Missouri Developmental Disability Resource Center (MODDRC)

You Are Not Alone … in Your Experience with Disability:

MODDRC … a Network of Support

The Missouri Developmental Disability Resource Center (MODDRC) provides three types of services to individuals with disabilities, parents and family members, professionals or interested community members. Each service provides an opportunity for the users to not only "receive" what they are looking for, but to "connect" to others who are experiencing disability in their lives. The MODDRC also provides opportunities for anyone interested to share their talents, experiences and expertise in numerous ways in their local community or around the state.

Gain Information to Support You in Your Experience with Disability

The MODDRC provides information on more than 500 disabilities and related topics.

• Information can also be tailored to meet your individual needs by emailing moddrc@umkc.edu or calling the MODDRC (800-444-0821). A resource specialist, who is also a parent of a child with a disability, will receive your request and will work with you to help you find exactly what you are looking for. A packet will be prepared and mailed to you, free of charge on the topics of your choice.
• This information can be accessed by using the MODDRC Web site, which provides an overview of the topics, personal perspectives from individuals with disabilities and/or family members, support groups database, online links and local/state resources. The Web site also connects you to the different resources and services related to employment, advocacy, services, education, aging and much more.

Connect with Others Who Understand and Provide Comfort

Sharing Our Strengths (SOS), Missouri’s Parent-to-Parent and Peer Support Network, is a program of the MODDRC. This program connects those who are looking for support, understanding or resources to those who "have been there." Parents can be connected to other parents to share feelings, frustrations, or celebrations. Mentors are there to listen with an open heart and mind. Mentors can also provide information about school related issues, moving from a habilitation center to the community or transitioning to adulthood.

Matches are not limited to just parents. Matches are available to individuals with disabilities, family members or other caregivers, grandparents, professionals or anyone else needing to talk to someone about their experience.

There are three types of matches:

• Traditional match: This is match which is tracked by SOS for 8 weeks. The purpose of the match is to connect two people to one another in order to talk about an issue or area of concern. An example of this type of match is a parent with a child recently with autism who would talk to another parent who might understand or a parent who is struggling with school services and wants to talk to another parent who has had this same struggle.
• Quick match: This is usually a one-time match. The purpose of this match is to provide information or resources in a one-time phone call. If a self-advocate was interested in learning more about how to direct their own services, they could be connected to a self-advocate or family that is already doing this. If a grandparent is concerned about their grandchild but doesn’t know how to approach the subject with their son, they could be connected to a parent who could provide insight on ways to communicate.
• Long-Term Match: This match can be tracked up to one year. The purpose of this match is to provide support to the requestor and the mentor through a transition period. For example, if a family is interested in moving their loved one out of the habilitation center, they could be matched with someone who has already made the transition or a match could be made with someone who is living in the community who could share their experiences and resources about that.

Please contact our coordinator, who is also a parent of a child with a disability, to make a match for you today at moddrc@umkc.edu or (800) 773-8652.

Join a Network of People Who Work to Strengthen Communities

The newest service of the MODDRC is the Volunteer Network. This network provides opportunities for parents, self-advocates, professionals or other interested individuals to "volunteer" their time to give back to the disability community. There are many ways that you can get involved that will not only be a benefit to yourself, but also to the many other people who are touched by disability.

The opportunities are usually sent by email and if or when you have time to participate is decided by you. These opportunities are designed to utilize the strengths and talents of individuals with disabilities, parents and family members. Your experience matters; we need you. Please click here to view our volunteer form.

Some volunteer opportunities may be to:

• Assist by reviewing or writing products (videos, newsletter, brochures, training curriculum, etc.).
• Become a Sharing Our Strength mentor.
• Assist with Quality Assurance activities.
• Get involved in your local community by joining local boards or committees, serving as a trainer, or telling your story.

MODDRC is a partnership of the UMKC-Institute for Human Development, a University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities; the Missouri Planning Council for Developmental Disabilities; and the Missouri Department of Mental Health, Division of MR/DD.