We're Here All Year: Developmental Disabilities Month and Women's History Month

March 2025

Dear Sherwood,

March: A Month of Inclusion and Impact

March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month and Women’s History Month, highlighting the importance of inclusion, accessibility, and opportunity for all. This year’s theme, “We’re Here All Year,” reminds us that advocacy doesn’t stop when the month ends. At Sherwood Autism Center, we live this every day—ensuring individuals with developmental disabilities, especially women, have access to education, employment, and community engagement.

Honoring Women Who Inspire Change

Grace Strobel—A St. Louis-based model and speaker, Grace is breaking barriers in the fashion industry and advocating for better disability representation.
Tatyana McFadden—A world-class Paralympian with spina bifida, Tatyana has won multiple medals while fighting for equal opportunities in sports.

Sherwood: A Year-Round Commitment

Education Without Gaps – Our founders were visionaries who lobbied in Missouri for students in special education to have access to an extended school year, ensuring they received consistent support and reduced regression. Today, we continue that mission as a collaborative extension of 10+ Kansas City metro school districts and charter schools, providing specialized education services.
Adult Day & Employment Services – Our year-round Adult Day Program collaborates with private and nonprofit partners to create real-world job training and supported employment opportunities, ensuring adults with developmental disabilities have meaningful opportunities to grow and contribute.

How You Can Support Inclusion

💙 Donate – Help us expand our impact. Donate today >>

💙 Partner With Us – Businesses and organizations can collaborate to create inclusive opportunities. Contact Us!

💙 Share the Message – Follow Sherwood on all social media platforms Facebook/Instagram/LinkedIn to help raise awareness.

At Sherwood, we’re here all year and invite you to be part of that mission.

Thank you for being a part of the journey with us!

Gratefully,

Kia Walsh

Chief Executive Officer

ceo@sherwoodcenter.org

Adult Day Services: Lakeside Nature Center

While we've had what feels like one million snow days, our Adult Day Services clients have still been out in the Kansas City community! They recently visited Lakeside Nature Center, an animal rescue facility in Swope Park, where they explored wildlife exhibits and enjoyed the scenic trails. Community outings like these provide opportunities to engage with nature and experience new environments in a supportive setting.

SPED student looking at smiley face occupational therapy on a blue mat

Special Education: Vocational Class Highlight

Our Special Education Vocational class wrapped up Black History Month, where they researched and created a project on influential Black leaders. Each student highlighted one Black leader, building their research skills and expanding their understanding of history. Representation matters, and learning about diverse role models empowers our students to see the legacy and impact of great leadership.

New season, new opportunities to give back! Support neurodiversity and Sherwood! We'd love you to join us as a monthly giver! Just $5/month helps Sherwood create unforgettable experiences for our trailblazers. Thank you!

Meet Johnny!

Johnny Gordon is Assistant Teacher, Vocational and Lead Art Teacher at Sherwood. In his role, Johnny supports middle and high school students as they prepare for life beyond school. He also engages students with arts and crafts to develop their social, emotional, and functional skills. Diagnosed autism at 18, and Johnny deeply values his work at Sherwood. “For a lot of kids, Sherwood is a second home. I’ve seen a lot of kids come out of their shell. These kids are loving, and so wonderful. It’s really refreshing to be at a school that really cares about its students.” Meet Johnny.

Day in the life: Johnny helps students build essential personal and vocational skills. He guides them through on functional tasks like reading maps, cooking and managing finances on some days, while other days are spent honing job-related skills such as resume writing and interview preparation. His arts and crafts sessions range from simple projects with younger students to more advanced sketching and painting with older students. “Sometimes we focus on the monthly theme like Black History Month, or a holiday like Valentine’s Day,” he says. “Or even, we’ll focus on more personal things like our own identity.”
Joy Outside of Work: Whether he’s at the gym, creating art through painting and drawing, or exploring other visual arts, Johnny loves staying engaged. He also enjoys quality time with his family, his beloved cat, and his girlfriend.
Sherwood in a word: “Resilience. Despite the struggle that can come with the work we do, we still go in full force in terms of passion. I’m grateful to have that community that supports each other through the hard days.”

Thank you, Johnny, for showing up with passion and care for your students every day. We are grateful to have your talents and expertise in our community.

Check out all the Sherwood latest on Facebook >>

The Neurodiverse Edge: The untapped potential in creative industries

Dr Vina S. Theodorakopoulou shares how neurodiversity strengthens the creative industries and about the power of intersectional representation.

Read the full article >>

Photo credit: Getty / shots.net

April 7: Financial & Estate Planning for Families with Special Needs

Join this CommunityAmerica workshop to learn about financial planning and goals for families with children with special needs on April 7. Learn more >>

Maya and the Magic Ring Opera

In this hilarious new opera for families, a young girl named Maya discovers a magical ring, and after realizing her early wishes caused chaos, learns she must choose her final wish carefully. Join the Lyric Opera in this family-friendly opera FREE at the Mid Continent Public Library on Thursday, April 3.

Photo credit: mymcpl.org

KC DiversAbility College and Career Fair

Friday, April 4: The KC DiversAbility College and Career Fair focuses on supporting youth with disabilities who are looking for summer employment, job training, career or college options, and information about government benefits.

Photo credit: transitionacademy.org

Shop for Sherwood!

Help support our Sherwood students, clients, and staff! Your Amazon Wishlist contribution provides essential supplies that equip our students and clients to learn, grow, and thrive. Thank you for making a difference!