Blog

First week of Cane class

By Mandy Smith | June 3, 2011

  As I’ve said before I am studying to become an Orientation and Mobility Specialist.  This requires nine 3 hour courses through Texas Tech Univeristy (where I’m at right now) and two of those classes are white cane technique classes. My first class started on June 1st and we didn’t touch the canes much at…

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Thought you were blind?

By Mandy Smith | May 24, 2011

How many times have you heard someone who is not blind say “I’m blind as a bat” or “I can’t see anything without my glasses.” We know this isn’t true, but to that person, it may feel like he or she has little vision without their correction (eye glasses, contacts). Blindness is a functional defect…

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Coming Soon! 2011 Disability Caucus

By Mandy Smith | May 20, 2011

“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…

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Advocacy Alert! April 28th

By Mandy Smith | April 27, 2011

Tomorrow 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…

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“Doggone” Cataracts

By Mandy Smith | April 13, 2011

It’s been said that you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, but can an old dog see new again? A lady told me her service dog was going in for cataract surgery on Monday! “WOW” was about all I could say! I know that on humans, cataract surgery is one of the most common…

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New Self-Direction Resources Website Launched

By Mandy Smith | April 11, 2011

Good 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…

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That’s my job

By Mandy Smith | April 6, 2011

I met with someone who was recently diagnosed with the eye condition, Age-Related Macular Degeneration.  I asked her if it was the wet or dry type.  She responded, “I don’t know.”  I explained to her that with wet macular degeneration, the macula on the back wall of your eye swells up and causes your acute,…

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Rules of Engagement

By Mandy Smith | April 1, 2011

While walking one day you see a man standing at an intersection holding a white cane.  Does he need assistance?  Is he okay?  How does he know where he’s going? ASK HIM!  Just walk up, tap him on the shoulder and say in your normal tone of voice “Do you need any assistance? Are you…

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RCIL – Doing More for Kansans With Disabilities

By Mandy Smith | March 27, 2011

On March 10, The Resource Center for Independent Living hosted a Legislative Breakfast to provide education to our elected state officials on Centers for Independent Living. RCIL’s Executive Director, Chad Wilkins explains how Centers for Independent Living save Kansas money and the amazing things RCIL is doing for Kansans with disabilities. The following videos showcase…

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Urgent: Advocacy Needed!

By Mandy Smith | March 11, 2011

  While everyone was hopeful that the current fiscal year’s budget Rescission bill would be worked out between the House and Senate yesterday, that did not happen. Today Governor Brownback advised that he will cut $56 million from the current budget. He has not yet specified where that money would come from but indicated he…

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Big Tent Coalition Legislative Reception

By Mandy Smith | January 20, 2011

On Tuesday January 25th from 5:00pm-7:00pm, the Big Tent Coalition is hosting a Legislative Reception. It will be held in Topeka in the Florentine Room of Jayhawk Towers at 700 SW Jackson. This will be an excellent time for members of the disability community to come together and mingle with their elected representatives. We encourage…

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Thanks for the Hassle!

By Mandy Smith | January 11, 2011

I know it isn’t Thanksgiving anymore, but I was just thinking about eye health and it made me realize I take so many things for granted.  (I think about eye health a lot since studying to become an Orientation and Mobility Specialist.) Here is a list of every day hassles that I’m thankful for! Eye…

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Digital Eye Strain

By Mandy Smith | January 5, 2011

We all know that sitting at your desk staring at your computer screen all day isn’t healthy for your body. But have you thought about what it does to your eyes? Digital eye strain is eye and visual related problems after prolonged computer use. This condition doesn’t just occur because of computer use; it can…

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Employment in the Disability Community

By Mandy Smith | January 3, 2011

This blog entry was adapted from information provided by the Statewide Independent Living Council of Kansas (SILCK) Through the dedicated work of the Centers for Independent Living (CILs), a significant change has taken place in terms of the cost of persons with disabilities who are employed and those who remain unemployed. KU conducted a five…

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Qualities of a True Friend

By Mandy Smith | December 31, 2010

Lately, I’ve felt like things have been really good.  I’ve had a few problems here and there but nothing horrible.  When I do have a problem, I like to talk to my friends about it and see what they think.  This is what I’ve noticed a real friend will do: Listen! Real friends will listen…

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Centers for Independent Living

By Mandy Smith | December 29, 2010

This 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…

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RCIL: Advocates in Red

By Mandy Smith | December 22, 2010

A majority of our staff attended the Big Tent Rally on April 29, 2010.  The leaders of the Big Tent asked us to wear red to be more visible.  Our staff was also spending a lot of time at the Capitol building during this time, so we decided we would order shirts for staff members…

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5 Reasons Kansas Shouldn’t Cut Home and Community Based Services

By Mandy Smith | December 18, 2010

Kansas is facing tough economic times, as we confront budget shortfalls, some are looking to cut Medicaid benefits, including home and community based services (HCBS). Home and community based services are vital to helping seniors and people with disabilities stay in their communities and out of institutions. If home and community based services cuts are…

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Fill your bucket

By Mandy Smith | December 16, 2010

Yesterday we had an all staff holiday party. I really enjoy events such as this because I can talk face-to-face to my co-workers that I don’t see on a daily basis. Yesterday, our Executive Director, Chad Wilkins, and our Direct of Independent Living, Rosie Cooper, did a presentation on the book, How Full is Your…

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Access to Assets – Changing the economic expectations of people with disabilities

By Mandy Smith | December 10, 2010

Every time we turn on the television or open up a newspaper, we are bombarded with news of the bad economy. It seems as though most people are in survival mode when it comes to finances and asset building isn’t their top priority; however, at a recent conference session about a program called Access to…

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Visitability

By Mandy Smith | December 1, 2010

  Last summer I was going to have a birthday party at my house for my 1 year-old. I was so excited that I started all these lists to make sure everything was in order. I had a list of people to invite, a list of food to buy and prepare and a list of…

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RCIL is thankful for…

By Mandy Smith | November 24, 2010

With today being the day before Thanksgiving, I thought I’d just write a little about what we are thankful for at RCIL 1.) Our Consumers! Without our consumers we would not exist! Thank you! 2.) Personal Care Attendants (PCAs)! Without PCAs, many of our consumers would not be able to stay at home and not…

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Independent Living in Kansas

By Mandy Smith | November 23, 2010

As 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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All About AgrAbility

By Mandy Smith | November 19, 2010

  Information on Agribility courtesy of Kerri Ebert, Kansas AgrAbility Project Coordinator, with the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering at Kansas State University. The Kansas AgrAbility Project assists people with disabilities who are employed in agriculture. Its goal is to inform, educate, and assist farmers, farm families, and farm workers who have disabilities, so they can…

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I’m becoming an O & M Specialist – What is that?

By Mandy Smith | November 17, 2010

This blog was written by Mandy Smith, an RCIL Staff member, who recently became an O&M Specialist.  She has been working with RCIL since June 2009. In August of this year, I applied for a new position at RCIL.  When I found out I had the position, I was so excited I went and told…

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