization’s website went live, providing a centralized, easy-to-use resource directory. Since then, individuals and families from across Kansas and western Missouri—and beyond—have turned to the website to find services, support, and answers.

Today, We Care and Connect Heartland continues to grow. The organization is expanding its resource database, strengthening community partnerships, welcoming new board members and volunteers, and pursuing additional funding to ensure that every adult with intellectual and developmental disabilities can more easily access the services they need to live healthy, connected, and fulfilling lives.

What began as a conversation among passionate advocates has become a collaborative effort to build a stronger, more connected community—one where information is easier to find, services are easier to access, and no family has to navigate the journey alone.

Our Mission

We Care and Connect Heartland empowers adults with intellectual and developmental
disabilities (IDD), their families, caregivers, and the professionals who serve them by
connecting them with trusted health care, community services, and support resources. We believe that no one should have to navigate complex systems alone. Through collaboration, education, and partnerships, we break down barriers, strengthen communities, and make life-changing resources easier to find and access.

Join Us in Making a Difference

Every day, adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families spend
valuable time searching for the services and support they need. We Care and Connect Heartland is changing that by bringing trusted resources together in one place—making it easier for individuals to find help, connect with providers, and live healthier, more independent lives.

But we can’t do it alone.

Your support helps us expand our resource database, maintain our website, develop new
partnerships, provide community outreach, and ensure that families have access to accurate, up-to-date information when they need it most.

Whether you choose to make a financial contribution, volunteer your time, share your expertise, or become a community partner, you become part of a movement that is improving lives across Kansas, western Missouri and beyond.

A gift of any size makes a meaningful difference.

Together, we can create a future where every adult with intellectual and developmental
disabilities—and every family supporting them—can find the resources, connections, and
opportunities they deserve. Join us. Partner with us. Invest in a more connected future. Donate today and help make access possible for everyone.