Mandy Smith

Eureka Low Vision Class

By Mandy Smith | April 13, 2023

April 25th, I will be in Eureka teaching a class on independent living skills for those with vision loss. This is a one day, two hour event hosted at the Greenwood County Senior Center that will provide information on skills, tips, techniques, and show off tools that can help with daily living. The class will…

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Extended Workforce Incentive Program

By Mandy Smith | March 24, 2023

Direct service workers hired between February 1st to April 30th of this year may be eligible for a one-time bonus! The person must be hired and working by April 30th to be eligible. The bonus is up to $1500 for full-time and $750 for 20 hours or less a week. Email payrollhelpdesk@rcilinc.org or call 800-580-7245…

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Day at the Capital – Brain Injury Association of Kansas

By Mandy Smith | February 28, 2023

Each spring Brain Injury Association of Kansas and Greater Kansas City (BIAKS) sponsors a day on the hill in Topeka to educate state legislators about brain injury and potential legislative initiatives that will help improve the lives of those affected by this injury. Join BIAKS for this year’s FREE event on Tuesday, March 14.  This event…

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Upcoming Blind/Low Vision Events

By Mandy Smith | February 8, 2023

I am hosting low vision independent living classes in Chanute on February 21st and 28th from 1:00pm-3:00pm. The first day will focus on overall skills of living with vision loss (cooking, cleaning, health care, transportation, communication, etc.) and the second day will be more focused on tools to help with these skills. This event is…

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Ms. Wheelchair Kansas Looking for Contestants

By Mandy Smith | January 18, 2023

Ms. Wheelchair Kansas is searching for women of achievement, who are wheelchair mobile, to serve as contestants in the Eighteenth Annual Ms. Wheelchair Kansas event. Contestants can be nominated by a person or group or can choose to participate in the program. The 2023 event will take place on March 17-19 at the DoubleTree Hotel in…

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Assistance with losing sight

By Mandy Smith | November 17, 2022

Is your mom, dad or grandparent struggling with their eye sight? RCIL has a program (iKan-RCIL) for anyone 55 years or older that has a vision loss that is affecting their daily living. This service is free and offered in 32 counties. Services include: white cane training, independent living skills training (such as cooking and…

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Drug Take Back – Iola

By Mandy Smith | October 28, 2022

The Iola Police Department is hosting a drug take back event tomorrow from 10am-2pm. This allows individuals to safely discard unneeded/expired medication and ensure safety and wellbeing to the community. The police department is located at 2 W. Jackson (in the City Hall). Reminder: make sure you always store your medication in a safe location…

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KanCare Chat Option

By Mandy Smith | September 30, 2022

Have you moved in the last three years?  KIERA is KanCare’s new chatbot and makes it easy to updated your information. So make sure your contact information is up-to-date and to read and follow the instructions on any mail that you receive from various State of Kansas departments.  This is very important to not lose…

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PEER Program

By Mandy Smith | September 14, 2022

Did you know RCIL has a PEER program?  PEER stands for Peers Empowering Each (other) Responsibly.  So what does this mean? RCIL has people with disabilities on staff, Peer Specialists, who work with our consumers (who have disabilities).  The Peer Specialist assists the consumer with setting up an independent living plan and helping the person…

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Communication Access

By Mandy Smith | August 26, 2022

I attended the Kansas Disability Caucus earlier this month and was able to not only be present a session but attended some fabulous sessions. The one that stuck out the most, and I can’t stop thinking about, was presented by Robert Cooper who works for the Kansas Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.…

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Governor Laura Kelly Celebrates the Launch of the 9-8-8 Mental Health Lifeline in Kansas

By Mandy Smith | July 15, 2022

Governor Laura Kelly ceremonially signed Senate Bill 19, bipartisan legislation that launches 9-8-8 as the official 24/7 three-digit dialing code for the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. Beginning Saturday, July 16, Kansans and all Americans can call 9-8-8 during mental health and substance abuse emergencies. Governor Kelly joined Sedgwick County Commissioners, legislators, and local advocates…

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Events for individuals who are blind or have low vision

By Mandy Smith | June 30, 2022

I will be hosting three events in July for individuals who are blind or have low vision. As I’ve posted in the past, I run RCIL’s program, iKan-RCIL, which is for anyone 55 years and older who has a vision loss that affects their daily living. I will be hosting two independent living classes in…

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Marking Appliances

By Mandy Smith | June 23, 2022

I might be aging myself here but I always remember that Reese’s commercial “There’s no wrong way to eat a Reese’s”. This is how I feel about marking appliances to assist individuals who are blind or have low vision. As long as you get the person’s feedback and the buttons they need are marked, its…

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National Survey on Health & Disability

By Mandy Smith | June 1, 2022

The National Survey on Health & Disability is conducting a survey on health care experiences. Any adult in the US over the age of 18 with any type of disability, mental illness or chronic health condition is encouraged to complete the survey. And if you choose, you can enter a drawing to win one of…

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Medicaid Dental Benefits for Adults

By Mandy Smith | May 10, 2022

On April 20, 2022, Governor Kelly signed the FY 2023 budget, which includes funding to extend Medicaid dental benefits to adults! The current Kansas Medicaid state plan offers only emergency extractions in terms of dental coverage. Additional dental services, vary year to year, are offered by the Managed Care Organizations. Please fill out the following…

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Aging Well Learning Series

By Mandy Smith | April 21, 2022

K-State Research and Extension Office is hosting a 3 day, 6 part learning series called Aging Well. The first date has already past but the second date is approaching next week, April 26th. The third and final date is May 24th. Register online at https://tinyurl.com/AgeWellSeries to receive the link for the event. Or call 913-294-4306…

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Family Strong – Southeast Kansas

By Mandy Smith | March 31, 2022

Family Strong is a federally funded grant, led by the University of Kansas School of Social Welfare and Center for Public Partnerships and Research. Family Strong is designed to transform the child and family service system in Southeast Kansas. Family Strong’s intention is to provide all families in the Southeast Kansas region with a vast…

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Interviews to help with HCBS outcomes

By Mandy Smith | February 15, 2022

Rehabilitation and Research Training Center on HCBS Outcome Measurement along with the Institute of Community Integration from the University of Minnesota are looking for research participants for interviews.They are testing measures to improve person-centered Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) outcomes for people with disabilities. Getting services at home or in the community is important for…

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Etiquette For Guide Dogs

By Mandy Smith | January 28, 2022

Dogs are great! I mean really, dogs are loveable, smart, and can be very hard workers. I wanted to refresh people on some etiquette when it comes to seeing a guide dog in public. * Do not pet, talk to or distract the guide dog while he/she is working. – People might think a guide…

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KSYLF Delegate Applications Due Feb 4th

By Mandy Smith | January 4, 2022

The 2022 Kansas Youth Leadership Forum for Students with Disabilities will be held July 11-16, 2022 at Washburn University in Topeka. The KSYLF is an annual conference that is heading into its 21st year serving students with disabilities across the state. During the forum, delegates enjoy a week full of learning, fun, friends, and, most…

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Braille Translation Service

By Mandy Smith | December 15, 2021

Did you know RCIL offers Braille translation? As a service to consumers, partner agencies, and businesses, RCIL has the equipment and software to transcribe and produce documents in Braille.  RCIL offers: free quotes, no set up fees, no minimum number of copies, free shipping, multiple languages, most files types accepted, multiple binding options, Interpoint or…

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Kansas ID Fee Waiver

By Mandy Smith | November 23, 2021

A photographic identification document is required to vote in Kansas. Any person who does not have a valid identification document may receive a fee waiver when applying for a Kansas nondriver’s ID (ID Card). All you have to do is fill out the form below (first link) and show evidence of voter registration. Below is…

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iKan-RCIL Services

By Mandy Smith | October 15, 2021

Yesterday was World Sight Day and today is White Cane Day. I feel like with both of those days this week, its a perfect time to remind everyone of RCIL’s services for those with vison loss including blindness. RCIL provides a service that we call iKan-RCIL. This service is for anyone 55 years and older…

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Moving Forward with a Brain Injury

By Mandy Smith | September 23, 2021

The Brain Injury Association of Kansas and Great Kansas City is presenting Moving Foward with a Brain Injury. This presentation is on Saturday, November 13th from 9:00am to 2:00pm at the Menorah Medical Center in Overland Park. Those who have had a concussion or brain injury along with family members, friends, or caregivers are encourage…

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Emergency Broadband Benefit

By Mandy Smith | September 1, 2021

The Emergency Broadband Benefit program is a Federal Communications Comission (FCC) that provides a temporary discount on monthly broadband service bills. To qualify a person could have one of the follow: Medicaid, child(ren) receive free/reduced lunches, receiving social security income, Tribal benefits, reduced income due to COVID-19, and many more options (link is below for…

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