Nonprofit organization improving the quality of life
for children and adults with special needs

In the News

December 16, 2011 - Upbeat Weis has can-do attitude about KU

"There’s no doubting he knows football and can groom talent. He’ll work a million hours in recruiting, selling prospects not just on KU’s academic strengths, life in Lawrence and the Big 12 but also a plan to play on Sunday. He’ll take time to proselytize Kansas football like few have tried.

Charlie Weis is back, a second go-round as a college head coach. Smarter this time, he says. More experienced. And no less convinced he’s right. Which is good; anything less wouldn’t be him."

December 9, 2011 - Kansas Introduces Head Coach Charlie Weis

For a video and complete transcript from the press conference, please visit the KU Athletics site.

For more In the News stories, click here.

The Circle of Life by Hannah's Big Brother Charlie

I regularly spend my time being a deejay for the Hannah and Friends dance party. Hannah and Friends is an organization made for people with special needs and disabilities. At Hannah and Friends, there are fun programs for the people with special needs to do. As I played the music, I realized that the dancers who range from all ages, some are just five-years-old and some are as old as sixty-five, just enjoy being themselves. Even with their so called “disabilities,” they have fun dancing, singing, and enjoying their time together. Some of them have trouble communicating, others have visual impairments, and some lacked the ability to walk on their own, but yet I see the beauty of all these wonderful people. They are some of the most loving people I will ever meet and bring a smile to my face every time I am with them. I cannot even describe how much fun they have.

Individuals with special needs are people that are truly living the way God wants us to live. They love everyone and despite the problems they face, they are truly happy. Even one young girl at the dance was once asked what she did when people were mean to her, she replied, “I am even nicer to them.” This is a perfect example of the Christ-like way individuals with special needs act. It is amazing to think this great place would never have been without my sister Hannah. So let's now take a flashback to see the miracle that led to Hannah and Friends. Click here to continue...

Thank You

A Mother's Letter

When I was seven months into my pregnancy with Hannah, the doctors told me she had Polycystic Kidney Disease and wouldn't live for more than a few days. more...

Watch an interview with Maura and Charlie Weis at Hannah and Friends

Hannah & Friends Neighborhood

For more about Hannah & Friends Neighborhood, please visit the "Neighborhood" tab.

Take a tour of Hannah and Friends Neighborhood

A Place for Good People

By Hannah's Big Brother Charlie

I go there nearly five times a week, and my feelings have never changed. It’s the strange feeling I get every time I visit Hannah and Friends that keeps me coming back. No matter what the season, hot or cold, rain or snow, green leaves or the beautiful autumn leaves, the feeling never changes. The feeling I get when I go there is simply a feeling of goodness. Every single time I step on the grounds of the farm, I just feel better about life itself. It may be the beauty of the farm, with several animals such as horses, goats, and cats or the beautiful green grass that covers several acres of land. Perhaps that
feeling of goodness comes from somewhere other than that wonderful property. Click here to continue

Miles from the Sideline

A Mother's Journey with her Special Needs Daughter

By Maura Weis

Learn more about Miles from the Sideline

Maura Weis discusses "Different Abilities"

I would like to share with you the phrase that I like to use instead of disabilities.  The phrase is “different abilities”.  I say this because I know first hand how people with so called “disabilities” really just have different abilities.  My daughter Hannah has global delays and was originally diagnosed with Autism so she fits in the disabilities category.  Now let me tell you what she has done in her 16 years with disabilities.

Hannah has taught me how to truly love someone unconditionally.  She has taught me patience.   She has deepened my faith in God. She has inspired me to write a book about our journey together.  She has inspired me and Charlie to help others in need and not just think of ourselves by starting our organization Hannah and Friends. All of these lessons I have learned thru a child who couldn’t say “mommy” until she was 9 years old.  The lessons learned through our friends with different abilities are what God has put us on earth for.  Their lives are very difficult and they are not given much credit for having the hardships of mental or physical limitations.  They work harder than any of us and they manage to be grateful and happy.  How many of us can say the same? 

Many people I am sure have felt bad for us for having a child with disabilities but I say “we are the lucky ones”.  God has chosen to give us the gift of Hannah, our special angel who keeps life in proper perspective.

As she grows, so do I.  The thing that always gets me is the public’s perception of a person who has different abilities.  You would think with all of the awareness that is out there about people with Autism or Global delays that they would be more compassionate. Yet this is not really the case.  I know people do not like talking about this, but as Hannah’s mom I can tell you it needs to be addressed.  I have been in stores where people stare at my daughter and judge her and it hurts.  To me, she is 100% perfect in every way.  She is not the one with the problem.  She may have a melt down and not one person will smile a compassionate smile or offer any assistance.  Can you imagine having your child have problems and now you have to deal with these types of situations? 

This is one of the reasons we started Hannah and Friends.  We want to change the mind set of “normal people.”  We want them to know that people with disabilities are people too.  If a person has autism it does not mean that they do not have feelings, they do, they just cannot communicate them to us all of the time.  Communication is a key issue for many people with different abilities.  Can you imagine going one day without speaking?  Now can you imagine how difficult it is for them everyday.  Compassion is here in our community or we would not be able to build our farm in South Bend so soon. 

Read "Perfect Souls" by Maura Weis