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Independence, Inc. celebrated its 30 year partnership with the community this August.

Over 130 community members attended our free breakfast held at Maceli’s where a short presentation was held, featuring consumers of Independence, Inc.

Independence, Inc. is excited to continue to work together to transform our communities to be the best places for people with disabilities to live, learn, and work.

Independence, Inc. provides the following services to the community:

Advocacy, Independent Living Skills Training, Information & Referral, Peer Counseling and Peer Support, Deinstitutionalization, Assistive Technology, Equipment Loan Bank, The Computer Learning Center, Employment Services, Connect UP! Unlimited Possibilities, Psychological Services, Medicaid Services, and Transportation.

To learn more about the services offered by Independence, Inc. please call 785.841.0333 or visit our website at www.independenceinc.org.

Food Assistance Outreach Grant
Independence, Inc. has received a grant from the Kansas Social and Rehabilitation Services to provide Food Assistance Outreach Grant and goes into effect in October.

The goal of the Food Assistance Outreach Grant is to increase awareness and educate the community about the program and to help people make use of the Food Assistance Program. The primary target audience for this program includes low-income households in rural and urban settings, families, the elderly and other groups in need. Independence, Inc. staff members will receive training from Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services to help persons apply. Independence, Inc. will also provide access to a computer in the Jean Hetherington Library for people to apply for the Food Assistance Program in a safe, private, non-threatening environment. As well all staff from Independence, Inc. will deliver printed information and inform consumers about the program. Independence, Inc. buses will have signage and drivers will also have program information.

Independence, Inc. is pleased and excited to create this partnership with SRS and to provide help in our community to those who struggle with rising food costs along with existing economic hardships that continue to make life difficult.

Buddy Walk
The 13th Annual Kansas City Buddy Walk on October 18th will promote acceptance and inclusion of people with Down syndrome. The Buddy Walk is a one-mile walk in which anyone can participate. It is also a huge family festival and a day of fun for all. For more information, please contact Phil Curtis at 785.841.0333.

Loan Bank Drive!
Independence, Inc. accepts donations of durable medical equipment (wheelchairs, canes, commodes, etc.) and consumable medical supplies (diabetes test strips, etc.). These are lent or given to the public on a sliding fee schedule. This program serves the entire community, as people from all walks of life come to us to check out equipment to meet the short-term needs.

The Loan Bank currently needs: Wheelchairs, Powerchairs, Scooters, in home bath items, like commodes, benches, chairs, seats, and grab bars, etc., grabbers, reachers, canes, and
walkers.

We ask that items donated are clean and in a fair to good condition!
THANK YOU!

Classes are now being offered!
For more than 20 years the Independence, Inc. Computer Learning Center (CLC) has been providing classroom and individual instruction for people with disabilities in Douglas, Franklin, and Jefferson counties to gain or develop computer skills.

The CLC specializes in working with people with disabilities, and also accepts people without disabilities. All classes have a fee and reduced fees or fee waivers are available on a case by case basis. Those seeking fee reductions should arrange to fill out paperwork, preferably two weeks before the start of classes.
We keep class sizes small, so there is plenty of one-on-one instruction with hands-on practice. We make an effort to support each student, enabling all students to learn the material, and we have a range of Assistive Technology to accommodate the various needs of people with disabilities.

Current classes include Introduction to Computers I and II, Introduction to Excel, Introduction to Access, Resume Workshop, Introduction to PowerPoint, Intro to Outlook, Internet-Tips & Protocols, Business Marketing Basics, and Simple Web Pages.

Independence, Inc. also offers Vocational Programs which are designed to train people for entry or return to the workforce. As a result, just as in a real job, regular attendance and being on time is mandatory, as is notifying us before class is scheduled to begin if you will be unable to attend class that day. The Vocational Programs require a certain amount of on-the-job training here at Independence, Inc.

Office Assistant students will be expected to serve at the front desk or assist with office duties. This work can be included on resumes and counted as job experience. High school students enrolled in our Vocational classes can also receive Independent Study credit if approved by the school.

The Office Assistant program is designed to train people in office skills. Classroom focus is mainly on Microsoft Word and Excel, and will cover such things as formatting documents, inserting pictures, clip art, graphs and charts; using columns; creating tables, creating a tri-fold brochure, mail merge; formatting worksheets, modifying cell sizes and borders; creating, applying and naming ranges; using functions, adding borders and shading, merging cells and rotating text; etc.

Students will also learn some basic skills using MS PowerPoint, MS Access, and MS Outlook, as well as multi-line phone systems, photocopying, faxing and other basic office skills. Students completing the program successfully will be on track to tackle the Microsoft Office User Specialist examinations.  

For more information or to enroll in classes please contact Mark Creamer at 785.841.0333.


Ribbon Cutting a Success
On July 8th, Independence, Inc. and the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting to celebrate the basement addition of new office space, and a new conference room at Independence, Inc. Mayor Dever, Joan Golden, Phil Bradley, and Tanya Dorf Brunner all made remarks, and attendees enjoyed refreshments and tours of the new space.
 

Assistive Technology
Assistive technology is any device that can be used to increase the independence or productivity of individuals with disabilities. The goal is to provide access to devices that can assist you in a home, school, work, and the community. This is done by assessments, demonstrations, training, equipment loans, and funding assistance.

Our services include access to the Kansas Equipment Exchange (free durable medical equipment reuse program), PDA reuse program (electronic organizers), OCCK technology loan program, KAMP home modification program, Kansas Emergency Repair Program, TAP phone program (special phones for vision, hearing, and pda’s such as sidekicks and blackberrys), and work with Vocational Rehabilitation case managers.

ATK has a staff of one full time coordinator, two full time assistive technology specialists, and
a full time KEE and loan bank manager. The department covers 13 counties in Kansas along with service at Independence, Inc.

Appointments are necessary to start services. If you or someone you know has the need for assistive technology or durable medical equipment, please contact Independence, Inc. Assistive Technology at 785-841-1067 or toll free at 1-800-526-3648 for an intake.

Goodsearch...you search...they give!             

What if Independence, Inc. earned a penny every time you searched the Internet? Or how about if a percentage of every purchase you made online went to support our cause? Well, now it can!

GoodSearch.com is a new Yahoo-powered search engine that donates half its advertising revenue, about a penny per search, to the charities its users designate. Use it just as you would any search engine, get quality search results from Yahoo, and watch the donations add up! Just go to www.goodsearch.com  and be sure to enter Independence, Inc. as the charity you want to support. And, be sure to spread the word!

Please get involved and help Independence, Inc. by using Goodsearch.com! You can help spread the word, and raise money to help transform our communities to be the best places for people with disabilities to live, learn, and work!          Thanks for supporting Independence, Inc.!

Independence, Inc. Youth Employment Program (YEP)
The Youth Employment Program is a partnership between Independence Inc. and the Lawrence Public Schools to promote positive attitudes toward employment for youth with disabilities.  Our goal is to increase employment options and outcomes for students age 15 to 21.  The program is funded by the Kansas Health Policy Authority.

Students who are interested in working will be transported by the school district to and from the job site during school hours. Job coaches will be provided for training and to facilitate the attainment of skills. Our goal is that the student will attain the skills to work independently. The YEP program will pay a wage to the students for two months, working approximately two hours a day, five days a week.  Independence Inc. will be the employer and will be responsible for liability insurance. Student’s progress will be evaluated during this time. At the end of the two month period the employer will consider the student for employment. All sites are considered job explorations and a student may choose to do other sites for job exploration
Students will receive high school credit for working.

As of October 4th we have five students employed in the program. Two students started the first week of September. Our business employers are Westlake, TJ Maxx, Designers Beauty Salon, Checkers, and Englewood Florist. Independence, Inc. serves as the primary employer of the students (similar to an employment agency). We contract with other businesses to employ the students so they can develop important job skills. Independence, Inc. will pay the student's salaries for two months with the intent that after the two month trial period the employer will offer the student a permanent position. Independence, Inc. is paying students the Federal minimum wage of $6.55 per hour. YEP team members include representatives from USD 497-Lawrence Public Schools, and the KU Center for Research on Learning. Eventual partners will include members of the Lawrence Workforce Center and the Kansas Disability Program Navigator. YEP is a three year pilot program.

After the first year, YEP team members would like to expand the program to include high school students with disabilities in Eudora and Baldwin City. Our goal is to have 8-10 students participate for FY08-09.

For more information, contact Ranita Wilks at 785.841.0333.

Support Independence, Inc.!

Return this pledge card  and help Independence, Inc. transform our communities  to be the best place for people with disabilities to live, learn, and work

PDF format  printable pledge card

For more information about the INDEPENDENCE ADVOCATE newsletter
If you would like to be a part of the Independence, Inc. newsletter, please contact Meghan Kinley at 785.841.0333 ext. 236, or mkinley@independenceinc.org.

The submission of articles, letters to the editor, consumer compositions, and classified ads is encouraged. The staff reserves the right to edit or reject material submitted to accommodate space or content concerns. The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of Independence, Inc.

For taped or large print versions, please call 785.841.0333.