At Pathways to Oral Health, our mission is rooted in increasing access to quality dental care for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and autism across Kansas. Oral healthcare remains one of the most significant unmet health needs for individuals with disabilities. A cornerstone of our approach is meaningful collaboration—and two of our most valued partners in this effort are Families Together, Inc. and InterHab. By working together, we are building stronger systems, fostering community inclusion, and ensuring that the voices of people with disabilities and their families shape the future of oral healthcare in Kansas.
Families Together: Empowering Families, Driving Change
Families Together, Inc. serves as the Parent Training and Information Center for Kansas and has been empowering families and individuals with disabilities for over four decades. Their deep commitment to family-centered care, advocacy, and self-determination aligns seamlessly with the goals of the Pathways initiative.
Through our partnership, Families Together helps amplify the voices of caregivers and self-advocates in conversations about oral health access. They assist in distributing resources like the My Dental Care Passport, which supports individuals in communicating their dental care needs and preferences. Families Together also plays a key role in sharing training opportunities and promoting awareness of Medicaid dental benefits, helping families become strong advocates for their loved ones’ health.
InterHab: Leading Systems Change
InterHab is a statewide association that represents more than 40 organizations providing services to Kansans with IDD. As a leader in systems advocacy, InterHab works to advance policies and practices that improve quality of life for individuals with disabilities—including access to healthcare.
Through the Pathways to Oral Health project, InterHab contributes critical insight into the systemic barriers individuals with IDD face in accessing dental care. They help us identify gaps in provider training, support outreach to dental professionals, and facilitate connections with member agencies across the state. By tapping into their policy expertise, we’re also working together to promote sustainable changes in Medicaid and state-level health initiatives.
Collective Strength, Shared Vision
What makes these partnerships so powerful is the shared belief that everyone deserves access to compassionate, competent, and inclusive dental care. Whether it’s through education, policy, or direct support to families and service providers, our collaboration with Families Together and InterHab is creating tangible change.
Together, we’re not just distributing information, we’re building trust, increasing awareness, and encouraging providers and policymakers to step up and meet the needs of the disability community.
Get Involved
Want to learn more about how you can support inclusive dental care in Kansas? Explore our resources, attend a training, or share our materials with your network. With our partners by our side, we know that the path to better oral health for people with disabilities is not only possible—it’s already underway. Visit us at https://pathwaystooralhealth.org/ for more information.
