Families Together, Inc.

The Real Story

Families Together, Inc. was originally founded in 1982 by Chris Curry, KU special education professor, as an opportunity for families to come together and meet other families who where navigating the special education and disability services maze. 

In 1986, the Federal Government reauthorized the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act to help ensure that each child who  has a disability receives a quality education that is individualized to meet his or her physical and mental capabilities and needs. As part of this, Parent Training and Information Centers were established in each state to provide training and information to the parents of infants, toddlers, children and youth who have disabilities.

Each year, Families Together Inc. provides, without fees, direct support to more than 12,000 Kansas families. In addition, through workshops, conferences and partnerships with state, local and national organizations, we provide training to more than 1000 additional families and professionals working with children and youth with disabilities. Our Kansas City Center currently provides support and information to more than 2,400 families and professionals in Wyandotte, Leavenworth, Johnson and Miami counties.

By building partnerships with local, state and national disability related agencies, school, parents, community partners and individuals with disabilities; Families Together, Inc. has become a highly effective parent training and information center.  The majority of staff members at Families Together, Inc., are the parents, grandparents, or siblings of individuals with disabilities, and our Board members include parents, educators, educational advocates and education researchers. We know the difficulty in finding one’s way through the “maze of disability services”. 

From a weekend family event hosted 23 years ago to a federally mandated/funded organization with four Centers and five regional coordinators; Families Together, Inc. continues to lead the way in finding unique innovative ways to reach out to the families we support. 

Contact the Families Together Center near you for more information.