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When growing up it seems like kids always made fun of other kids who were “different” than “the norm.” Whether it was kids who: were overweight, dressed in different fashions, wore glasses, etc. Now that I’m a parent and my son is starting school and sports I worry not only about what kind of…
Read ArticleFrom now through Thursday February 16th, we need the disability community to contact each member of the House Social Services Budget Committee. A complete list of names and contact information is available here. As they are working on budget issues we need to make sure they know the importance of funding the Home and Community…
Read ArticleDear Friends & Fellow Kansans: In two days, on Wednesday, Feb 15th, we are going to the Kansas Statehouse to deliver the message that KANSANS COUNT: We Demand Democracy. Among the many issues of concern is Voter Suppression. Many of you, along with advocacy groups, and the ACLU have expressed concern about the adverse…
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 ArticleIf you have not had many interactions with persons with disabilities, you may not know exactly how to act. For example, you may ask yourself “how do I talk to someone in a wheelchair?” or “how do I interact with someone who is blind or deaf?” These questions often come to our minds whether…
Read ArticleThis request for information is from the ACLU of Kansas and Western Missouri. They are working to protect our right to vote freely. Data shows that people with disabilities, people living in poverty, and minorities are kept from voting when laws such as the ones Kansas has passed are applied. Please review this information and…
Read ArticleOn February 1, 2012 disability advocates across the state began a concerted effort to contact the Governor’s office and SRS regarding the Waiting Lists for Home and Community Based Services. The Governor’s office and the SRS administration responded less than satisfactorily advising (after several off the wall suggestions) that the Waiting Lists for Home and…
Read ArticleDespite having a large balance in the State budget and projecting an over $400 million balance next fiscal year, the Governor has not addressed those Kansans with disabilities waiting on the Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Physically Disabled (PD) waiting list. There is no mention in either the proposed budget or in the RFP…
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 ArticleThe Governor’s proposed budget has been released. We will write more about it as we have time to review it. Click here to download the full text as a PDF. Last night Governor Sam Brownback delivered his 2012 State of the State address. It was a rather brief speech but stuffed with huge plans…
Read ArticleToday at 2:00pm the Kansas House and Senate will convene to start the 2012 Legislative Session. This promises to be one of the busiest, and maybe toughest sessions in recent years. All eyes are on the Senate as it is an election year for them and the coalition of moderate Republicans and Democrats that…
Read ArticleThe State of Kansas has delayed the start of the KS Authenticare (also known as electronic visit verification or EVV) for “Personal Services” through the PD and TBI waivers. We will notify you with the new start date as soon as we receive it from the state. EVV for “Sleep Cycle Support” will start on…
Read ArticleWith January and the new year here, this is a perfect time to talk about glaucoma. January is National Glaucoma Awareness month so now is the time to book your annual eye appointment. Glaucoma is the name of a group of diseases that commonly increases internal eye pressure, damages the optic nerve and causes peripheral…
Read ArticleIn a reversal of the previous decision to delay Kansas AuthentiCare/EVV implementation, the latest word from KDOA/SRS is that EVV will be implemented as originally planned on 1/9/2012. We will strive to keep you updated if there are further changes. Please check our website to stay informed.
Read ArticleTHIS INFORMATION HAS CHANGED PLEASE CHECK OUT THIS LINK FOR ACCURATE INFORMATION! It was just announced (the evening of 12/29) that KDOA and SRS have decided to delay the implementation of Kansas AuthentiCare/EVV until 6:00am January 16th, 2012. This change is to allow more time for providers, consumers, and Direct Support Workers to prepare…
Read ArticleWith the new year comes a new Legislative session in Kansas. The 2012 Session starts on Monday January 9th at 2:00pm and promises to be a busy one. The disability community will be closely watching as the Administration and the Legislature take on huge items including an expected Executive Order re-organizing SRS, the Medicaid…
Read ArticleThe Resource Center for Independent Living would like to wish all of our consumers, friends, supporters, and our community members a wonderful holiday season with best wishes for the new year. We look forward to continuing to serve Kansans with disabilities and their families and loved ones. The spirit of the Kansas disability community is…
Read ArticleIn Kansas (and several other states), certain people may be income-eligible to receive a free cell phone and limited minutes at no cost. If you are not currently enrolled in another Lifeline program (meaning discounted land-line service, NOT the Personal Emergency Response System) and you, or someone in your household, receive any of the…
Read ArticleKDOA and SRS announced on the evening of Dec. 29th they have decided to change the launch date for Kansas AuthentiCare/EVV to January 16, 2012 at 6:00am The new year is bringing with it new procedures for our consumers who are on Home and Community-Based Services. The state is replacing the current paper time and…
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…
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