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Advocates for disabled mark 25 years of service

By Mike Belt, Journal-World    
Thursday, November 13, 2003

Thad Allender/Journal-World Photo Bob Mikesic, left, presents Jennifer Scwartz with an Access Task Force Award at a 25-year anniversary celebration for Independence Inc., 2001 Haskell Ave. Employees, clients, volunteers and friends and family gathered Wednesday at Independence Inc. to honor service to the disabled.

The late Roger Williams left his legacy in curb cuts and handicap-accessible bathrooms on the Kansas University campus, and it was in his memory Independence Inc. celebrated its 25th anniversary Wednesday.

"There may not be any statues or plaques in his name -- which isn't good -- but you can see his work all over campus," said Ray Pence, of Kansas University's Beach Center on Disability.

The legacy of Williams, who died in 1993, was the topic of Pence's speech at an annual awards ceremony at Independence Inc., 2001 Haskell Ave. Williams, known throughout Lawrence as the "father of accessibility," was a co-founder of Independence Inc., an independent living resource center that today serves about 1,000 people with disabilities in Douglas, Jefferson and Franklin counties.

About 40 people attended the ceremony and saw Dot Nary receive the agency's highest recognition, the Roger B. Williams Community Access Award. Nary received the award for her strong advocacy for people with disabilities at local, state and national levels, said Bob Mikesic, Independence Inc.'s advocacy coordinator.

"Her contributions to health care reform from a disability perspective, health promotion, environmental accessibility and self-advocacy have helped create communities that are richer for all," Mikesic said.

Nary is training director and project coordinator at the Research and Training Center on Independent Living at KU. She also is a member of the Architectural Barriers Committee at KU and has been involved for 13 years with civil and human rights organizations.

Mikesic also credited Nary with working for greater handicapped accessibility throughout Lawrence.

Nary said the award meant a lot to her, but she deferred credit to people associated with Independence Inc.

"Independent living is a grass-roots movement, so here is where it really is important," she said.

The agency's Community Access Awards went to Linda Wildgen, transition counselor for Lawrence High School, and her counterpart at Free State High School, Lorna Larson.

The two worked have worked the past three years in National Disability Mentoring Day activities in Lawrence. On that day, students with disabilities shadow someone in the career field of their choice. This year Wildgen and Larson matched 50 special education and disabilities students with 46 business mentors.

"Lorna and I are just one piece of this," Wildgen said later. "The recognition should go to Independence Inc."

Independence Inc.'s celebration came during what has been a tough year, primarily because of state budget cuts at the Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services, said Sidney Hardgrave, who has been director of Independence Inc. for the past six months. She noted that about a third of the center's staff had to be laid off.

Hardgrave said she was optimistic about the center's future.

"I certainly think we are on the mend," she said.