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Ahead of the Times
Volume 20, Number 9
June, 2000

ACCESSIBLE HOMES TOUR
A different kind of home is popping up around town. The Independence, Inc. Accessible Homes Tour 2000 will put on display a number of innovative designs that enable people with disabilities to live independent and integrated lives in the community. On the tour are four moderately priced homes and two apartments that showcase unique access features and the use of Assistive Technology which further accessibility. 
In the past, people with certain physical, sensory, or cognitive limitations were unable to live independently in their homes. Whether a disability was acquired at birth, later in life, or through the aging process, access greatly limited the number of options for housing.
Today, there are many options. Some homes are now designed to make living independently much easier for everyone -- including people with disabilities. Modifications made to new and existing homes enable individuals to adapt and stay in their community and neighborhoods.
This year's featured home is a private resident at 216 Alabama where KU architectural students, under the direction of Professor Dan Rockhill, conceptualized, designed, and constructed a modern accessible home. This home incorporates Universal Design features that serve the needs of an individual throughout life. 
The tour will be June 10 and 11, 1-4 p.m. The staff of Independence, Inc. and other individuals will be available to help guide and answer questions of visitors. Pick up tickets and begin your orientation and tour at 216 Alabama. Donation proceeds help support Independence, Inc. programs. 
Information is power. Accessible Home's Tour 2000 provides the opportunity for anyone in the community to experience the innovative possibilities and design potential of barrier-free Universal Design in a way that can directly impact the way you live today as well as in the future. For more information call Independence, Inc. at 841-0333.

YOU ARE INVITED TO OUR ADA CELEBRATION AND AWARDS BANQUET
Independence, Inc. will be hosting an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Celebration banquet on Monday, July 13, at the Lawrence Holidome. This July marks the tenth anniversary of the passage of the ADA, the most comprehensive federal civil rights law prohibiting discrimination based on disability in employment, public accommodations, local and state government services and programs, and telecommunications. The event will also recognize the 25th anniversary of a companion civil rights law for children and youth, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). 
This promises to be a very special evening for Independence, Inc. consumers, friends, and supporters in the Douglas, Jefferson and Franklin county area. We plan a small reception 6 - 7 p.m., followed by a full service banquet. A memorable program that informs and inspires is planned for that evening, and special recognition will be made of this year's achievements. Seating will be limited so it is very important to make your reservations early. 
As part of this program its very appropriate to recognize achievements made in our communities that are related to the ADA and IDEA. Presentation of the annual Independence, Inc. Community Access Awards will thus be part of this celebration event. As in other years, awards recognize people whose actions promote independent living for people with disabilities in integrated and accessible communities. Nominations are requested from people in Douglas, Jefferson and Franklin counties who know an individual, organization, or business that deserves such an award. Categories include:

• Individual
  Recognizes an individual's efforts - whether through their job, volunteer efforts, or personal actions - to advance opportunities for people with disabilities to live active, contributing lives in the community.
• Business
  Recognizes the efforts a business has taken to advance employment opportunities for people with disabilities or create a more accessible environment for its employees and/or customers.
• Organization 
  Recognizes the efforts of an organization to promote or support community activities that either enable people with disabilities to live more independently, or enhance the public's understanding and knowledge of people with disabilities.
• Roger Williams Community Access Award
  Named in honor of pioneering disability advocate Roger Williams, this award recognizes an individual with a disability whose advocacy efforts make a positive impact on the community.

To make a nomination, please print out the form (below) or call in or e-mail a nomination to: Bob Mikesic at 841-0333 or e-mail him at bobm@independenceinc.org 
Independence, Inc. buses will provide transportation to make it possible for all interested people to attend. To schedule a ride to the July 13 ADA Celebration and Awards Banquet, con-tact Patty Holt at 841-0333 by 3 p.m., June 29.
If you wish to participate in this ADA and IDEA Celebration, contact Richard Gutierrez or Tammie Torneden to obtain ticket information. We want to encourage all interested people with disabilities and community members to contact us. We also encourage other disability-related agencies and organizations to attend this event. The banquet ticket donations are suggested at $25 with proceeds going to help defray some of the costs. Additional donations to Independence, Inc. are gratefully accepted. Consumers may obtain tickets for a $1 donation for the banquet and $1 for transportation if used.

Independence, Inc.
Community Access Awards
Nomination Form


Name of Nominee: ___________________________________________________

Title/Organization (if applicable): _________________________________________

Address: ___________________________________________________________

Telephone: ________________________________

Category: _____ Individual / _____ Business / _____ Organization 
_____ Roger Williams Community Access Award

Please indicate below or attach a statement explaining why you feel this nominee should be considered for the Community Access Award.

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

Your Name: ______________________________________________________
Title/Organization (if applicable): ______________________________________________________

Address: ________________________________________________________________

Telephone: ________________________________

This form may be copied if you wish to make more than one nomination. Send completed forms by June 30, 2000 to: Independence, Inc., 2001 Haskell Ave., Lawrence, KS 66046 or fax to 785/841-0333.

COOKING CLUB
This month our very own community coordinator, Susan Mikesic, has agreed to share her cooking secrets with us. Join us Monday, June 12, 4:30 - 6:30 p.m. at Independence, Inc. as she instructs us on various cooking "shortcuts" while creating two delicious soups in the process. Her practical cooking tips should enhance our growing list of cooking skills. Feel free to bring your own item to dunk, whether it be crackers or bread. Please contact Angie or Ranita at 841-0333 is you plan to attend. You are responsible for arranging your own transportation.

PEER SUPPORT GROUP
This month the Peer Support Group will work on putting our experiences together in a scrap book. Please bring any pictures, stories, or art work you would like to include that represent your memories of peer support group activities. We will have some art supplies available but feel free to bring additional materials that you feel would enhance our memory book. We will meet Thursday, June 29, 4:30 - 6:30 p.m. at Independence, Inc. If you cannot attend but have contributions, contact Angie or Ranita at 841-0333. We encourage anyone who has ever participated in the Peer Support Group to make a memory page to include. Please remember that you are responsible for scheduling your own transportation.

AND THE BEAT GOES ON! New Beginner's Drum Circle
Attention consumers! Are you interested in learning drum beats and rhythms? The Music Appreciation Group (Not Especially Talented) is starting a beginner's drum circle. MAGNET will kick off the first drum circle on Friday, June 23, 4:30 - 6:30 p.m. in the large conference room at Independence, Inc. All consumers are welcome to attend, especially the musically challenged. Musical talent is not necessary to participate. All you need is a smile and a desire to experiment and have fun. To bang out those fabulous drum beats, we will provide pickle buckets, drum sticks, and bongos. If you have them, you are welcome to bring your own percussion instruments. For more information, call Ranita at 841-0333. Please remember to arrange your own transportation. 

NEW MS SUPPORT GROUP IN LAWRENCE
Our new support group will hold its first meeting on Tuesday, June 20, 7 - 9 p.m. at Independence, Inc. It will be a basic meet and greet time. We'll discuss which future directions to take, meet other warriors (young and old), and of course snack. Be sure to come and bring ideas! The protocol for meeting at Independence, Inc. will also be discussed. If you need to arrange a ride, contact the Multiple Sclerosis Society, Eastern Kansas branch at 1-800-345-7148, Shannon McWilliams at 749-2463, or Nikki Horne at 913/707-0043. Sponsored by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

ACCESSIBLE HOUSING PROGRAM
Is your apartment or home accessible? Are there ways to make your rooms easier to use? The Accessible Housing Program (AHP) at Independence, Inc. uses funds from a Lawrence Community Development Block Grant to provide people with disabilities improved access to their rented units.
AHP is a result of a provision in the 1988 Fair Housing Amendments Act that states a landlord may not refuse reasonable accessibility modifications needed by a tenant with a disability. AHP is also a response to the needs of persons with disabilities who can't afford to make accessibility modifications to their present rental homes. Some typical modifications are:

• Building ramps for the home or garage entrance.
• Widening doorways and installing a new door and trim to match other existing doors.
• Installing visual signals, flashing lights, for the doorbell, smoke detector, and/or telephone.
• Installing short threshold ramps for raised thresholds at the front or back entrance.
• Installing grab bars in the bathroom
• Installing lever handles on doors or faucets.

To qualify, applicants must have mobility or sensory impairment, currently rent housing in Lawrence, and need accessibility modification. General maintenance, such as roof repair, is not covered by AHP. Applicants also must be within the low to moderate income levels established by the U.S. Housing and Urban Development Department. These levels are based on annual income and the number of persons living in a household.
For an application and more information contact Bob Mikesic or Kelly Nightengale at Independence, Inc., 841-0333.

WANTED: Ride to and from Topeka on June 10, will pay for gas. Call Pat at 841-0333.

FRANKLIN COUNTY RESIDENTS TO DISCUSS DISABILITY RIGHTS
Independence, Inc. and the Resource Center for Independent Living are jointly sponsoring a disability rights and ability awareness presentation on Saturday, June 3, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. The presentation will be held in Ottawa at the Ransom Memorial Hospital in conference room A. 
A panel of Franklin County residents who have disabilities will lead the discussion. They will discuss disability issues, services available, and ways for communities to be more accommodating. Refreshments will be provided. 
Susan Mikesic, Independence, Inc. Community Coordinator, said, "We're hoping that this event will be an opportunity for people to share with each other their coping strategies, goals and wishes, and their accomplishments."
Contact Susan Mikesic or Ranita Wilks at 841-0333 or toll-free 1-888-824-7277 for more information. Call (785)229-8200 for directions to the hospital conference room.

HOYO NEWS

• On Wednesday, June 14, 3:30 p.m. at Independence Inc. the First Time Homebuyer's Group will feature guest speaker Robert Baker from Consumer Credit Counseling. He will discuss credit qualifications for purchasing your first home, budgeting, lender's verifications, and other financial issues that affect first time homebuyers. Join us for this opportunity to get all of your questions answered about credit and budgeting for a first home.
• The HOYO Advisory Council will have its quarterly meeting on Tuesday, June 20, 1:30 p.m. at Independence, Inc.

ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY TIP OF THE MONTH
Having difficulties with fine hand control?
Place a safety pin or paper clip on your zipper to help pull it up and down.

COMMUNITY TRANSPORTATION NEWS
By Rob Tabor
I can almost hear many of you asking "When are we really going to get fixed route transportation in Lawrence?", or "have the city fathers (and mothers) changed their minds?" For many who have witnessed delay upon delay in getting the system under way it seems as if we are spectators or cameo actors in a sequel to "The Day The Earth Stood Still." This is why we seek to inform you from "behind the scenes," as it were, on the latest developments.

1. Procurement. Karen Rexroad, Lawrence City Public Transit Administrator, reported to the Public Transit Advisory Committee (PTAC) that the City Commission is expected to take its decisions on both the bus fleet purchase contracts and the system service provider contract at its regular business meeting on June 13, 2000. Ms. Rexroad stated that barring unforeseen complications (always possible), fixed route and paratransit buses should be rolling on the streets of Lawrence by December 1, 2000 or shortly thereafter. 

2. ADA Implementation Plan. By the time "Ahead Of The Times" goes to press PTAC will have met and discussed the draft ADA Implementation plan. PTAC is also likely to have at least some discussion concerning certification and eligibility standards for the paratransit service. As with all scheduled meetings of PTAC, a limited amount of time will be available for public comment on any aspect of public transportation, be it proposed routes and schedules, fare structures, or eligibility criteria for paratransit, just to name a few. If you would like a copy of the latest revised ADA Implementation Plan or of the PTAC meeting schedule for the remainder of 2000 you may contact Rob Tabor at Independence Inc. at 841-0333 or by email at robt@independence inc.org. These and other documents may also be obtained by calling Karen Rexroad at 832-3465 Monday through Friday during normal business hours.

COMPUTER LEARNING CENTER SUMMER CLASSES TO BEGIN IN JUNE
Sign-up dates for the summer classes in the Independence, Inc. Computer Learning Center will be Tuesday, June 6 and Wednesday, June 7. If we get more than ten people signed up in either of the two classes, a drawing will be held to see who gets into the class and who gets put on the waiting list or continues through independent study. The eight week classes we are offering are:

• Introduction to Computers
  9:30 - 10:30 a.m.
  Tuesday - Friday
• Welcome to the Internet
  2:30 - 3:30 p.m.
  Tuesday - Friday

To sign up for classes or if you have questions contact Jim, Mark, or Jerry at 831-0333.

MINISTER TO SPEAK ABOUT ADOPTING BABY FROM CHINA
Sherry Schultz, the minister of the Unity Church of Lawrence, traveled to China last year to adopt a baby. At 1 p.m. on Monday, June 26 at Independence, Inc. Sherry will discuss her decision to adopt, her experience visiting China, and cultural issues involved in adopting a baby from another country. She'll also bring pictures of her trip and her baby. 
The Independence, Inc. Human Diversity Task Force is sponsoring this event. If you would like to be on the mailing list to receive information about future Human Diversity events, have questions about this event, or would like to request an accommodation, call Susan Mikesic at 841-0333 or toll-free at 1-888-824-7277. 

HUMAN DIVERSITY TASK FORCE
We are updating our Human Diversity Task Force mailing list! If you would like to be on the list to receive flyers and notices of upcoming Human Diversity events, if you have a correction to your address, or if you wish to be removed from our list, please let us know. The Task Force sponsors educational workshops that focus on any aspect of human diversity, including gender, age, race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or disability. Speakers are generally volunteers from the community who have something to share on a human diversity topic. Let us know if you are interested!

Human Diversity Task Force Mailing List
[ ] Add my name / [ ] Correction / [ ] Deletion

Name _______________________________________

Address _____________________________________

__________________________

Phone number ________________________________
Return to Susan Mikesic, Independence, Inc., 2001 Haskell Ave., Lawrence, KS 66046


ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE
The Seventh Annual Assistive Technology Conference: Into the Future will be held Monday, September 18 - Wednesday, September 20. For registration brochures, costs, and lodging information call 785/272-4060 or watch future editions of Ahead of the Times for more information.

JOIN THE CAMPAIGN FOR MiCASSA
On November 16, 1999 U.S. Senators Harkin and Specter introduced S. 1935, The Medicaid Community Attendant Services and Supports Act, (MiCASSA).
On May 3, Senators Harkin and Specter held a press conference in Washington, D.C. which was connected to advocacy rallies in more than 50 cities, an effort to build momentum for the passage of MiCASSA. Both Senators showed their enthusiastic support for MiCASSA and a commitment to make real change happen.

MiCASSA will:

1. Give people a real choice so that Medicaid dollars that are currently spent on institutions and nursing homes can be used for home and community services and supports.

2. Provide a variety of community services and supports including:

• bathing and personal hygiene, dressing, grooming, lifting and transferring, feeding, bowel and bladder care and similar services;
• meal preparation, shopping, cleaning, laundry;
• assistance with money management, use of medications, and other daily living services;
• services to assist consumers with mobility and transportation;
• transition costs from the institution to the community (like utility and rent deposits, household supplies); and
• assistance with health related tasks as delegated or assigned by a nurse.

3. Ensure consumer control and direction regarding how, when, and where services are received. Requires the consumer or representative to agree with the needs assessment and plan of service.

4. Enable people with disabilities to live independently in their own homes and other community settings instead of being forced to reside in nursing homes or other institutions.

5. Establishes grants and planning entities to help states move away from the current institutional bias in long term care.

We are lucky in Kansas that we already have a system in place that is working and is a model for MiCASSA, the SRS Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Medicaid Waivers. However, not every state has the services available in Kansas and a nursing home is the only option. That is why we have to work for passage of MiCASSA, so everyone will have the choice to live independently in the community.

What you can do for MiCASSA:

1. Contact Senators Brownback and Roberts and ask them to co-sponsor S. 1935, MiCASSA

Sen. Sam Brownback 
303 Hart Senate O. B. 
Washington, DC 20510 
Phone: 202/224-6521 
Fax: 202/228-1265 
Overland Park Office: 913/492-6378 
sam_brownback@brownback.senate.gov 

Sen. Pat Roberts
302 Hart Senate O.B.
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: 202/224-4774
Fax: 202/224-3514
Prairie Village Office: 913/648-3103  
pat_roberts@roberts.senate.gov

2. Please call, write, fax or e-mail Senators Harkin and Specter and ask them to schedule hearings in the Senate Appropriations Committee on MiCASSA on Wednesday, June 21. 

The Honorable Tom Harkin, D-IA
SH-731 Hart Office Building
Washington, DC 20510-1502
202/224-3254
fax - 202/224-9369 
tom_harkin@harkin.senate.gov

The Honorable Arlen Specter, Chairperson, R-PA
Senate Appropriations Committee
SH-711 Hart Office Building
Washington, DC 2051-3802
202/224-4254
fax - 202/228-1229 
senator_specter@specter.senate.gov

Disability activists will be in D.C. the week of June 18 and able to attend a hearing on June 21 to show support for MiCASSA and long term care reform. For more information on the activities in D.C., call 512/442-0252 or the Topeka Independent Living Resource Center, 785/233-4572.
Your support will keep the MiCASSA momentum going into the fall. The whole country needs this law to create a real choice and option for home and community based attendant services and supports. Contact the Access Task Force to join the local grassroots effort for MiCASSA, 841-0333; or 888/824-7277.