Business Description

SOAR Special Needs: Transforming Lives Through Radical Inclusion

Founded in 2011 by Stephen “Doc” Hunsley, M.D., SOAR began with a simple but profound conviction: every individual, regardless of ability, deserves to be seen, celebrated, and included. What started with 3 participants and 20 volunteers in Overland Park, Kansas, has grown into one of the most recognized disability ministry and respite organizations in the nation.

SOAR proudly holds the distinction of being the first Certified Autism Center in the greater Kansas City area, a credential awarded by the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES). This certification reflects SOAR’s unwavering commitment to excellence, best practices, and the highest standard of care for every individual we serve. Today, SOAR serves over 1,500 families, welcoming individuals of all ages, diagnoses, and levels of support—no one is turned away. Every event is staffed with full medical and behavioral teams so participants can thrive and families can exhale.

Our flagship program, SOAR Camp, is the nation’s largest disability day camp, welcoming 250+ campers each summer across two Kansas City-area locations. Every aspect of camp — from sensory-friendly activities to medically trained staff — is intentionally designed so that each participant experiences belonging and the thrill of doing things they never imagined possible.

Year-round programming includes monthly SOARly Needed R&R Respite Nights, which give caregiving families a regular evening of rest while their loved ones enjoy safe, structured, joyful programming. Our monthly Teen and Adult Social Clubs — held on both sides of the state line — create consistent community and friendship for individuals who too often find themselves without either. SOAR Prom is an unforgettable evening of celebration open to participants of all ages, because everyone deserves a night to shine. And our annual Fashion Show puts our participants front and center on the runway as the models — because confidence and beauty belong to everyone.

SOAR also brings inclusion into the broader Kansas City community through city-wide sensory-friendly events, including our beloved EGG’Sploration Egg Hunt, Trunk or Treat, and Sensory Santa — events designed so that families who are often excluded from traditional holiday celebrations can finally participate with joy and without barriers.

More than 1,500 volunteers serve alongside SOAR each year, and the transformation runs in both directions. Participants discover belonging; volunteers discover purpose. And it all starts simply — with being a friend. Volunteering with SOAR requires no special credentials, just a willing heart and a genuine desire to show up for others.

For businesses in the Kansas City metro, SOAR offers sponsorships, corporate volunteer and team-building opportunities, and is actively seeking passionate, mission-minded leaders to strengthen its Board of Directors.

SOAR’s reach extends well beyond Kansas City — consulting with 750+ churches across 24 countries, equipping faith communities to build truly inclusive environments rooted in the Luke 14 call to extend the table to everyone.

SOAR Special Needs is more than a nonprofit. It is a movement — locally rooted, nationally recognized, and built on the belief that every life has immeasurable value.

Come SOAR with us!

Address:

12201 West 88th St., Lenexa, KS 66215