Blog

Home & Community Based Services are changing

By Mandy Smith | July 31, 2014

For those of you who are receiving Home & Community Based Services, the State of Kansas will be holding meetings to inform consumers, families, advocates, and providers to inform all of  the new changes.  Below is a list of the meeting locations and times. Federal rules and necessary program changes will be made to the following programs:…

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RCIL Friends Groups

By Mandy Smith | July 17, 2014

For those of you who don’t know RCIL has Friends meetings in Emporia, El Dorado, Eureka, Fort Scott, Iola, Osage City, and Paola.   We send out a schedule in our quarterly newsletter that allows you know what the topic of the meeting will be along with a remind of when and where.  At the end of this blog…

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Open Positions

By Mandy Smith | May 9, 2014

Available Positions: Transitional Living Skills Specialists – located in Burlington, Coffeyville, Fredonia, Lawrence, LeRoy, Overland Park and Topeka.  Work one-on-one with individuals who have experienced traumatic brain injury as they learn or re-learn independent living skills.  Part-time, flexible schedule with great hourly pay and rewarding work.  Contact Tania Harrington at 800-580-7245 or request an application at hr@rcilinc.org.

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iKan-RCIL Presentation in Chase County

By Mandy Smith | April 15, 2014

Mandy Smith, Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist, will be presenting at the Chase County Health Department on May 1st.  The presentation will begin at 1:00pm and last approximately an hour.  Mandy will be explaining what the iKan-RCIL program does and the services it provides along with showing pieces of assistive technology.  Anyone who has a vision…

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Low Vision Fair: Fort Scott

By Mandy Smith | March 25, 2014

iKan-RCIL will be hosting a low vision fair in Fort Scott on April 2nd.  The fair will consist of Dr. Mitchell and Dr. Foulk speaking about eye health, diseases and conditions along with Audio Reader, Talking Books, Assistive Technology for Kansans (ATK), and iKan-RCIL speaking about their program and services.  Assistive technology equipment will be available for hands-on demonstrations.…

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Now Hiring!

By Mandy Smith | February 27, 2014

RCIL is hiring for the following positions: Transitional Living Skills Specialist(s) – Work part-time with individuals that have experienced traumatic brain injury as they re-learn independent living skills.  Training provided.  Great hourly pay.  In the Coffeyville, Fredonia, Severy, Toronto, Burlington, and Leroy areas.  Call Tania Harrington at 1-800-580-7245 for more details or request an application by email at hr@rcilinc.org.  

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Health Homes Consumer Tour

By Mandy Smith | February 12, 2014

The Health Homes Consumer Tour is coming to a city near you! Health Homes will start in Kansas July 1, 2014. If you have questions about Health Homes and what they mean for your health, these meetings are for you! The meetings are free and you will learn about Health Homes in Kansas. Are these…

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Check before you visit!

By Mandy Smith | February 3, 2014

Planning on visiting an RCIL office?  RCIL’s offices may be closed to the public during times of extremely inclement weather. We suggest that you call (800) 580-7245) before you visit to make sure we are open.

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Low Vision Support Groups: Wamego & Council Grove

By Mandy Smith | January 17, 2014

Low vision support group –  a group of people who have some type of vision loss that gather and talk about strategies, stories, equipment, etc.  A support group can be very beneficial especially if a person has a new vision loss or is having a hard time handling their new way of life. iKan-RCIL will…

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KanCare/Medicaid Members: Stay with your current provider (Sunflower, Amerigroup or United) or switch to one of the other two?

By Mandy Smith | December 20, 2013

Open enrollment for KanCare is underway. If you joined KanCare in January 2013, your open enrollment for plan year 2014 began this month, with changes going into effect Jan. 1, 2014. Open enrollment packets have been mailed out to these members. For members who joined KanCare after January 2013, your open enrollment packets will be…

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Going Places

By Mandy Smith | October 30, 2013

I read a story by Dr. Chris Kuell this week and I pulled this quote from it… “My cane does announce to the world that I’m blind, but I’m okay with that. It only symbolizes inferiority in the hands of those who don’t have the skills and confidence to use it properly. When I’m walking…

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Website is back!

By Mandy Smith | October 28, 2013

    RCIL’s website was closed due to technical errors but we are now back up and running.  We will be posting a new blog this week!  

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Save the Date: September 12-14 ATK Expo/KSHA Conference

By Mandy Smith | August 12, 2013

Please keep September 12-14 open to join the Assistive Technology (AT) Expo at the Topeka Expo Center.  More than 20 AT sessions will be given ranging from independent living, community, employment, education and recreation.  There will also be around 200 booths set up in the Expo hall.  The AT Expo is free to the public!  The AT…

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Telephone/Fax Issues at Osage City Office – Please Keep Trying

By Mandy Smith | August 7, 2013

It appears that our telephone/fax system in Osage City has been struck by lightning.  Our service has been intermittent since Tuesday, August 6, 2013.  The telephone systems in our satellite offices are working properly.  We are working diligently to have it repaired and apologize for the inconvenience.

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New Location and Hours

By Mandy Smith | July 29, 2013

RCIL’s Topeka office moved locations and opened its new doors today!  They also changed their hours to 8:00am – 4:00pm Monday through Friday closed 12:00pm-1:00pm for lunch.  Come by and visit their new location at 1507 SW 21st Street Suite 203 Topeka, KS 66604!

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RCIL Celebrating the ADA

By Mandy Smith | July 5, 2013

The Resource Center for Independent Living (RCIL) is celebrating the 23rd Anniversary of the signing of the American’s with Disabilities Act (ADA) at several events and locations throughout the month of July. When President Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities Act into law –the world’s first comprehensive civil rights law for people with disabilities– in…

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Office/Retail Space for Lease

By Mandy Smith | June 7, 2013

            Office/Retail Space is for lease at 233 W. 23rd Street Ottawa, KS 2,660 square feet available along with store front parking Located just off I-35 $1,050 per month For more information contact Mike Sweeney (816) 414-5234 or msweeney@curryre.com

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KanCare Tour

By Mandy Smith | May 10, 2013

KanCare wants your thoughts on their program that was started January 1, 2013.  There will be two meetings on the same day in each of the city they visit. Meetings will be in the afternoon and evening. You can come anytime between 1:00 PM and 3:00 PM for the afternoon meeting and anytime between 6:00 PM…

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iKan-RCIL Older Blind Project

By Mandy Smith | April 23, 2013

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,…

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KYEA/RCIL Spring Fling

By Mandy Smith | April 9, 2013

Saturday, April 13th from 8:00am-2:00pm at RCIL’s Topeka office (519 Sw 37th Street Topeka, KS 66611) will be Kansas Youth Empowerment Academy (KYEA) and RCIL’s Spring Fling.  RCIL Assistive Technology team will be having a resource fair and durable medical equipment drive.  They will be taking equipment such as manual and power wheelchairs, hospital beds,…

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Deadline for Changing KanCare Health Plans Approaching

By Mandy Smith | March 26, 2013

Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services Secretary Shawn Sullivan today reminded KanCare participants that the April 4, 2013, deadline for changing their Managed Care Organization (MCO) health plan is rapidly approaching. KanCare participants who wish to stay with their current MCO do not need to take any action. Those wishing to change to a…

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Angel Shaver Crowned Ms. Wheelchair Kansas 2013

By Mandy Smith | March 18, 2013

The Miss Wheelchair Kansas event was held at Capitol Plaza Sunday. The program annually selects one woman  who is wheelchair mobile, to successfully empower people at a state level. Angel Shaver, 38, of  Wakeeny, Kansas was crowned as the winner. She suffers from nerve damage and traumatic brain injury from a car accident. She overcame…

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Ms. Wheelchair Kansas Crowing Ceremony

By Mandy Smith | March 13, 2013

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Invisible Disabilities

By Mandy Smith | March 6, 2013

If you can’t see it, it’s not real.  Right?  But we don’t see the air that we can feel in our lungs.  We don’t see the wind that we can feel on our skin and blow our hair.  And the same goes for people with disabilities that we (society) can’t see, they can feel them and…

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New Iola Office Location

By Mandy Smith | February 27, 2013

Our Iola office is moving!  Right now, as you read this blog actually. Our Iola office is closed today and tomorrow to allow our office to move to its new location 335 N. Cottonwood, Iola, KS  66749. March 4, 2013 the office will re-open at 335 N. Cottonwood but if you need anything in the…

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