Technology First began as a movement but has transformed into a “framework for systems change where technology is considered first in the discussion of support options available to individuals and families through person-centered approaches to promote meaningful participation, social inclusion, self-determination, and quality of life” (E.S., Tanis, 2019).

Many Kansans with aging and developmental disabilities encounter obstacles in daily tasks and activities, as well as accessing education and jobs. Devices that engage in two-way communication or provide step-by-step assistance can help people overcome these barriers and help them live the lives they want. For example, many new technologies can help someone feel more secure in their home, provide instruction on preparing an evening meal, or help access public transportation. With these advancements, more Kansans with aging and developmental disabilities will have the opportunity to experience a life more fully integrated into their community.

Based on the University of Kansas Benchmarks, Kansas is at an intermediate level of becoming a technology-first state, leaving Kansas only supporting roughly three or four of the nine benchmarks foudn at Technology First | State of the States in Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. However, KDADS hopes that through Supportive Technology and Self-Advocacy Grants, we will progress further towards becoming advanced or even experts within the movement, with the goal of Kansas announcing its intention to become a Tech First State in the near future.

KDADS has actively fostered innovation and empowerment in the communities it serves through various grant opportunities. KDADS has been involved in the distribution of grants aimed at supportive technology and self-advocacy within the aging and disabilities communities in the hope of boosting Kansas to become a Technology First State.

KDADS will announce new funding opportunities funded by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), starting December 10th, 2024, and announced on January 24th, 2025. The aim is to empower individuals through initiatives focused on Supportive Technology and Self-Advocacy. Up to $10 million in funding will be available across both grant types.

KDADS is dedicated to ensuring that individuals in the aging and disabilities communities have opportunities to articulate their needs and desires, enabling them to take charge of their lives while accessing vital resources for support.

Purpose

To provide resources that enable individuals, particularly those served under waivers, to lead independent and equitable lives using various technology resources.

Funding History:

• Previous awards included 14 applications from unique organizations, with a total projected award amount of approximately $8 million. 

  • They are divided into two groups, with Group 1 having 10 organizations and Group 2 having four organizations. 

• Award sizes varied from $30,000 to nearly $1 million.
• The grants aimed to cover all waiver populations and geographic locations, especially targeting underserved areas.
• Technology First Initiative: KDADS is inspired by the Technology First movement, which emphasizes integrating technology in daily life, offering solutions across various complexity levels, including low-tech, med-tech, and high-tech devices.

Purpose

To empower individuals within the aging and disabilities communities to learn to advocate for themselves and access necessary resources.

Funding History:

• Four applications from unique organizations were selected, with a projected award of around $700,000.
• Award sizes ranged from $98,000 to $262,000.
• The grants support all seven Kansas waiver populations.

Title: T1K – Technology First for Kansans

Spotlight: Training, Education, and Expansion of Technology First Initiatives

Description: This project aims to assess the technology needs of Kansas adults with disabilities through a survey, train case managers, host a think tank to enhance technology access, and establish an advisory council for policy development.

Website:

• https://research.ku.edu/
• https://stateofthestates.ku.edu/
• www.atk.ku.edu
• https://kucd.ku.edu/

Additional Materials:

• KU receives $1M to expand technology access for Kansans with disabilities | State of the States in Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
• KUCR/T1K Recruiting Adult HCBS Participants and Self-Advocates for its Advisory Council

Title: AccessAble Kansas: A Digital Gateway to Disability Support and Healthcare Navigation

Spotlight: Education through the use of AI

Description: The project aims to enhance the quality of life for Kansans with disabilities by providing enabling technology and remote support through collaboration with service providers. It involves collecting stakeholder feedback to develop resources like a KFSC ChatBot and online tutorials, focusing on education and access to support. The initiative emphasizes empowering individuals by aligning technology with their personal goals and aspirations using features like the ChatBot and resource data base.

Website:

• https://www.kfsc.ku.edu

Title: Kansas Workforce ONE EmpowerTech: Expanding Access to Meaningful Employment for Youth and Adults

Spotlight: Employment Technology

Description: Kansas WorkforceONE leads workforce development across 79 counties in Kansas, operating 13 KANSASWORKS Centers. In partnership with Southeast KANSASWORKS, Inc., which serves 17 counties in Southeast Kansas, this collaboration spans 96 counties and delivers inclusive, high-impact workforce services statewide.

All workforce centers—both physical and mobile—are being equipped with state-of-the-art Accessibility Stations to ensure full access for all individuals, including those with disabilities, older workers, English language learners, and underserved communities.

Mobile Accessibility Assistive Technology Kits are also being deployed to support proactive inclusion at job fairs, community presentations, workshops, and staff trainings, ensuring that accessibility is embedded in every outreach effort. To further enhance service delivery, Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) technologies will offer immersive career exploration and virtual training experiences for all customers. These tools are designed to engage youth, support individuals with disabilities, and provide career exposure for non-English-speaking individuals, advancing Kansas’s “Tech First” vision for equitable workforce development.

Website: https://ksworkforceone.org/

Title: Rural Initiatives in Independent Living

Spotlight: Lending Library

Description: The project aims to enhance community support by equipping OCCK with transit vans, hiring facilitators, and developing educational materials and technology kits. It focuses on providing training and technical assistance across 36 counties, ensuring individuals and organizations access valuable resources. The initiative will culminate in widespread outreach, satisfaction surveys, and feedback analysis to continuously improve services.

Website:

• Kansas Disability Support Services | Resources & Social Services

Additional Material:

• OCCK, Inc. Disability Culture Talk Series

Title: Statewide Deployment of iLink Remote Supports: A Bridge to the Next Generation of Care

Spotlight: Remote Support

Description: The project aims to implement iLink's self-directed care technologies in 400 homes to enhance in-home support for individuals with diverse needs. It focuses on empowering caregivers, improving care delivery, and educating stakeholders on innovative, technology-driven care models. The goal is to promote independence and equitable access to high-quality care.

Website:

• mygoodlife.org
• goodlifeu.org
• ilinktech.com

Title: Supportive Technology to Improve and Expand Services for Individuals with Autism and Their Caregivers

Spotlight: Training and Telehealth

Description: The project aims to enhance training for consultants and supervisors in OASIS and Telehealth while standardizing technology for staff and caregivers. It includes establishing a medical records system for data tracking and initiating online social skills groups for children in treatment. Finally, surveys and data analysis will evaluate the project's effectiveness.

Website: https://ibt-inc.org/

Title: Innovative Technology for in-home companionship, coaching, and connection

Spotlight: Remote Support

Description: This project aims to implement care.coach’s innovative technology-enabled caregiving services for Midland PACE participants in Kansas, focusing on enhancing independence, wellness, and quality of life for older adults. Care.coach provides a 24/7 virtual caregiving platform that blends empathetic human support with intelligent technology to help participants manage medications, mental health, and chronic conditions more effectively. The initiative specifically supports older adults who need daily assistance, companionship, and personalized guidance. Evaluation efforts will track improvements in medication adherence, mental health outcomes, and overall participant experience.

Website:

• Care.Coach

Title: Education, Consulting, and Practical Applications to Advance Supportive Technology and Remote Support in Kansas

Spotlight: Enabling Technology and Remote Support

Description: The project focuses on enhancing support for individuals with disabilities through education, technology integration, and remote support services. It involves collaboration with partner service providers to identify and train professionals, assess individual needs, and implement enabling technology with ongoing training and remote support. Ultimately, the goal is to improve participants' independence and quality of life.

Website:

• www.techfirstshift.com 
• http://www.simply-home.com/

Additional Information about Tech First Shift:

• SHIFT Overview Updated 5.1.25

Title: Implementing Technology as Primary Support: Empowering Independence for Individuals Supported while Streamlining Workforce and Expanding Capacity

Spotlight: Employment

Description: The project focuses on enhancing support for individuals with disabilities through technology integration and education. It involves collaboration with partner service providers to identify and train professionals, assess individual needs, and implement enabling technology with ongoing training and remote support. Ultimately, the goal is to improve participants' independence and quality of life.

Website:

• Shiftabilityconsult.com

Title: Sunflower Supportive Technology Application

 

Spotlight: Introduction to Technology 

Description: The project aims to enhance independence for individuals experiencing severe blood sugar fluctuations by providing blood sugar monitors and creating technology stations for assistance with activities of daily living. It includes purchasing iPads for remote staffing and hosting interactive social activities via Zoom. 

Website: 

Title: Capper Foundation Empowerment Center: Empowering a Tech First Workforce for Success and Independence for All Abilities in Kansas.

Spotlight: Workforce Independence

Description: The project involves setting up the Empowerment Center in Topeka and a satellite site in El Dorado to support individuals with disabilities. It will provide technology, job training, and connections to employers, ensuring ongoing support and evaluation of its success.

Website:

• https://www.capper.org

Title: Johnson County Developmental Supports Technology Innovation Hub Development Project

Description: The project involves the development of a Technology Innovation Hub by JCDS, aimed at empowering people with disabilities and their support networks through access to transformative assistive technologies. The Hub will feature an Assistive Technology Lab and Lending Library, allowing individuals receiving JCDS services to borrow select devices, while offering all individuals the opportunity to explore assistive technologies through hands-on experiences and receive personalized recommendations. The project also includes an advanced Teaching Kitchen for skill development and job training. The Hub will serve as a central resource for stakeholders to experience, evaluate, and tailor technologies to meet their unique needs, promoting independence and enhancing quality of life for individuals with disabilities.

Spotlight: Workforce Independence

Website:

• Developmental Supports | Johnson County Kansas 

Title: TARC, Inc. Assistive Technology Services

Spotlight: Technology Empowerment

Description: The project focuses on the TARC Avenues program, which provides individuals with transportation to various activities in Shawnee County while ensuring that they can participate comfortably using appropriately adjusted tables. Additionally, it offers families the chance to trial eye-gaze communication systems for their toddlers through a loaner program. This allows for thorough assessments and trials before making purchases and meets the requirements of insurance companies by utilizing equipment from major augmentative communication distributors.

Website:

• www.tarcinc.org

Title: Workforce Training Technology Initiative

Spotlight: Workforce Independence

Description: The project involves recruiting participants and establishing LearningQ accounts to facilitate a structured training program. It delivers training to four cohorts, each comprising 25 participants over eight-week sessions. It also includes training TECH staff to enhance internal program capacity and developing advanced microlearning modules catering to specific local workforce needs. The project also aims to expand outreach efforts to underserved rural populations through direct marketing, social media initiatives, and collaboration with community organizations.

Website:

• www.techinc.org

Title: Consumer-Driven Advocacy in Southeast Kansas (CASK) – Addressing Food Insecurity

Spotlight: Training

Description: This project focuses on creating a regional network of advocacy groups to combat food insecurity and promote healthy eating for individuals with disabilities through digital resources, interactive classes, and outreach.

Website:

• https://skilonline.com/

Title: KCDD SPEAK (Self-advocates Promoting Empowerment and Access in Kansas) Up! Docuseries

Spotlight: Outreach

Description: This project focuses on recruiting 30 self-advocates and families from underserved communities to share their stories navigating the disability community in Kansas. This new advocacy-centered docu series will premiere at KCDD's SPEAK UP Advocacy Conference on November 8, 2025.

Website:

• https://www.kcdd.org/speak-up-video-series 

Title: Families Together, Inc. - The Art of Advocacy: Inspiring Creativity and Confidence in Youth with Disabilities

Spotlight: Intervention

Description: This project focuses on three initiatives: the IEPodcast Project to empower youth with disabilities, the JAM 9-Week Curriculum Companion to improve arts education, and a Kansas Social Media Study to enhance the quality of life by reducing screen time.

Website:

• https://familiestogetherinc.org/

Jam Program Info Packet:

•  JAM - Information Packet - Updated

Mill Creek (IEPodcast):

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lDa7a-xhNM

Chase Your Dreams Podcast

• https://open.spotify.com/show/3E79uKpwAWY1TmuxggXfvh?si=807b733c624a4347&nd=1&dlsi=c71c997199754a1a

Title: Self Advocate Coalition of Kansas: Utilizing technology and training to empower people with IDD

Spotlight: Employment, Education, and Outreach

Description: This project focuses on enhancing Peer Support training for Self-Advocates in Kansas, aiming to better inform decision-makers about IDD services.

Website:

• https://sackonline.org/