The KYEA Pulse. Capturing the heartbeat of everything that YOUth want to know this month. Pulse line with KYEA logo

Shawnee County Disability Mentoring Day Proves to Be a Success!

KYEA is excited to relaunch the Shawnee County Disability Mentoring Day. The KYEA staff, the planning committee, and the participants agree it was a great success! Disability Mentoring Day is a nationwide event that promotes career development for youth. KYEA led a committee that created this event that was on October 23 aimed for young people with disabilities ages 15 to 25 who were seeking employment.

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DMD participants sit around a large table while listening to speakers Dallas and Carrie talk at the front of the room. There is an accessibility slide on the screen at the front as well.
A group of people gathering in the front of a conference room posing together for a photo with the KYEA Empower Me logo on 2 tv screens behind them

New Season of Pre-ETS Empower Me! Workshops Begins in October

It’s Game On! The 2024-25 season of our Pre-ETS Empower Me! Workshops is in full swing with three missions completed! We have had stops in Lawrence, Wichita, and Topeka so far, and all have been a success.

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KSYLF Seeking Delegate Applicants for 2025 Forum

Do you know a high school student that has great leadership potential? They should apply for our 2025 Kansas Youth Leadership Forum! This week-long leadership training is aimed at empowering high school juniors and seniors with disabilities to grow in their personal leadership and gain a toolbox for a successful future. Apply by December 15!

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A diverse group of KSYLF delegates take a group photo while holding up YLF cardboard letters
Picture of Nikki who is a woman who is African American and is wearing a brown suit jacket and jeans and is smiling

Meet Our Newest Staff Member: Nikki Richardson, Fundraising Coordinator

Why did you want to work for KYEA?

I was moved by the mission of empowerment and advocacy that KYEA offers to those who need it most. These are core values that drive my every day life so it just make sense that KYEA would be a good fit for me.


What are three words that you would use to describe yourself?

Positive, persistent, and creative.


What has been your favorite thing about your job so far?

Facilitating the Empower Me presentations have brought me so much joy. The energy in the room is so infectious and I find myself smiling for hours after each one.


What is one thing that everyone should know about you?

I just love people.

Jefferson's Fundraiser Night Brings Out KYEA Supporters

KYEA held a fundraiser night at Jefferson's restaurant in Topeka on Wednesday, November 6. Staff and supporters enjoyed a night of yummy food and raising money at the same time! Thanks to everyone who attended or ordered food to support our mission! It was wonderful to see the support of our community!


MARK YOUR CALENDARS! Our next fundraiser night will be December 11 at Freddy's on Wanamaker Rd in Topeka. Hope to see you there!

Support our restaurant fundraiser nights with a colorful splatter background
Five KYEA staff take a group photo dressed as various Pooh charaters

Celebrating Halloween at the KYEA Office!

KYEA staff celebrated Halloween in hilarious fashion by dressing up as characters from Winnie the Pooh! We had a Pooh with their honey pot, an adorable little piglet, the wise old owl, a tigger-ific Tiger, and a mama Kanga! Also, not pictured was our kind, gentle Christopher Robin. What a fun day we had!

Picture of Sean Tyree who is a white male wearing glasses and a grey zippered jacket

"Faces helped me to realize that everything I viewed as a deficit because of my disability was actually a motivator to better my way of life."

Youth Spotlight!

Featuring Rock-Star Youth with Disabilities in Our State


This month, we want to celebrate and spotlight one of our outstanding Faces of Change alumni... Sean Tyree! Sean is 22 years old, lives in Topeka, and has the disability of Charcot Marie Tooth type 1a. Sean recently got an exciting new job as a research aide within the community services team at the Kansas University Center on Disabilities (KUCD). Within this job, Sean will be assisting with the Employment First pilot project, My Transition My Career, community team outreach, and much more. Sean attended our Faces program in 2018 and says that it had a big impact on his outlook on his disability. "The Faces of Change program helped me to realize that everything I viewed as a deficit because of my disability was actually a motivator for myself to better my way of life and ways of thinking regarding my disability. It helped me to see that I could help others with disabilities as well."

Three diverse middle school male students sit on the floor against a school wall.

Catching Up With...

Dominick Franqui, Logan Munson, and Liam Whatley


An interview with three outstanding middle school leaders from Fort Riley!

Do you ever meet young people and just know that they are going to do something amazing with their life someday? This is exactly how we felt when we met Dominick, Logan, and Liam at one of our recent presentations. This three young men attend Fort Riley Middle School and are a part of the Jobs for America's Graduates (JAG) Program. Carrie and Kirstianna recently had the awesome opportunity to present on leadership at the regional JAG-K Conference. Thank you JAG-K for inviting us! During this presentation, three outstanding middle school students spoke up and were so actively engaged in the presentation. We knew we had to get their contact information! And so we did :). We were so blown away by these young leaders, that we wanted you all to meet them too!


Check out this Zoom interview above as we chat with Dominick, Logan, and Liam about everything from leadership to humility; from life challenges to proudest moments. Watch and you will see just why we were so impressed! Leadership is alive, and it is so obvious in these three young men from Fort Riley!


Also, learn more about the JAG-K program by visiting their website!

Clip art of a hand holding a magnifying glass and looking close up at a resume

Tip of the Month!

A strong resume should typically be just one page.


While it can be challenging to condense all your valuable skills and experiences, keeping it brief helps you make a strong, memorable impression.


One of the best ways to keep your resume concise is to tailor it to the job you’re applying for. Highlight the skills and experiences that showcase why you’re the ideal fit for that specific role. For example, if you’re applying for a customer service position, emphasize jobs and skills that demonstrate your ability to work well with diverse personalities and handle various interactions with a positive approach.


If you need a bit more content to round it out, consider adding other relevant skills or previous roles that strengthen your employment history. Remember, a focused resume not only saves space but also makes a bigger impact!

Resource Spotlight!

Earning Your Driver's License... Check out these resources for people of all abilities!


Traveling by car is an exhilarating and wonderful experience. With the ability to drive, also comes a greater sense of utility and convenience. For anyone looking to obtain a driver’s license, the process may seem overwhelming at times, but earning your driving privileges may be easier than you think, provided you are dedicated and patient enough to learn the rules of the road!


Click the link below to learn all about getting your driver's license and how there are resources even for people with a variety of disabilities...

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A female behind a steering wheel
A purple epilepsy ribbon around a brain with the words Epilepsy Awareness Month

Do you know the answer?

What is the most common neurological condition amongst youth that is represented by the color purple?


Epilepsy! November is Epilepsy Awareness Month. People with epilepsy continue to experience stigma around the condition, and, oftentimes, there are challenges related to education and employment. So, this month of purple is very important to educating our communities about epilepsy. To learn more about epilepsy, visit the Epilepsy Foundation website.

A colorful painting of an eye close up and the eye has lots of eyelashes and red and yellow around it with green tree like patches at the bottom

ARTIST OF THE MONTH

"The Eye of a Sunset"

Cheyenne Jenkins


We are very excited to feature Kansas artists with disabilities in this newsletter, and we happen to meet one recently when one of our staff presented at a Transition Fair in Beloit. Cheyenne is an awesome, creative 17 year old who lives in Lincoln. She has a learning disability and PTSD. Thanks so much for sharing your artwork with us Cheyenne!

KS Youth Empowerment Academy logo

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