In this conversation, George and Amelia chat with Maggie Rollwagen, President and CEO of Abilities First – an organization out of Springfield, Missouri that promotes inclusive opportunities for people with developmental disabilities. Maggie emphasizes the need for community education, advocacy, and the significance of socialconnections for individuals with disabilities – emphasizing the importance of belonging for all people. Through their various programs and funding initiatives, their work has had tremendous impact on the people of Greene County. And they are just getting started!

Resources in this episode:

• Abilities First Website: https://abilitiesfirst.net/
• To learn more about county boards in Missouri, listen to our interview with MACDDS Director Nancy Pennington (Season 2, Episode 5)
• To learn more about service providers, listen to our interview with Starling CEO Erika Leonard (Season 2, Episode 10)

Acronym Guide:

UCEDD: University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities

LEND: Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities

SB40 Board: Senate Bill 40 Board

For full video episodes, visit our UMKC-Institute for Human Development YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzGnCTrERWKXFdcufnsXIiA

Interview Transcript: https://ihd.umkc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Maggie-Rollwagen-Transcript.pdf

For more information about UMKC-Institute for HumanDevelopment, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ihd.umkc.edu