Register today for the 50k or 100k leisure bike tour August 30. Take a shorter route with the 5 Mile Family and Friends Ride. Not going to be in town or live out of state? Register as a Virtual Rider. *New in 2009, PedalFest Junior - fun events for kids of all ages and abilities.

Clowns, at-risk youth, little people, blind chemists, magicians and mimes, rescuing homeless children, creativity, camps, schools and activism. These are just a few of the words that describe the work of the 2009 winners of the Heartspring Award for Innovation and Creativity in Special Education.

The 10 award winners this year have literally touched the lives of over 300,000 children all over the world, where at least half of them provide education, training and support to children in other countries and have made connections that span the globe.

These creative and unique individuals came together on the Heartspring campus for a three-day summer session July 23-25 where each presented on their program or organization. The winners collectively describe themselves as “disruptive innovators” and “rule-breakers”. And these are just the people that you want to have assisting, teaching, supporting and advocating for the children who need a voice the most. 

Learn more about the 2009 Heartspring Award winners.

“You have fulfilled our dreams of what we asked you to do here,” said Dr. Liz Jurgensen at a recent team meeting for Daniel, a student at the Heartspring School. Daniel enrolled in August of 2008 and is transitioning back to Iowa. Learn more about Daniel.

When Rebecca was one and a half years old, her mother Tamara was concerned that she wasn’t walking or talking. A developmental pediatrician recommended that Rebecca come to Heartspring Pediatric Services in April 2008. Learn more about Rebecca.

Help us honor seventy-five years of service to children with special needs. Heartspring’s legacy is marked by our continuing drive to make a difference in the lives of children with special needs. In celebration of our 75th anniversary, we invite everyone to join us in reaching out to families and individuals through support of Heartspring in the Community. Our goal is to raise $7500 to support these programs by our 75th Anniversary Gala on September 19th. Will you help by making a donation today?

Heartspring in the Community provides support to projects and initiatives that benefit children and adults in Wichita, throughout the state of Kansas, across the nation and around the world.

Community interaction and partnership are woven through our program areas, allowing us to share resources and provide services to those who need them.

The generous support of our community allows us to provide many of these services for minimal or no charge to participants. For fee based services, community support allows us to offer financial assistance to those who otherwise could not afford to participate. Learn more about Heartspring in the Community and how you can make a difference.

Heartspring is hosting a Special Needs Resource Fair on October 10 from 9 am to noon, bringing together a variety of organizations helping children and adults with disabilities including attorney and advocacy groups, vocational training programs, adult agencies, school districts, developmental disability services, social services, mental health agencies and educational vendors. This resource fair is free of charge. In partnership with KPTS, free public screenings of the documentary Including Samuel will take place during the morning with a special screening and panel discussion at 1:30 in the Heartspring Conference Center.

For more information contact Cara Rapp, 634-8874 or carar@heartspring.org.

This event is part of Heartspring in the Community, providing support to projects and initiatives that benefit children and adults in Wichita, throughout the state of Kansas, across the nation and around the world.

Since 1934, Heartspring, formerly the Institute of Logopedics, has helped tens of thousands of children with special needs in Wichita, across the nation and around the world. The number of lives that have been touched by Heartspring professionals is immeasurable. As a result of the dedication of the staff at Heartspring, the love of parents and the generous support of our donors, children with special needs have the opportunity to grow and learn on a path to a more independent life. This year Heartspring celebrates 75 years of providing unparalleled services to children with disabilities. But our job is not over. In fact, we're still growing.

In honor of this milestone, Heartspring will be celebrating with a formal, black-tie-optional banquet on Saturday, September 19th, 2009 at the Wichita Hyatt Regency Hotel.

RSVP for Heartspring’s 75th Anniversary Gala

Carol Jared-Brown, audiologist in the Heartspring Hearing Center, is celebrating 25 years with Heartspring. Carol’s first professional position was as an audiologist at Heartspring when it was still known as the Institute of Logopedics. Learn More about Carol Jared-Brown.

Each year teachers are faced with increasing demands and a growing population of children with autism spectrum disorders and diminishing resources. A classroom is a community where each student becomes a reflection of their parents’ physical, emotional and financial disequilibrium. Read more about transitioning back to school and working as a T.E.A.M.

Children of all ages and abilities are invited to participate in PedalFest Junior, a kid-friendly addition to the 6th Annual PedalFest 50k and 100k rides on Sunday, August 30.  Bicycle X-Change is offering a cycling safety course for children beginning at 9 am. Kids can then ride in an obstacle course using the safety tips they just learned.  A bike wash and decorate-your-bike contest will conclude the kid’s events. Information will be available about The Independent Living Resource Center’s Lose the Training Wheels Program, helping children with disabilities learn to ride a conventional bicycle without training wheels.

There is no charge to participate in PedalFest Junior, and all participants will receive a prize!  In addition to PedalFest Junior, families are encouraged to participate in the 5 Mile Family and Friend Ride beginning at 9:30.  Registration for this ride is $15 per person and includes an event T-shirt and rider bag.  Learn more about all the rides and register.