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Ahead of the Times
Volume 20, Number 10
July, 2000

NEW STATEWIDE ACCESSIBILITY PROGRAM BEGINS THIS MONTH
The Kansas Department of Commerce and Housing (KDCH) announced May 30 that the Kansas Accessibility Modifications Program (KAMP) is scheduled to begin July 3, 2000. Warren Jones is the KDCH staff person in charge of this new program that will assist people with disabilities of low income pay for needed accessibility modifications in their homes. Eligible people with disabilities are those with incomes at or below 80% of median income.

Examples of accessibility modifications are:

• Building entrance ramps.
• Widening doorways and installing a new door and trim.
• Installing visual signals (flashing lights) for the doorbell and smoke detector.
• Installing short ramps for raised thresholds at the front or back entrance.
• Installing grab bars in the bathroom.
• Installing lever handles on doors or faucets.

The amount of grant assistance through KAMP will be up to $5,000 for homeowners and $2,500 for renters. Jobs costing $500 or less will be expedited. The new KAMP will assist people with disabilities throughout Kansas that do not have other funding resources to make needed accessibility modifications in their housing.  KDCH provided a training in late June for Centers for Independent Living, Assistive Technology for Kansans Access Sites, and Department on Aging staff who are interested in assisting them with this program. KDCH plans to involve staff of the agencies listed above to: (1) provide consumers with assistance finding qualified remodelers who can perform the needed modifications; (2) sign off on the application verifying the person has a disability; and (3) provide technical assistance on accessibility to the person with a disability and the remodeler, as needed.  A Kansas Accessibility Modifications Program application must be completed and approved before accessibility modifications can be paid for through KAMP.

For more information, contact:
Colleen Fry, Coordinator, 
Northeast Assistive Technology Project, 1-800-526-3648
Kelly Nightengale, Housing Specialist, Independence, Inc. 1-888-824-7277 
Bob Mikesic, Advocacy Coordinator, Independence, Inc., 785/841-1046 (TDD)

The Center will be closed Tuesday, July 4 for Independence Day. 
No transportation available.

COMMUNITY TRANSPORTATION UPDATE
By Rob Tabor
This month's transportation update belongs in the "deja vous all over again" department. Indeed some of Lawrence's more hard-boiled advocates would classify it in the "didn't I tell you so" category. In the April and May issues of Ahead of the Times I reported that the Lawrence City Commission had targeted June 13 as the date for issuing its contract awards for purchasing the system's bus fleet and for the service management provider. But a funny thing happened on the way to City Hall. Two companies which had submitted bids have filed protests because the city staff recommendations did not appear to be based on the criteria established to make the choice. The protests filed by Lawrence Bus Company and ElDorado mean that the city commission has to schedule a time when protest issues can be aired in a public hearing. According to an anonymous source it will probably be August before the city commission awards either contract. Inside sources stated that city officials do not intend to start fixed route and complementary paratransit bus service until the buses have been obtained. This probably means that the buses will not be rolling on the streets until eight to ten months after the two contracts have been awarded. It was intimated (between the lines) that some of the delay could be avoided by leasing buses on a temporary basis pending arrival of the permanent fleet.
In other transportation news the Kaw Regional Transit (KRT) Advisory Committee and Board of Directors held their monthly meetings on June 15 and 16 respectively. The main focus of the Advisory Committee meeting was to elicit input from the group regarding some of the details of DCAT's recent stepped-up enforcement of KRT's no-show service suspension policy. Of particular interest is the procedure for informing riders of their appeal rights and how appeal hearings will be conducted. Look for more on this issue in future issues of Ahead of the Times.
Finally, the city Public Transit Advisory Committee (PTAC) will hold its regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, July 18 at City Hall, 6 E. Sixth Street, in the City Manager's Conference Room on the fourth floor. Questions or comments on any aspect of the developing city fixed route and paratransit system may be directed to either of the following:

Karen Rexroad
Public Transit Administrator
PO Box 708, Lawrence, KS 66044
Phone: 832-3465
Email: krexroad@ci.lawrence.ks.us

Rob Tabor, Committee Chair 
Lawrence Public Transit Advisory Committee
Independence, Inc.
2001 Haskell, Lawrence, KS 66046
Phone: 841-0333
Email: robt@independenceinc.org

DO I SMELL BARBECUE?
The Cooking Club and Peer Support Group will join forces this month to have a back yard barbecue. We will get together on Monday, July 17, 4:30 - 6:30 p.m. at Independence, Inc. to enjoy some fun and food. Bring a side dish and of course your smile. Independence, Inc. will provide hotdogs but feel free to bring anything else you would like to throw on the grill. Please remember that you are responsible for scheduling your own transportation. Call Ranita or Angie at 841-0333 to let us know if you will attend.
Cooking Club would like to express our gratitude to our recent guest cooks. In May Steve Gutierrez donated ingredients and his expertise to show us how to prepare enchiladas. Then Susan Mikesic joined us in June to instruct us on how to prepare vegan soups and shared many helpful cooking tips. Thank you for your time and effort.

HOYO NEWS
The First Time Homebuyer's Group will meet Wednesday, July 19, 3:30 p.m. at Independence, Inc. We will talk about the Kansas Accessibility Modification Program (KAMP), which is a state fund available through the Kansas Dept. of Commerce and Housing (see related article on page 1) for low to moderate income homeowners and renters making necessary housing modifications. The funds will be available across the state. For more information, please attend this meeting or call Warren Jones at the Dept. of Commerce and Housing at 785/296-2994.

YOUTHFRIENDS TAKING APPLICATIONS
YouthFriends, in collaboration with Independence, Inc. is working to match adults with disabilities with school-aged children with disabilities. YouthFriends is currently taking applications for volunteers for the program. 
Potential volunteers are screened, and are asked to attend a brief orientation. Those accepted for the program are asked to work at least one hour per week for at least four weeks. As a volunteer, you may choose from a variety of duties such as tutoring a child, guiding a class project, eating lunch with a child once a week, serving as a role model or an advocate for a child, reading to a child, or just chatting. 
Independence, Inc. is available for advocacy within the program, and will assist with any accessibility accommodations. For example, you may request training materials in Braille through Independence, Inc. 
You may contact YouthFriends at 842-5006 or Susan Mikesic at 841-0333 for more information. To have an application mailed to you, or for assistance in filling out an application, call Susan.

WE HAVE MOVED!
Visit Independence, Inc.'s new and improved website at our new address: www.independenceinc.org The site features a new look, more information, is easier to use and easier to remember! See the "Giant Disability Web Page," visit more than 1,000 links, and much more. We would like to hear from you. 
E-mail us your comments, corrections, criticism, and witticisms to: webmaster@independenceinc.org

ADA/IDEA CELEBRATION 
Join us Thursday, July 13 at the Lawrence Holidome as we celebrate the anniversaries of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), two of the most important civil rights acts implemented for people with disabilities. Independence, Inc. will host a reception 6 - 7 p.m., followed by a banquet, a keynote address by Bill Malleris, and presentation of our annual Community Access Awards. Ticket donations are suggested at $25, however consumers may obtain tickets for a $1 donation. Contact Richard Gutierrez or Tammie Torneden at 841-0333 by July 7 to reserve a seat. 

KEYNOTE SPEAKER
William J. Malleris is the former executive director of Southeastern Minnesota Center for Independent Living, disability activist appointed to the President's Task Force for implementing the Americans with Disabilities Act, nationally recognized entrepreneur, businessman, and an accessible housing developer. The PBS television program, Small Business 2000, recently named Mr. Malleris as one of America's heroes for his unique integrated housing developments in the Greater Chicago area, Windsor Court Development, Inc. and Maple Court Development, Inc. for which he serves as CEO and President.

NEW FACES AT THE CENTER
Bernard Droste, our new Computer Learning Center Coordinator, began work on June 5. He replaces Terry Thompson who moved to North Carolina. Formerly, Bernard was Director of Technology for the DeSoto School District and was responsible for the design and implementation of nine local area networks and a wide area network. He has presented workshops at the Mid-American Association for Computers in Education and is a past member of the Kansas Technology Coordinators Network Advisory Board. Besides being a published writer, he is also an experienced teacher having taught all grades K-12 with specialization as a library media specialist.

Darryl Prothe, new Computer Support Specialist also began work at the Center on June 5, which happened to be his birthday, and considers getting his job a wonderful birthday present.  He grew up along the banks of the Marais des Cygnes river, attended a rural two room Lutheran parochial grade school, high school in Paola, and graduated from Kansas University in 1985 with a business degree. He attended Topeka Technical College and received an Associates degree in computer programming. He worked as an intern at the Secretary of State's office in the State Capitol, and most recently worked for Intertec Publishing in Overland Park as a programmer trainee. His responsibilities for his newly created position as Computer Support Specialist are to maintain the agency's database and its computer network. 
He's been married to his wife Gloria for 19 years and has one daughter, Paige, who is eleven. 

ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY ACCESS SITE
For nearly 20 years Independence, Inc. has administered an equipment loan bank. Thanks to everyone's generous contributions to the loan bank, we have been able to provide equipment for loan to individuals who might not otherwise have access to it. This has been and continues to be a vital service for many individuals. The loan bank is free to the public and is primarily intended for residents of Northeast Kansas. The person does not need to be a consumer of Independence, Inc. to borrow equipment.
Some of the aides for daily living we have available include recreational, pediatrics, sensory, homemaking, dressing, feeding and grooming. Seating and mobility equipment includes wheelchairs, walkers, and canes. Also available are items such as commodes and bath/shower benches. 
A Demonstration Unit is set up at Independence, Inc. for the Telecommunications Access Program (TAP). TAP provides vouchers to individuals with disabilities to purchase equipment to access the telephone. This equipment includes TDDs (text telephones), amplified telephones or handsets, voice carry over phones (VCO), large button telephones, TDDs with large visual display, Braille TDDs, hands free telephones with accessories, photo button telephones, speech amplification systems, and other specialized equipment as determined by needs. Individuals are encouraged to try out the equipment before deciding which work best for them.

Equipment Loans
Equipment is available for loan for a period of one month unless other arrangements are made. Extensions can be made by calling before the end of the one month period. The maximum period any equipment may be on loan is 90 days. Individuals borrowing equipment are responsible for arranging its delivery from and back to the Center. Staff are not available to transport equipment and all equipment is to be returned in the same condition as it was received. If you find that you have a long-term need for the equipment, staff will assist you in trying to find alternative funding to purchase your own piece of equipment. During this period, if no one else is waiting for the equipment, you may continue to use the item until funding has been secured. 

Equipment Donations
Currently we lend and/or receive approximately 50 items per month. Unfortunately, Independence, Inc. receives no outside funding to administer this service. While we appreciate all donations, we are unable to accept any equipment that is not in good working order. Additionally, because of the limited amount of storage space we have available, we are no longer able to accept donations of hospitals beds. We will continue to maintain a registry of individuals wishing to donate or needing beds. We will be happy to try to get individuals in touch with each other for these needs. As with equipment loans, Independence Inc. cannot be responsible for transporting the equipment. 
We are also very limited in what we can accept for consumable supplies. The biggest need we have is for incontinence supplies and dietary supplements such as Ensure. Some consumable supplies are so specialized (i.e. diabetic syringes, and catheters) and infrequently requested, that we are unable to accept donations of these because of lack of storage space. We do maintain a list of organizations and contact people who may have a need for these items. So please give us a call so that we can direct you to someone who can best utilize them. 
The Northeast Assistive Technology Access Site, is available to assist you with your Assistive Technology devices and services needs. If we can be of assistance, please give us a call at 841-0333 or 1-800-KAN-DO-IT (1-800-526-3648).

TENANTS TO HOMEOWNERS
The next First Time Homebuyers' Workshop will be held Saturday, July 8, 9:45 a.m. - 1 p.m. at the United Way Building, 2518 Ridge Court, Meeting Room A. This is a four part workshop which presents a step-by-step guide to buying a house in Lawrence. It is geared to low-income buyers but everyone is welcome as are questions, comments and contributions from the class. The sessions are: I. The Decision of Buying a House; II. The Mortgage Process; III. Personal Budgeting; IV. Home Maintenance.
Learn about the process of buying a home and the opportunities available in Lawrence to first-time low-income buyers. Have your questions answered in a relaxed, comfortable atmosphere. 
This free workshop is sponsored by Tenants to Homeowners, Inc., HAND, and the Lenders Committee. Preregistration is helpful, but not required. For more information contact Tenants to Homeowners, Inc. at 842-5494.

Wonderful, loving dog needs a home. Lives to be petted and hugged. A true companion dog. Prefers not to share attention with other animals. Would make a great pet for a person with a disability. For more information, call Alice Ann at 749-5684. 

WANTED: Electric box or oscillating fans that are broken, or that you no longer want. Any brand and size accepted. If necessary, unwanted fans can be picked up. Contact Michael at 785/840-9861, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday - Saturday. 

FOR SALE: Argo, Sarita Patient Lift, battery operated. Great condition, two years old, only used three months. Purchased new for $4,000. Asking $2,000. Contact Ruth at 785/838-3633.