Our History

The Ability KC Story

Changing Lives For Over 75 Years

Founded in 1947, Ability KC has grown into a place unlike any other in the region.

We’re proud to say we are the longest standing outpatient comprehensive rehabilitation facility in Kansas City that provides a continuum of care for all of life’s milestones. Through cutting-edge treatments, our broad range of services, and the generosity of those who support us, we look forward to providing the highest quality care for the next 75 years.

Our Mission

Our mission at Ability KC is to build brighter futures for children and adults with disabilities by providing educational, vocational and therapeutic services.

Therapist with green ABKC shirt with Brain Injury patient
Therapist with little boy in pool smiling
zoomed in shot of people using bikes in Adult gym
Shot of full Med Rehab adult gym/shot of facility
patient in pink shirt playing game in group therapy
“When the need is great, the ideas need to be greater” quote on wall in peds gym
Dr. Kolessar (neuropsychologist) smiling/talking with patient

We achieve our mission by:

  • Providing excellent results-driven services.
  • Maintaining a highly trained and effective professional staff dedicated to serving individuals with disabilities.
  • Offering programs that reflect a respectful, compassionate commitment to individuals served and their families and support providers.
  • Presenting educational and treatment environments tailored to individual client needs throughout their continuum of care.
  • Celebrating the successes of individuals served by creating clear, concise communications regarding the impact and outcomes of our programs.
  • Maintaining financial viability.
Pediatric patient in blue smiling with two therapists

Our Values

Results-Driven Services

The main focus of all of our services is to help individuals make true progress throughout every stage of their treatment plan.

Provide Opportunities

Our team will always maintain a focus on helping individuals and families achieve the goals and milestones important to them.

Care For the Individual

Ability KC believes in presenting educational and treatment environments tailored to individual client needs throughout their continuum of care.

Celebrate Success

We will be by your side to celebrate the achievements earned through creating clear, concise communications regarding the impact and outcomes of our programs.

Prepare For the Future

The Ability KC team will help all patients maintain financial viability during their time with us and following the completion of their care plan.

Our History

Ability KC is built on a strong founding legacy that continues to inspire the work done each day for children, adults, and families with disabilities.

In 1947, Mary Shaw Branton, Jeanette Luhnow and Jane Dick founded the therapeutic preschool for children with special needs. At the same time, Vivian Shepherd worked to provide outpatient medical rehabilitation and employment services for veterans returning home from World War II.

75 years and thousands of success stories later our founding organizations, Children’s Therapeutic Learning Center and Rehabilitation Institute of Kansas City, came together as Ability KC.

Today, we take pride in being leading provider of therapeutic, educational, and vocational services. No other organization in the region is able to join families for their child’s first steps, the first time receiving driver’s training when they turn 16, or returning to work. Serving 3,000 individuals and families every year, we look forward to continuing our mission and changing the lives of thousands of people within our communities.

A Brighter Future Starts Here

Please feel free to reach out to our team regarding any questions or comments you may have.

a woman stretching with helper