Mission Project's Virtual IDD Learning Lab: Empowering Adults with Autism

0:00It's May 3rd. I'm Cory with the story. This is Kansas News Today, driven by AI. In Mission Kansas, the Mission Project non-profit is stepping up for adults with autism and intellectual developmental disabilities. They launched a virtual IDD learning lab to teach real-world independent living skills, like decision-making and handling relationships after high school. This pilot program, led by executive director Kristen Nichols, runs entirely online, making it easy for folks to join from anywhere. A kicked off with a free two-course trial last fall, focusing on that tough jump from school to adult life. Take Whit Downing, a 30-year-old living with autism, she spent eight years on Kansas's IDD waiver waitlist, calling those years in her 20s, devastating and lonely. Now, she's gaining the tools to thrive on her own. The program charges $250 per course, but scholarships cover needs-based costs to keep barriers low. It's all about bridging gaps and making support accessible when isolation feels scarier than asking for help.

1:05Folks like Downing prove these skills change lives, turning fear into confidence-head, to the Mission Project site to dive deeper and see how they're building brighter futures.