Variety KC Inclusive Family Play Zone at KCI

Variety KC Inclusive Family Play Zone at KCI

Jan 22, 2023

Variety KC Inclusive Family Play Zone at KCI

KCI and Variety KC Partnership!

Grand Opening:

March 2023

Location:

The new KCI airport

Read more about how the airport inclusion revolution started!

  • Variety KC Play Zone
    • The Variety KC Inclusive Play Zone is located in the Concourse B amenity node next to Safi Fresh near Gate B54. It is the green Specialty Rooms marker DD on the KCI Terminal Map PDF and you can search “Children’s Play Area” on KCI Interactive Terminal Map.
  • Molly’s Sensory Room
    • Molly’s Sensory Room is located in the Concourse B amenity node next to Auntie Anne’s
  • Maddox Flight Experience
    • Reservations for the Kansas City Air Travel Experience can be made online at flykc.com/specialty-rooms. Maddox’s Room is located in the Concourse A amenity node next to the Lego store
  • Olivia’s Universal Restrooms – 2 locations
    • The family restrooms with Olivia’s universal changing table are located inside each multi-user all-gender restroom. These are located on Concourse A next to Johnston & Murphy, and Concourse B across from Gate B54
  • TSA Cares contact for KCI

We Have SKY-HIGH Goals

Travel by air has become more of a priority as families spread out across the country and travel is more highly valued. Millennials are the most active of travelers, and their travel plans include kids. However, many of our Variety KC parents felt flying was impossible, “what if their kids acted out or became scared?”

Our experience tells us that including our kids in travel plans just takes some adaptations and extra planning. In Variety’s drive to make KC the most inclusive city in the country, when plans for a new airport were announced…we knew it was the next challenge in our #inclusionrevolution.

Learn more
Learn more

Please donate to our inclusive efforts to continue the Variety inclusion revolution of change!

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Find Out How to Get Involved

Volunteer for Variety KC, become a sponsor, champion a fundraiser with our support, or make a donation.

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Variety Tales: Kaden’s Dream

Variety Tales: Kaden’s Dream

Jun 17, 2022

Introducing our first Children’s Story:

 

Variety Tales: Kaden’s Dream

KADEN FELT SOMETHING SPECIAL IN THE AIR TODAY.
It’s game day and Kaden is excited to be in the stands to cheer on his favorite team. He’s about to get a big surprise from a few special friends. It’s a good thing he knew exactly what pair of shoes to wear!

Proceeds from Variety Tales will help fund equipment for kids with a variety of disabilities and help remove barriers to help ALL Kids Be Active, Be Social and BELONG!

Buy it today

Every school room or school library needs a copy of this inspiring tale of inclusion and dreams!

It’s available now for just $14.95 on Amazon, which means you can send it directly to a teacher, school, or anyone with kiddos.

Even better, buy it through Amazon Smile, designate Variety KC as your charity and a portion comes back to help kids in our area!

Buy it today

There is nothing seasonal about the needs of Variety KC Kids.

That’s what makes monthly donations so important. A child needing walker for therapy or a teen who no longer fits in his wheelchair can’t wait for a golf tournament to raise the funds needed. Barriers are a daily challenge for our families. You can help Variety KC to remove those barriers with your monthly gift.

Donate monthly today

300 Police Cars Receive Variety KC Sensory Kits

300 Police Cars Receive Variety KC Sensory Kits

Sep 3, 2021

300 Police Cars Receive Variety KC Sensory Kits

In 2021, Variety KC and KMCO Councilwoman Heather Hall rolled out the first Variety Sensory Kits to local police departments.

Police are trained to handle multiple challenging situations, but it’s important that they quickly recognize signs of autism spectrum disorder to approach a person with autism or related special needs. This allows officers to avoid escalation and safely stabilize the scene sooner.
The idea came from a Variety KC mother says Executive Director, Deborah Wiebrecht. “When her daughter was assaulted, she had a difficult time when the police arrived with all the bright lights, the loud sounds, and the anxiousness of the situation. Combined with her inability to communicate, the situation soon became overwhelming.”

People with disabilities represent 26% of the community! Children with disabilities are 3-5 times more likely to be abused than their peers. Reporting this abuse and interacting with law enforcement can add to the trauma.

When children grow up, they are more likely to be stopped by law enforcement, and sadly – half the people killed by police have a disability. Having Sensory Kits for police is a nationwide trend- just not in KC, it is recognized as an important need. Councilwoman Hall secured training so that officers know how to use the kits and how to treat kids with special needs in general.

So far, Variety KC has funded kits for use by police in KCMO, Cass, and Jackson Counties, but hope to provide them area wide! You can help achieve this goal by donating today.

Donate
The Variety KC Sensory Kits include:
  • Drawstring Backpack to carry sensory tools
  • Weighted Blanket to calm children
  • Sunglasses to help those triggered by bright lights
  • Noise Canceling Headset: To eliminate excess noise
  • Fidget toys to calm and release anxiety

Inclusive Playground Guide

Inclusive Playground Guide

Apr 14, 2020

Inclusive Playground Guide

 Let’s All Play!

We’ve created an Inclusive Playground Guide to use if planning a playground, inclusive outdoor/indoor play area or other community gathering space.
Inclusive Playground Guide

We’ve compiled this information while building seven inclusive playgrounds, the Variety KC Zoo’s exploration play area, multiple ball fields, sensory areas, and various inclusive additions to facilities around the Kansas City area.

During our journey to make this the most inclusive community possible, we discovered that what builders, playground vendors, and designers told us was “inclusive” – wasn’t. And, that the greatest source for inclusive needs comes from the kids and parents themselves. That’s what we’ve compiled here, a little “tips sheet” to help you to design the most inclusive initiative possible – a place for all kids and all families to gather.

If you have any questions, we are here to help – good luck with your projects, we look forward to seeing them!

#InclusionRevolution

Interactive Adaptive Playground Map

Adaptive Playground Map PDF