iKan-RCIL Older Blind Project
Posted April 23, 2013 by Mandy Smith in Blind and Low Vision, Independent Living
RCIL was awarded part of the grant from Kansas Rehabilitation and Services (KRS) to serve individuals who are 55 years and older and are blind or have low vision. RCIL has been serving this population since August of 2010 with the PILR/RCIL/SKIL consortium that was also funded by a grant from KRS. This time, however, RCIL applied on their own.
This program is titled iKan-RCIL and covers 23 counties from Northeast Kansas to Southeast Kansas. These counties include: Allen, Anderson, Bourbon, Brown, Chase, Clay, Coffey, Dickinson, Doniphan, Geary, Greenwood, Jackson, Lyon, Marion, Marshall, Morris, Nemaha, Osage, Pottawatomie, Riley, Shawnee, Wabaunsee and Washington. (There is a map below which iKan-RCIL’s area is in yellow.) iKan-RCIL county coverage changed by no longer covering Cowley, Butler, Elk, Linn or Sumner counties.
Funds provided for this program are included to pay for services to individuals who have low vision or blindness and are 55 years and older. Services include teaching independent living skills to promote independence and allowing the individual to live in the environment they chose. Also, orientation and mobility which individuals are taught how to travel safely, independently and efficiently and this can include learning to use a white cane, talking GPS and many other tools. Other services include advocacy, information and referral, peer counseling and deinstitutionalization.
If you are interested in learning more or know someone who would benefit from these services please call (785) 267-1717 and ask for Mandy Smith.
