KCDD’s Prenatal/Postnatal Conditions Education & Outreach Program

In the 2025 Legislative Session, the Kansas Legislature unanimously passed the Prenatal & Postnatal Diagnosis Conditions Awareness Act. This new law transfers the power to authorize and oversee certain activities regarding these awareness programs from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) to the Kansas Council on Developmental Disabilities (KCDD). Through this effort, KCDD is working to collect, synthesize, and disseminate accurate and up-to-date information on prenatally and postnatally diagnosed conditions to expectant parents and families in Kansas. 

KCDD feels strongly that this is an important investment because expecting parents and families deserve real, hopeful, and accurate information about their loved one’s disability. 

As part of KCDD’s investment in expanding information and resources for Kansas new and expectant families, KCDD established a statewide Working Group composed of key stakeholders, including: healthcare professionals and providers, self-advocates, family members, and leaders from condition-specific organizations such as those focused on Down syndrome, Autism, Cystic Fibrosis, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, and other rare diseases and disabilities, to help guide our implementation efforts.

To get involved in KCDD’s efforts, please contact KCDD’s Advocacy Coordinator, Lola Kernell at lola@kcdd.org. 

From the Desk of KCDD’s Advocacy Coordinator, Lola Kernell: 

KCDD’s Advocacy Coordinator, Lola Kernell, testified in front of the House and Senate Committees and ultimately the bill HB 2307 passed unanimously!

Lola testifying at the HB 2307 hearing in Topeka

Work Group Members

  • Kammi Bean, Treasurer, Kansas FASD Support Network, Inc.

  • Scotti Brackett, RN, APRN, FNP, Nurse Practitioner, Children's Mercy Kansas City/Parent 

  • Drew Duncan, Section Chief, Screening and Surveillance, Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) 

  • Dr. Laura Gaffney, Founder and Clinical Leader of SPAN and Pediatrician, Advent Health 

  • Alyssa Jones, New Parent Support Coordinator, Down Syndrome Innovations 

  • Lola Kernell, Self-advocate and Advocacy Coordinator, KCDD 

  • Shobana Kubendran, CGC, Pediatric Genetic Counselor, Wesley Healthcare 

  • Tonja Lynde-Kernell - Parent

  • Sarah Mai, Executive Director, Down Syndrome Innovations

  • Dr. Kristi Marble, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine; Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, University of Kansas School of Medicine, Children’s Mercy Hospital/Parent 

  • Allyson McCain, Deputy Director and Director of the Health Equity Coalition, KCDD

  • Kat Meinhardt, President, Kansas FASD Support Network, Inc.

  • Matt Mosconi - Director, Kansas Center for Autism Research and Training (K-CART) Associate Director/Senior Scientist, Life Span Institute; Professor, Department of Clinical Child Psychology, University of Kansas 

  • Karey Padding, Associate Executive Director, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation/Chair, KCDD 

  • Julia Rivera, Secretary, Kansas FASD Support Network, Inc.

  • Sean Swindler - Project Manager, Kansas University Center on Disabilities/Director of Community Program Development and Evaluation, Kansas Center for Autism Research and Training

  • Sara Hart Weir, Executive Director, KCDD