OLATHE, Kan. — Debbie Horn understands the difficulties that often await students with disabilities after transitioning from school life to adult life.
Christina Eidt is quick to smile, has an infectious laugh and doesn't let her disabilities slow her down. She was elected homecoming queen at Olathe Northwest High School in October 2016, a first for a student with special needs at the school, and also participated on the cheerleading team.
But it can be harder to find a place to fit in after school ends.
"You have all these services and friend groups and social activities in high school, and then as soon as you graduate, they're gone," Horn, the founder and director of Inclusion Connections, said.
That's where Inclusion Connections comes in — offering healthy living classes, art, theater and more.
"Probably one of the best things we've found with Inclusion Connections is a safe place for Christina to be, where she's challenged, she's accepted, they engage her," Christina's mother, Barbara Eidt, said.
Christina agreed, "I like when I walk into those doors I'm just accepted. They don't look (differently) at somebody with a disability like me. We're like anybody else there."
The nonprofit even boasts a job training program called PawsAbilities, where participants learn how to make, market, and sell a product from start to finish. The participants make homemade dog treats, toys and bandannas, proceeds from the sales of which get funneled back into the program to keep it running.
Due to the pandemic, they've made some changes.
"Typically, our students run our pop-up stores," Horn said. :Right now, because of (COVID-19) we're keeping them back just to be extra cautious."
Inclusion Connections also had to move in-person classes online, but it's still keeping Christina and other participants busy.
"We have been doing Zoom calls," Christina said. :I love Inclusion Connections and PawsAbilities so much."
In the meantime, Inclusion Connections is relying on sales and donations at local farmer's markets to make sure that all young adults in their program have access to laptops and internet to stay connected.
They are hoping to offer some in-person options again soon with plans to allow some students return to the Olathe location at limited capacity next Monday.
