Independent Living
Today we share the story of Rebecca T. She has been on the Waiting List for Home and Community Based Services for almost 3 years. The following words are hers. Notice that Rebecca would need a minimal amount of supports to assist her in the activities that she is physically unable to do on her…
Read ArticleJim H., is a person with a disability, one of the over 3,500 Kansans on the waiting list for Home and Community Based Services. Jim has Huntington’s Disease. Because Huntington’s is a progressive disease, it is getting more and more difficult for Jim to accomplish his daily activities, including cleaning and cooking for himself. The…
Read Article“The moral test of government is how it treats those who are in the dawn of life, the children; those who are in the twilight of life, the elderly; and those who are in the shadow of life, the sick, the needy, and the disabled.” – Hubert H. Humphrey Reflect on those words for a…
Read ArticleDo you need assistance to pay your utilities bills? Starting January 18, 2012 The Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP) applications will be available at your local Social Rehabilitation Services (SRS) office and on the SRS website through March 30, 2012. LIEAP is a federally funded program that helps eligible households pay a portion of…
Read ArticleMy father, Ryan, was diagnosed with lung cancer in early February 2011. This was not too surprising since he has smoked from an early age and both of his parents died of cancer. I was thinking that he would have chemo and radiation treatments, the cancer would go away and we could have a few…
Read ArticleHome and Community Based Services (HCBS) became an integral part of the lives of Kansans with disabilities and those who are elderly though legislation passed in 1989 (KSA 39-7, 100). This legislation provided Kansans who wanted to have choice and remain independent with the ability to receive long-term care services in their own home and…
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Starting January 1, 2012 everyone will be busy filing their 2011 Income taxes, Homestead tax refund, and/or Food Sales tax refund. The deadline to file is April 17, 2012. Independent Living Specialists (ILS) at RCIL will be available to teach consumers that are interested to learn how to file their Homestead tax refund and…
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I talk to people a lot about the proud history of the disability community in Kansas. The progress that was made in the state by dedicated advocates placed Kansas in the forefront on disability rights. We have constructed a system that, while not perfect, works to empower Kansans with disabilities, helps them acquire gainful…
Read ArticleThis is the time of year that we get so tired of hearing about giving back to the community it makes us want to hurl. Hopefully this won’t be one of those times. Instead of talking about charity, let’s reframe the conversation. How about becoming active participants in our community? We spend so much of…
Read ArticleTomorrow is wonderful Turkey Day! YUM! Thanksgiving is a great time to rejoice in small victories and be thankful for small things that enter our lives. RCIL would like to share with you what some of our staff members are thankful for! Chad Wilkins, Executive Director – “I’m thankful for all my fellow…
Read ArticleCommunity integration ensures that people with disabilities have the supports and services they need to live in their own homes in their communities. Centers for Independent Living (CILs) champion community integration and understand that when a community is truly integrated it then becomes the best possible community for all of its inhabitants. Sometimes we…
Read ArticleLife of one we love is never lost. Its influence goes on through all the lives it ever touched. Peer Counseling is a core service for every Center for Independent Living. A part of Peer Counseling is mentorship. Mentors play a big role in shaping our lives. I’ve been blessed to have many teachers, coaches,…
Read ArticleThese are some of my Mr. Hultgren (Coach) memories. “The only ones among you who will be really happy are those who will have sought and found how to serve.” – Albert Schweitzer When Coach was videographer at my wedding, I listed his name as “Coach.” When this was questioned, I gave it much…
Read ArticleThe following information is from the National AgrAbility Project. If you would like to look through some of the AgrAbility resources, you may visit the RCIL Resource Library in Osage City or visit the AgrAbility Project website at www.agrability.org. In November, we shared a little information with you about a program sponsored by the U.S.…
Read ArticleThe Kansas Association of Centers for Independent Living (KACIL), which RCIL is a member of, is celebrating the 12th Anniversary of the Olmstead Supreme Court decision Wednesday, June 22 from 1:00-3:00 p.m. at the Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site. Twelve years ago, the United States Supreme Court rejected the state of Georgia’s…
Read Article“Fan the Flame” The 12th Kansas Disability Caucus will be held in Topeka on August 10, 11, and 12 with a Pre-Conference on August 9 and 10 provided by ikan that will focus on providing Independent Living services to individuals who are blind or have low vision. Individuals throughout the state with all types of…
Read ArticleTomorrow April 28th, the Resource Center for Independent Living will unite at the Kansas Statehouse with Kansans for Quality Communities members to urge our Legislators to do what’s right for Kansans. You can read about this Action on the Kansas Health Institute site here. We will be spreading the “Save Our State” message which has…
Read ArticleGood news for individuals wanting self-direction resources! The Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services with the Department on Aging and the Kansas Health Policy recently launched the Self-Directing Home and Community-Based Services website. The new website will help individuals with disabilities by providing resources to learn about planning and managing self-direction services. The new…
Read ArticleThis blog entry was adapted from information provided by the Statewide Independent Living Council of Kansas (SILCK) RCIL is one of 13 Centers for Independent Living (CIL) in Kansas. The expenditure for CILs across the state is approximately $2.7M federal and state funds. For over 30 years, CILs have helped thousands of Kansans with disabilities…
Read ArticleAs a Center for Independent Living (CIL), RCIL is committed to working with Kansans with disabilities to enable them to live independently in their homes and communities. But what exactly does that mean? In Kansas, Centers for Independent Living are tasked with providing 5 core services. They are Information and Referral, Peer Counseling, Independent Living…
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