For your viewing pleasure!

The Joint Committee on Children’s Issues is a group of legislators (currently 5 senators and 5 representatives, both democrat and republican ) who have the charge to discuss things related to children. Luckily, the chair of that committee is Johnson County’s own Senator Lynn and the co-chair is Johnson County’s Representative Kiegerl. I say “lucky” because both are not only concerned about children, but concerned about children with disabilities!

This committee has agreed to allow the DD community two days of hearings!
· Tuesday, Dec. 7th the committee will hear about autism
· Wednesday, Dec. 8th will be devoted to the DD waiting list
· The hearings are held at the capitol in Topeka
· 9:00 start time ending around 4:00
· Hearings will be held in room 546
· There will be a break between noon and 1:30
· There is underground parking which can be accessed from 8th St (the North side of the capitol)
· This committee won’t officially take action, but will formulate recommendations that go to leadership

This hearing is open to the public so feel free to attend (part or all). It will provide a great opportunity to listen, learn, support and advocate. It is really an awesome experience!

We have a list of families that will be providing testimony and representing all of us concerned about these two issues. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers as they share their stories.