Missouri Launches WeSaid at the UCEDD Speakers' Bureau/Technical Assistance Center for People with Lived Experience

The University of Missouri-Kansas City's Institute for Human Development is launching "WeSaid at the UCEDD," a new effort that offers a speakers' bureau, technical training center, a video series and a podcast series to support people with lived experience in developmental disabilities.

“WeSaid at the UCEDD,” a new effort launching December 1 at the University of Missouri-Kansas City’s Institute for Human Development, features a speakers’ bureau, a podcast series, a quick-interview-format video series along with a training and technical assistance center to promote advocacy across the state.

“WeSaid at the UCEDD gives a voice – and we hope a loud voice – to the disability community in several ways. Primarily, we raise issues and shed light on key topics affecting those with developmental and intellectual disabilities,” says Kyla Mundwiller, who is leading the initiative. “The speakers’ bureau shines a light on those who actively advocate for policy change and systems change, and when people without lived experience want to know more, they can easily connect with those who have lived experience for keynote engagements, conference workshops and other speaking engagements.”

Mundwiller notes that it is truly a win-win because those who are looking for speakers in the disability space can easily find high-quality, proven individuals. For the speakers with lived experience, the bureau creates an opportunity to start a small business based on public speaking opportunities, community engagement and activism.

In addition to the speakers’ bureau, WeSaid at the UCEDD features a regular podcast series called “Candace’s Corner,” where prominent leaders from across the state talk about key issues affecting the disability community. Candace, a person with lived experience, started her advocacy journey in 2006 and holds a master’s degree in Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling.

A quick-interview series called “Take Five with Skye” features another one of IHD’s employees, Skye VanLanduyt who poses key questions to people with and without disabilities to hear their stories about resilience, empowerment and feeling self-determined.

The We Said Academy (Training and Technical Assistance Center) offers training for and by individuals
with lived experience in developmental disabilities on a variety of topics including:

• • • • Rules, rights & responsibilities
      • Starting an advocacy chapter
      • Telling your story
      • Pride in yourself
      • Communicating and assertiveness
      • Finding solutions
      • Self-advocacy & self-determination
      • Community membership

Find out more at WeSaid at the UCEDD on the UMKC-IHD website.