Blog
Governor Laura Kelly ceremonially signed Senate Bill 19, bipartisan legislation that launches 9-8-8 as the official 24/7 three-digit dialing code for the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. Beginning Saturday, July 16, Kansans and all Americans can call 9-8-8 during mental health and substance abuse emergencies. Governor Kelly joined Sedgwick County Commissioners, legislators, and local advocates…
I will be hosting three events in July for individuals who are blind or have low vision. As I’ve posted in the past, I run RCIL’s program, iKan-RCIL, which is for anyone 55 years and older who has a vision loss that affects their daily living. I will be hosting two independent living classes in…
I might be aging myself here but I always remember that Reese’s commercial “There’s no wrong way to eat a Reese’s”. This is how I feel about marking appliances to assist individuals who are blind or have low vision. As long as you get the person’s feedback and the buttons they need are marked, its…
The National Survey on Health & Disability is conducting a survey on health care experiences. Any adult in the US over the age of 18 with any type of disability, mental illness or chronic health condition is encouraged to complete the survey. And if you choose, you can enter a drawing to win one of…
As a service to the community, RCIL has durable medical equipment available for loan, free of charge, through the Anita Casey Equipment Loan Program in Osage City and the Phyllis Patteson Equipment Loan Program in El Dorado. RCIL also has the Equipment Loan Program in Emporia. The equipment is provided as a service not only…
The Disability Caucus is scheduled to be held in-person August 10-12th in Topeka. It is a chance for Kansans with disabilities to come together and discuss the challenges they face in their communities and to identify potential solutions to overcome those challenges. Registration is now open! Click on the document link below for more information.
On April 20, 2022, Governor Kelly signed the FY 2023 budget, which includes funding to extend Medicaid dental benefits to adults! The current Kansas Medicaid state plan offers only emergency extractions in terms of dental coverage. Additional dental services, vary year to year, are offered by the Managed Care Organizations. Please fill out the following…
K-State Research and Extension Office is hosting a 3 day, 6 part learning series called Aging Well. The first date has already past but the second date is approaching next week, April 26th. The third and final date is May 24th. Register online at https://tinyurl.com/AgeWellSeries to receive the link for the event. Or call 913-294-4306…
Independent Living Specialist, Macy, assisted Marie in obtaining a ramp. Marie’s ramp was so rotten that Marie and her boyfriend thought they were going to fall through. Marie needed financial assistance and did not know what resources to utilize. She reached out to Macy for assistance. Macy educated her on funding resources available in the…
Attention Emporia area consumers! ECKAN, the United Way of the Flint Hill, and Housing & Credit Counseling, Inc. are offering a free budgeting class on April 25th from 3 – 4 pm. You will have the opportunity to learn to create and manage a household budget. See the flyer below for more details! The class…
Family Strong is a federally funded grant, led by the University of Kansas School of Social Welfare and Center for Public Partnerships and Research. Family Strong is designed to transform the child and family service system in Southeast Kansas. Family Strong’s intention is to provide all families in the Southeast Kansas region with a vast…
The Research and Training Center on Independent Living at Kansas University are currently recruiting research participants for a couple of their research studies. Check out their flyers below for inclusion criteria and contact information for study inquiry. Weight Management Research Study (Participants must live within 50 miles of Wichita) Physical Study Research Study (Location can…
August 10-12th in Topeka Join other Kansans with disabilities to come together and share challenges, barriers, ideas, and solutions at the Disability Caucus. More details coming soon…
Rehabilitation and Research Training Center on HCBS Outcome Measurement along with the Institute of Community Integration from the University of Minnesota are looking for research participants for interviews.They are testing measures to improve person-centered Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) outcomes for people with disabilities. Getting services at home or in the community is important for…
The Salvation Army is offering a Life Skills Class in Emporia on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays every month at 6:00pm. The class will cover simple life lessons that every family needs to make it through the day. Topics include budgeting, cooking, self-care, scheduling, and much more. For more information, download their flyer below or…
Dogs are great! I mean really, dogs are loveable, smart, and can be very hard workers. I wanted to refresh people on some etiquette when it comes to seeing a guide dog in public. * Do not pet, talk to or distract the guide dog while he/she is working. – People might think a guide…
Do you know that one of the five Core Services that RCIL offers is Advocacy? RCIL offers two forms of advocacy services and they are individual advocacy and system advocacy. Individual advocacy services help people with disabilities develop the skills they need to represent themselves. These skills help them act on their own behalf to…
Since the CDC eviction moratorium was overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court, evictions for nonpayment of rent have returned in full force. However, if tenants are experiencing a financial hardship due to COVID-19 and are at risk of homelessness or housing instability they can apply for assistance through the Kansas Emergency Rental Assistance (KERA) program.…
The 2022 Kansas Youth Leadership Forum for Students with Disabilities will be held July 11-16, 2022 at Washburn University in Topeka. The KSYLF is an annual conference that is heading into its 21st year serving students with disabilities across the state. During the forum, delegates enjoy a week full of learning, fun, friends, and, most…
Did you know RCIL offers Braille translation? As a service to consumers, partner agencies, and businesses, RCIL has the equipment and software to transcribe and produce documents in Braille. RCIL offers: free quotes, no set up fees, no minimum number of copies, free shipping, multiple languages, most files types accepted, multiple binding options, Interpoint or…
RCIL consumer Jerry has been working with an RCIL Independent Living Specialist (ILS) to learn how to use the many different programs and features of an iPad to keep track of appointments, communicate with his friends and family, and other Independent Living skills. Jerry recently learned about the Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) through a newsletter…
The Social Security Administration will never threaten, scare, or pressure you to take an immediate action. If you receive a call, text, or email that… Threatens to suspend your Social Security number, even if they have part or all of your Social Security number Warns of arrest of legal action Demands or requests immediate payment…
A photographic identification document is required to vote in Kansas. Any person who does not have a valid identification document may receive a fee waiver when applying for a Kansas nondriver’s ID (ID Card). All you have to do is fill out the form below (first link) and show evidence of voter registration. Below is…
Independent Living Specialist, Macy, assisted a consumer in getting her bathroom remodeled. The consumer was having a difficult time getting into her bathroom because the doorway was too narrow for her wheelchair. The consumer explained, “I was hurting myself by falling in the bathroom without my wheelchair and not making it to the toilet in…
The Brain Injury Association of Kansas & Greater Kansas City is offering a seminar for survivors. Details from their website: “The 2021 Family & Survivor Seminar, Moving Forward with a Brain Injury, will be held on Saturday, Nov. 13 from 9 am to 2 pm at Menorah Medical Center, 5721 W. 119th St, Overland Park,…