The Whole Person : Core Services : Independent Living Skills Training : Employment Services : Meet the Team

Meet the Employment Services Team

TWP’s Employment Services Department is excited about the new year to come and confident of our growth and potential.

We want to thank each and every member of the VR staff we work with and we look forward to our continuing partnership!

Members of our Team

Katie Crump

Employment Services Manager

Katie began working at The Whole Person as a Supported Employment Specialist in July 2014. She worked primarily with Youth Transition serving the Kansas City East and Nevada VR office. In July 2017, she transitioned to Employment Services Manager. She has worked with many clients who have Autism and learning disabilities. Katie has a background working with children and youth on the Autism Spectrum. Prior to her work with TWP, she worked as a site coordinator for a program called Fun and Fitness with Friends which focused on social skill intervention for children and youth with developmental disabilities. Katie received her B.A. in Social Work from Avila University and has a dual License Bachelor of Social Work in the state of Missouri and Kansas.

Megan Barnett

Employment Specialist

Megan joined The Whole Person in September of 2017. In her few short months at The Whole Person, Megan has enjoyed working with individuals who are both ES and SE from a variety of Kansas City service areas. Prior to her work at The Whole Person, Megan taught special education in Louisiana for four years. As the program lead for her special education program, Megan focused on curriculum development and case management for high schoolers with developmental disabilities. Megan received her Bachelor’s Degree in Anthropology and French from Kansas State University, later earning her teaching certification in 2014.

Kari Chester

Employment Specialist

Kari has been with TWP since August of 2016 as an Employment Specialist. Her focus has been in serving Youth Transition referrals. Kari is excited to work with The Kansas City Metro area VR Offices and help clients both ES and SE connect with the right job for them. Prior to working with TWP, Kari worked for 10 years in missions and community work in Romania and Germany serving youth and their families with schools, garden planning, job leads, micro enterprise and family health. Before that, Kari worked with at risk teens as a mentor and as a Youth Pastor. Kari received her Bachelor’s Degree in Business Communications/Marketing with a minor in Biology and Broadcasting from Ottawa University.

Kayla Young

Employment Specialist

Kayla has been with TWP as an Employment Specialist since November 2018. Prior to this position, Kayla was an Employment Services Intern at TWP from August 2017 to April 2018. As an Employment Services Intern, Kayla took part in operating The Snack to the Future Program at TWP, which offers individuals with disabilities the opportunity to gain and obtain job skills that are necessary for competitive job employment. Kayla is an Avila University graduate with a Bachelor’s in Social Work. Currently, Kayla is in the process of receiving her Master’s in Social Work through Saint Louis University, graduating in August 2019.