iKan-RCIL Services

Posted October 15, 2021 by Mandy Smith in

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 who has vision loss and lives in the 32 county coverage area. Services include white cane training (again, perfect reason to post this blog today), braille training, independent living skills training, assistive technology, and much more. I, Mandy Smith, am a Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist who has been providing services to this population for 11 years. I visit people in their homes or setting of their choice, set up a goal for us to work towards, and visit them as many times as needed to accomplish this goal. Goals can include: learn to travel somewhere safely and efficently; obtain assistive technology to help them cook, clean, read, write, travel, or anything else vision could effect; or learn a skill that has been effect by vision loss. Mandy provides all of these services as a one-on-one based solely off the person’s needs. If you have questions about these services or other service providers in the state feel free to contact me at (785) 528-3105 or amanda.smith@rcilinc.org. I have attached a copy of the iKan-RCIL flier and listed the 32 counties below. Also, at the bottom are links to information on World Sight Day and White Cane Day.

  • 32 counties: Allen, Anderson, Bourbon, Brown, Chase, Chautauqua, Cherokee, Clay, Coffey, Crawford, Dickinson, Doniphan, Elk, Geary, Greenwood, Jackson, Labette, Lyon, Marion, Marshall, Montgomery, Morris, Nemaha, Neosho, Osage, Pottawatomie, Riley, Shawnee, Wabaunsee, Washington, Wilson, and Woodson

Here are links for information on World Sight Day and White Cane Day

https://www.who.int/news-room/events/detail/2021/10/14/default-calendar/world-sight-day-2021

https://nfb.org/programs-services/blind-equality-achievement-month/white-cane-awareness-day

Mandy Smith

Mandy has worked at RCIL since June of 2009. She is a Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist and provides services in 32 counties to individuals who are blind or have low vision and are 55 years and older.

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